The India National Cricket Team Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team timeline is filled with memorable World Cup matches, closely fought Test series, dramatic knockout games, and major ICC finals. India and New Zealand first met in Test cricket in 1955, while their World Cup rivalry began at the inaugural 1975 tournament. Over the decades, the two teams have competed across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, with New Zealand often proving a difficult opponent for India in ICC tournaments.
From New Zealand’s early World Cup victories over India to India’s recent successes in the 2023 World Cup, 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup, the rivalry has developed into one of the most recognizable matchups in international cricket.
India vs New Zealand Cricket Timeline: At a Glance
| Year | Tournament/Series | Major Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1955-56 | Test series | New Zealand toured India for their first Test series against India |
| 1967-68 | Test series | India won its first Test series in New Zealand |
| 1975 | World Cup | New Zealand defeated India in the inaugural World Cup |
| 1979 | World Cup | New Zealand again defeated India |
| 1987 | World Cup | India defeated New Zealand twice on home soil |
| 1992 | World Cup | New Zealand defeated India by four wickets |
| 1999 | World Cup | New Zealand won by five wickets |
| 2003 | World Cup | India defeated New Zealand by seven wickets |
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand beat India by 10 runs |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand defeated India by 47 runs |
| 2019 | World Cup semifinal | New Zealand defeated India by 18 runs |
| 2021 | WTC Final | New Zealand defeated India in the inaugural final |
| 2021 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets |
| 2023 | World Cup | India defeated New Zealand in the group stage and semifinal |
| 2024 | Test series | New Zealand swept India 3-0 in India |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy | India defeated New Zealand in the group stage and final |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup | India defeated New Zealand in the final by 96 runs |
| 2026 | New Zealand tour | India scheduled to tour New Zealand for five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests |
1955-56: The Rivalry Begins in Test Cricket
The India-New Zealand Test rivalry began when New Zealand toured India during the 1955-56 season. The two sides subsequently developed a regular Test rivalry, with India playing New Zealand both at home and away.
The historical records list New Zealand’s 1955-56 tour among India’s earliest Test series against the country. India also later toured New Zealand in 1967-68, a series that became particularly significant because India recorded its first Test series victory outside the subcontinent against New Zealand.
1967-68: India Wins a Historic Series in New Zealand
India’s tour of New Zealand in 1967-68 represented an important step in the development of Indian Test cricket.
India secured a series victory in New Zealand, which was India’s first Test series win outside the subcontinent. The achievement helped establish India as a team capable of succeeding in overseas conditions.
1975: First World Cup Meeting
India and New Zealand met at the 1975 Cricket World Cup, the first edition of the men’s World Cup.
The match took place at Manchester, where New Zealand won by four wickets. India scored 230, with Syed Abid Ali contributing 70, but Glenn Turner produced an unbeaten 114 to guide New Zealand to victory with seven balls remaining.
This was the first World Cup encounter between the two nations and established a recurring tournament rivalry.
1979: New Zealand Wins Again at the World Cup
Four years later, India and New Zealand met again at the 1979 World Cup in Leeds.
New Zealand restricted India to 182 and then chased the target comfortably, winning by eight wickets. Bruce Edgar, Glenn Turner and John Wright played major roles in the successful chase.
New Zealand therefore won both of the first two World Cup meetings between the sides.
1987: India Turns the Tables
The 1987 World Cup was played partly in India, and the home team produced two victories against New Zealand.
India vs New Zealand, Bengaluru
India defeated New Zealand by 16 runs in Bengaluru. Kapil Dev played an important innings of 72 not out as India scored 252/7.
India vs New Zealand, Nagpur
The teams met again in Nagpur later in the tournament. India won by nine wickets after restricting New Zealand to 221/9.
Sunil Gavaskar scored a century during the chase, while Kris Srikkanth contributed a rapid 75.
India’s two victories marked a major change in their World Cup record against New Zealand.
1992: New Zealand Wins at Home
The teams met during the 1992 World Cup in Dunedin.
India scored 230/6, with Sachin Tendulkar making 84. New Zealand successfully chased the target, winning by four wickets.
Mark Greatbatch scored 73, while Andrew Jones remained unbeaten on 67.
The result gave New Zealand another World Cup victory over India.
1999: Another New Zealand World Cup Victory
At the 1999 World Cup in Nottingham, India posted 251/6 after batting first.
New Zealand chased the target successfully, winning by five wickets. Matt Horne scored 74 and Roger Twose finished unbeaten on 60.
New Zealand continued its strong World Cup record against India during the 1990s.
2003: India Gets a World Cup Win
India’s next World Cup meeting with New Zealand came in 2003 in South Africa.
India bowled New Zealand out for only 146, with Zaheer Khan taking four wickets. Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid then guided India to a seven-wicket victory.
This was India’s first World Cup win against New Zealand since the 1987 tournament.
2007: New Zealand Wins the First T20 World Cup Meeting
The teams met in the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007.
