New Zealand Cricket has confirmed that IndiaA will tour New Zealand for three four-day matches, with the series beginning on October 24, 2026. The fixtures will be played across two venues in the Christchurch region and will run through to November 10, 2026.
The schedule was released by New Zealand Cricket as part of a broader domestic and international programme. The three four-day matches will be played simultaneously with the white-ball leg of India's senior tour of New Zealand, which begins on October
22, 2026.
New Zealand Cricket described the series as part of a red-ball summer of cricket, with all three matches available to watch live on the NZC YouTube channel.
What is the full match-by-match schedule for the India A series?
The three four-day matches are spread across two venues in the Lincoln and Christchurch area. The first match runs from October 24 to 27 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. The second match follows immediately, scheduled from October 31 to November 3 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The third and final match returns to Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln and is scheduled from November 7 to 10, 2026.
Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln hosts two of the three matches, while Hagley Oval in Christchurch hosts the second fixture. Hagley Oval is also the venue for the second Test between India and New Zealand later in the tour, scheduled from November 27 to December 1, 2026.
The India A series concludes on November 10, which falls before the start of the senior Test series. The first Test between India and New Zealand is scheduled from November 19 to 23 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
How does the India A series fit into India's broader tour of New Zealand?
India's senior tour of New Zealand runs from October 22 to December 1, 2026, and comprises five T20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals and two Test matches. The tour has been described as the largest international tour in New Zealand cricket history, with 12 matches in total across all formats.
The India A four-day series runs alongside the white-ball portion of the senior tour. While India's senior side begins with T20Is from October 22, the A side will be in action in red-ball cricket from October 24 at Lincoln. The ODI leg of the senior tour begins on November 4 and concludes on November 15, after which the Test series begins.
"The domestic red-ball summer will also get an injection of international class as New Zealand A host India A for three four-day matches in Christchurch starting October 24," NZC said in a statement.
The three multi-day fixtures between New Zealand A and India A will run simultaneously with the white-ball tour.
The tour also carries historical significance on two counts. It marks the first time since 2019 that India will play Test cricket in New Zealand, and it is India's first white-ball assignment in the country since 2022. The India A series adds a further red-ball dimension to what is already a landmark tour for both boards.
