India cricket team will take on New Zealand in the IND vs NZ 1st T20I on Wednesday in Nagpur at 7 PM ISTat the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium. The five-match series will be the penutimate series before the prestigious T20 Wrld Cup 2026 for the Men in Blue. Let’s take a look at whom the AI predicts as winner in the contest below.
Match Details
- Match: India vs New Zealand — 1st T20I
- Date & Time: January 21, 2026 | 1:30 PM IST
- Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
- Toss: Around 1:10 PM IST (Toss usually ~20 min before start)
Team Form & Selection Buzz
India come into the series looking to build momentum ahead of key ICC events, fine-tuning their T20 combination. The hosts are likely to feature a balanced batting line-up including the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain) and all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.
New Zealand have a competitive outfit with Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson and captain Mitchell Santner aiming to challenge India’s batting depth. Their bowling group features experienced T20 pros such as Ish Sodhi and Kyle Jamieson.
IND vs NZ T20Is Head-to-Head Stats
India and New Zealand have met 25 times in T20Is, with India holding a slight edge in victories — indicating closely fought contests when these teams meet.
Pitch & Conditions (Nagpur)
The Nagpur surface typically offers good bounce and runs on the board if batters get in, and scores above 170 become competitive. Dew later in the evening could make bowling tricky, especially in the second innings.
Match Prediction
Predicted Winner: India
Home advantage and familiarity with local conditions make India slight favourites in this opener. While New Zealand have the firepower to upset, India’s deeper batting and varied bowling options give them the edge in what is expected to be a high-scoring encounter.
Win Probability:
• India: ~55%
• New Zealand: ~45%
Key Players to Watch
For India:
- Abhishek Sharma — aggressive left-hander who can change games quickly.
Jasprit Bumrah / Arshdeep Singh — spearhead seamers to exploit any early seam and reverse-swing.
For New Zealand:
- Mitchell Santner — spin wizard capable of strangling runs in middle overs.
Devon Conway — steady top-order batter and foundation setter.
Final Verdict
Expect an entertaining clash under lights where India’s home conditions and batting depth give them a slight advantage, but New Zealand’s measured approach and discipline ensure the contest remains finely balanced until the end.
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