New Zealand scored 190 and then restricted India to 180/9, winning by 10 runs.
Daniel Vettori was central to the result, taking 4/20. Brendon McCullum also made an important contribution with the bat.
The match became the first T20 World Cup meeting between India and New Zealand.
2016: New Zealand Dominates India in Nagpur
India and New Zealand met again at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Nagpur.
New Zealand scored 126 and then produced a remarkable bowling performance. India were dismissed for only 79.
Mitchell Santner took 4/11, while Ish Sodhi claimed three wickets. New Zealand won by 47 runs.
The match remains one of the most memorable low-scoring encounters between the teams in T20 World Cup history.
2019: New Zealand Defeats India in World Cup Semifinal
The 2019 World Cup semifinal in Manchester became one of the defining matches in the modern India-New Zealand rivalry.
New Zealand scored 239/8 in a rain-affected match. Ross Taylor made 74 and Kane Williamson scored 67.
India’s chase began badly, with the top order falling early. Ravindra Jadeja’s 77 and MS Dhoni’s 50 brought India close, but New Zealand eventually won by 18 runs.
The result sent New Zealand into the World Cup final and ended India’s campaign.
2021: Inaugural World Test Championship Final
India and New Zealand met again in a historic ICC final in Southampton in June 2021.
It was the first-ever ICC World Test Championship Final, bringing together the two teams that had reached the inaugural title match.
New Zealand won the final by eight wickets, becoming the first World Test Championship champion.
The result was particularly significant because New Zealand had already defeated India 2-0 in a Test series at home in 2020.
2021: T20 World Cup Meeting in Dubai
Later in 2021, India and New Zealand faced each other at the T20 World Cup.
India posted only 110/7, struggling against New Zealand’s bowling attack. New Zealand chased the target comfortably and won by eight wickets.
Daryl Mitchell scored 49, while the New Zealand bowling attack kept India’s batting under sustained pressure.
2023: India Beats New Zealand in the World Cup Group Stage
The 2023 Cricket World Cup brought another important meeting between the sides.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Dharamsala. New Zealand scored 273, with Daryl Mitchell making 130 and Rachin Ravindra scoring 75.
Mohammed Shami took five wickets for India, while Virat Kohli scored 95 during India’s successful chase. India reached the target with four wickets remaining.
2023: India vs New Zealand World Cup Semifinal
The teams met again in the semifinal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
India produced a huge total of 397/4. Virat Kohli scored 117, while Shreyas Iyer made 105. Rohit Sharma also provided a fast start.
New Zealand fought back through Daryl Mitchell, who scored 134, but India eventually won by 70 runs.
Mohammed Shami delivered a standout bowling performance, taking 7/57.
The victory sent India into the 2023 World Cup final.
2024: New Zealand’s Historic Test Series Sweep in India
The 2024 Test series was one of the biggest developments in the rivalry.
New Zealand defeated India in Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai to complete a 3-0 Test series sweep.
It was the first time New Zealand had swept India 3-0 in a three-Test series in India. India had also entered the series after a long run of home Test-series success dating back to 2012.
The Mumbai Test was won by New Zealand by 25 runs, with Ajaz Patel taking 11 wickets in the match.
2025: Champions Trophy Group-Stage Meeting
India and New Zealand met again at the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
In the group stage in Dubai, India defeated New Zealand by 44 runs.
The victory helped India finish at the top of their group and set up another important meeting between the two sides later in the tournament.
2025: Champions Trophy Final
The two teams met again in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai.
New Zealand scored 251/7, with Daryl Mitchell making 63 and Michael Bracewell remaining unbeaten on 53.
India successfully chased the target, scoring 254/6 in 49 overs. Rohit Sharma led the chase with 76, while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja completed the run chase.
India won by four wickets and became the first team to win the Champions Trophy three times.
2026: India vs New Zealand in the T20 World Cup Final
The rivalry reached another major milestone at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.
India batted first and produced 255/5, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final at that time.
New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs, giving India a 96-run victory.
Jasprit Bumrah took 4/15, while Axar Patel claimed 3/27. Tim Seifert was New Zealand’s leading scorer with 52 from 26 balls.
The victory gave India their third T20 World Cup title and made them the first team to win back-to-back men’s T20 World Cups.
2026: India Tour of New Zealand
The rivalry is scheduled to continue with a major all-format tour later in 2026.
New Zealand Cricket announced a 12-match itinerary consisting of:
- 5 T20Is
- 5 ODIs
- 2 Tests
The T20I series is scheduled for October 22 to November 1, followed by five ODIs from November 4 to November 15. The two Tests are scheduled for November 19-23 in Wellington and November 27-December 1 in Christchurch.
The tour will be India’s first Test visit to New Zealand since 2019 and its first white-ball assignment there since 2022.
