IND vs NZ: In an important development just before the eagerly awaited T20 World Cup 2026, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the full schedule of India’s white-ball home series against New Zealand. The BCCI made this announcement at its 28th Apex Council Meeting. It is a vital eight-match series consisting of three ODIs and five T20s. It will begin on January 11, 2026.
IND vs NZ 2026 Series: Preparation for T20 World Cup 2026
As Team India begins their preparation leading up to the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted along with Sri Lanka, New Zealand will be coming for a busy, white-ball series in India, which is viewed as a crucial warm-up exercise for both teams.
IND vs NZ 2026: ODI Series Schedule
1st ODI – January 11, 2026, Baroda
2nd ODI – January 14, 2026, Rajkot
3rd ODI – January 18, 2026, Indore
IND vs NZ 2026: T20I Series Schedule
1st T20I – January 21, 2026, Nagpur
2nd T20I – January 23, 2026, Raipur
3rd T20I – January 25, 2026, Guwahati
4th T20I – January 28, 2026, Vizag (Visakhapatnam)
5th T20I – January 31, 2026, Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
BCCI Initiatives: Development of Umpire and Match Referee
Apart from announcing the New Zealand series, the BCCI Apex Council has unveiled proposals to raise the bar on officiating standards in Indian domestic cricket:
Reforms in Umpiring: A special Working Group of five retired international umpires will be constituted to train and review the performance of domestic umpires.
Match Referee Development: A three-member Working Group of ex-match referees will be responsible for training and assessing current match officials.
Domestic Season 2025-26: BCCI Finalizes Complete Calendar
The 2025–26 Indian domestic cricket season will officially commence with the Duleep Trophy on August 28, 2025, and conclude with the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy on April 3, 2026.
Major highlights of the domestic season:
The Ranji Trophy will have a new format and will take place in two phases from October 15, 2025, to February 28, 2026. Relegation and promotion will be introduced to the Plate Group to improve the level of competition.
A Strategic Build-Up to T20 World Cup 2026
Having the home series against New Zealand and significant structural changes under its belt, the BCCI is going all out to keep Indian cricket competitive and ready for the T20 World Cup 2026. The series will not only check the bench strength but also provide vital match practice under home conditions ahead of the mega event’s start in February 2026.
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