New Zealand and India will open their five-match T20I series at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on October 22, 2026. Shreyas Iyer will lead India, and Mitchell
Santner will captain New Zealand.
The two sides arrive at this series with a recent history that favours India. India won the previous T20I series between these teams 4-1 in January 2026 and then defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final on March 8, 2026, at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Here are three bowlers who could make a significant impact in the first T20I.
1. Mitchell Santner
Mitchell Santner holds a dual responsibility in this series, leading the side while also serving as New Zealand's primary spin option. The left-arm spinner has taken 5 wickets across his last five T20Is at an economy rate of 5.88, figures that underline his ability to keep runs in check at the international level.
Hagley Oval's conditions in October can assist spin, and Santner's control will be important as New Zealand look to restrict a batting lineup that scored 255/5 in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year. His ability to build pressure through tight lines makes him one of the most important bowlers in the New Zealand XI for this series opener.
2. Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy brings a range of variations that have made him a consistent wicket-taker for India in T20 cricket. He has accumulated 75 T20I wickets at an average of 17.34 and an economy rate of 7.58, numbers that reflect both his penetration and his ability to dismiss batters across different phases of an innings. The right-arm mystery spinner's ability to deceive batters with his grip and flight makes him a threat against any batting order.
With India having won the last T20I series against New Zealand convincingly, Chakravarthy, who finally returns to the side after a long injury layoff, will look to continue that momentum and put the hosts under pressure from the spin end.
3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the India squad for this series was confirmed ahead of the tour, marking a return in blue for the first time since 2023. His experience with the new ball and in the death overs adds depth to India's bowling attack. He has taken 90 T20I wickets at an average of 23.10 and an economy rate of 6.96 across his international career.
New Zealand conditions, particularly at Hagley Oval, are known to assist swing bowling, which suits Bhuneshwar's style. His ability to move the ball in the early overs and execute yorkers at the death makes him a key figure as India aim to carry their recent dominance over New Zealand into this five-match series.