Major Turning Points in the India-New Zealand Rivalry
Several periods stand out in the India-New Zealand timeline:
New Zealand’s early World Cup advantage
New Zealand won the first two World Cup meetings in 1975 and 1979. India responded by winning both of their 1987 meetings.
New Zealand’s ICC knockout success
New Zealand defeated India in major ICC matches at the 2019 World Cup semifinal and 2021 World Test Championship final.
India’s recent turnaround
India defeated New Zealand twice during the 2023 World Cup, twice during the 2025 Champions Trophy and again in the 2026 T20 World Cup final.
New Zealand’s Test dominance in 2024
Despite India’s strong home record, New Zealand completed a historic 3-0 Test sweep in India in 2024.
India vs New Zealand: Memorable ICC Matches
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand won by 10 runs |
| 2016 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand won by 47 runs |
| 2019 | World Cup semifinal | New Zealand won by 18 runs |
| 2021 | WTC Final | New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
| 2021 | T20 World Cup | New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
| 2023 | World Cup group stage | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2023 | World Cup semifinal | India won by 70 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy group stage | India won by 44 runs |
| 2025 | Champions Trophy final | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2026 | T20 World Cup final | India won by 96 runs |
Key Players in the India-New Zealand Rivalry
India’s notable players
Sachin Tendulkar: Tendulkar played several important innings against New Zealand, including 84 in the 1992 World Cup.
Virat Kohli: Kohli has produced several major performances against New Zealand, including 95 in the 2023 World Cup group stage and 117 in the 2023 semifinal.
Mohammed Shami: Shami’s seven-wicket haul in the 2023 World Cup semifinal was one of India’s most impressive bowling performances against New Zealand.
Rohit Sharma: Rohit has played a significant role in India’s recent white-ball victories, including 76 in the 2025 Champions Trophy final.
New Zealand’s notable players
Kane Williamson: Williamson has been a central figure for New Zealand in major matches against India, including the 2019 World Cup semifinal.
Ross Taylor: Taylor’s 74 in the 2019 semifinal helped New Zealand establish a competitive total.
Daryl Mitchell: Mitchell scored 130 in the 2023 World Cup group match, 134 in the semifinal and 63 in the 2025 Champions Trophy final.
Mitchell Santner: Santner has repeatedly influenced matches against India with his left-arm spin, including the 2016 T20 World Cup match and later major ICC encounters.
What Makes India vs New Zealand Cricket Matches Special?
The rivalry has developed through several different eras and formats. New Zealand’s disciplined pace bowling and spin options have repeatedly challenged India’s batting line-ups, while India have often relied on top-order batting depth and varied bowling attacks.
The rivalry is also notable because results have differed considerably between bilateral series and ICC tournaments. New Zealand enjoyed important tournament victories in 2019 and 2021, while India have won the recent 2023 World Cup, 2025 Champions Trophy and 2026 T20 World Cup meetings.
The upcoming 2026-27 New Zealand tour therefore adds another chapter to a rivalry that now spans more than seven decades.
FAQs About India National Cricket Team Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline
When did India and New Zealand first play cricket against each other?
India and New Zealand first played a Test series during New Zealand’s tour of India in the 1955-56 season.
When was the first India vs New Zealand World Cup match?
The first World Cup meeting took place on June 14, 1975, at Manchester. New Zealand won by four wickets.
When did India first beat New Zealand in a World Cup?
India first defeated New Zealand at the 1987 World Cup in Bengaluru, winning by 16 runs. India also beat New Zealand again in Nagpur during the same tournament.
Who won the 2019 World Cup semifinal between India and New Zealand?
New Zealand won the 2019 World Cup semifinal by 18 runs in Manchester.
Who won the first World Test Championship final?
New Zealand won the inaugural World Test Championship final against India in Southampton in 2021.
Did New Zealand beat India 3-0 in Tests in India?
Yes. New Zealand defeated India 3-0 in a three-Test series in India in 2024, becoming the first team to complete such a sweep in India.
Who won the 2025 Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand?
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the 2025 Champions Trophy final in Dubai. India chased New Zealand’s 251/7 with 254/6.
Who won the India vs New Zealand 2026 T20 World Cup final?
India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad. India scored 255/5 before bowling New Zealand out for 159.
When will India next play New Zealand?
India are scheduled to tour New Zealand in October and November 2026 for five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The first T20I is scheduled for October 22 in Christchurch.
Conclusion
The India National Cricket Team Vs New Zealand National Cricket Team timeline stretches from the first Test meetings of the 1950s to modern ICC finals and major World Cup contests. New Zealand dominated several early World Cup encounters and produced memorable victories in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and 2021 World Test Championship final.
India’s recent record in major ICC meetings has changed the narrative. India defeated New Zealand twice at the 2023 World Cup, twice during the 2025 Champions Trophy and then won the 2026 T20 World Cup final by 96 runs.
With a 12-match all-format tour scheduled for New Zealand in late 2026, the two teams are set to add another substantial chapter to one of international cricket’s longest-running rivalries.
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