Decoding India's report card in T20I series across New Zealand tours from 2009 to 2022

Both India and New Zealand are gearing up for the five-match T20I series, which is slated to kick off from October 22 in Christchurch. Playing T20Is in New Zealand has historically presented one of the most unique tests for Team India. The small ground dimensions, boundary layouts, high-wind conditions, and seam-friendly tracks have demanded constant adaptation from visiting sides. Between 2009 and 2022, India’s have toured New Zealand for a bilateral T20I series four times in which 12 matches have been played. India have won five matches out of 12, which New Zealand emerged victorious in four games with the rest ending in a tie. Before the action-packed series gets underway let's take you through a comprehensive breakdown of every bilateral T20I series India played in New Zealand during this timeframe.

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India clinched the series 1-0 during 2022 Tour

Following the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, Hardik Pandya captained a revamped Indian T20I squad in New Zealand in November 2022. Wet weather played a major role across the three scheduled fixtures.

1st T20I (Wellington): Washed out completely without a ball bowled due to persistent rain.

2nd T20I (Mount Maunganui): India registered a comprehensive 65-run win. Suryakumar Yadav stole the show with a sensational, unbeaten 111* off 51 balls to push India to 191/6. India’s bowlers, led by Yuzvendra Chahal (2/26) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, skittled New Zealand for 126.

3rd T20I (Napier): New Zealand scored 160, with Mohammed Siraj taking career-best figures of 4/17 alongside Arshdeep Singh (4/37). India’s chase was cut short by rain at 75/4 in 9 overs. Since India’s score matched the DLS par score exactly, the game ended in a tie, confirming India's 1–0 series victory.

Key Performers: Suryakumar Yadav (IND): Dominated the series with his breathtaking 111* at Bay Oval. Mohammed Siraj & Arshdeep Singh (IND): Dismantled the Kiwi lineup in the final game with 4-wicket hauls each.

India's historic 5-0 whitewash over New Zealand during 2020 Tour

Returning to New Zealand in January–February 2020, Virat Kohli's India executed one of the most dominant away series victories in T20I history, becoming the first team to win a five-match T20I series 5–0. The series was packed with drama, featuring two consecutive Super Over finishes.   

1st T20I (Auckland): New Zealand posted 203/5. India pulled off a stunning chase, reaching 204/4 in 19 overs thanks to KL Rahul (56 off 27) and Shreyas Iyer (58* off 29).   
2nd T20I (Auckland): Ravindra Jadeja’s 2/18 restricted the Blackcaps to 132/5. KL Rahul’s anchor innings (57* off 50) secured a 7-wicket win.   
3rd T20I (Hamilton): Both teams scored 179, forcing a Super Over. Needing 10 runs off the final two balls of the Super Over, Rohit Sharma struck back-to-back sixes off Tim Southee to seal a memorable victory.   
4th T20I (Wellington): In another dramatic tie, both teams scored 165. India successfully defended 13 runs in the Super Over to go 4–0 up.   
5th T20I (Mount Maunganui): Rohit Sharma scored 60 before retiring hurt. Defending 163/3, Jasprit Bumrah delivered a masterclass (3/12 in 4 overs) to hold New Zealand to 156/9, winning by 7 runs.

Key Performers: KL Rahul (IND): Named Player of the Series, scoring 224 runs at an average of 56.00 with two half-centuries.

Shreyas Iyer (IND): Amassed 153 runs in the middle order, including a match-winning 58* in the series opener.

Jasprit Bumrah (IND): Bowled economical spells throughout, capping off the series with an exceptional 3/12 at Bay Oval.

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New Zealand had the last laugh with 2-1 win during 2019 Tour

It took a decade for India to play another bilateral T20I series in New Zealand. In February 2019, with Virat Kohli rested, Rohit Sharma led a young Indian unit in a three-match series.   
1st T20I (Wellington): New Zealand delivered a heavy blow in the opener, smashing 219/6 behind Tim Seifert’s explosive 84 off 43 balls. India stumbled badly in response and was skittled for 139 in 19.2 overs, suffering an 80-run defeat—one of their heaviest in T20I history.   
2nd T20I (Auckland): India bounced back strongly at Eden Park. Krunal Pandya’s disciplined spell of 3/28 restricted New Zealand to 158/8. Rohit Sharma (50 off 29) and Rishabh Pant (40* off 28) guided India to a comfortable 7-wicket victory with 7 balls to spare, marking India’s first-ever T20I win on New Zealand soil.   
3rd T20I (Hamilton): In a high-scoring decider, New Zealand set a target of 213 after Colin Munro blasted 72 off 40 balls. India fought valiantly, powered by Vijay Shankar (43) and a late blitz from Dinesh Karthik (33* off 16) and Krunal Pandya (26* off 13). However, India fell just 4 runs short, finishing at 208/6 to lose the series 1–2.   
Key Performers: Rohit Sharma & Krunal Pandya (IND): Rohit provided top-order powerplay momentum, while Krunal picked up 4 wickets in the series, including his match-winning spell in Auckland.

Tim Seifert & Colin Munro (NZ): Blasted the Indian pace attack on small grounds to set up series wins in Wellington and Hamilton.   

NZ down 2007 WC champions 2–0 during 2009 Tour

Fresh off their title glory triumph in T20 World Cup 2007, MS Dhoni’s Indian team travelled to New Zealand in February 2009 for their first-ever bilateral T20I series on Kiwi soil. The two-match series proved to be a harsh reality check, with the hosts using home conditions to sweep the visitors.   

1st T20I (Christchurch): India batted first and managed 162/8, anchored by Suresh Raina's unbeaten 61 off 43 balls. However, New Zealand made light work of the target, reaching 166/3 in 18.5 overs to win by 7 wickets. Brendon McCullum laid the foundation with a blistering 56* off 49 balls.   
2nd T20I (Wellington): India posted 149/6, thanks to a half-century from Yuvraj Singh (50 off 34 balls). New Zealand chased down the total on the final ball of the match, finishing at 150/5 to seal a 5-wicket win and a 2–0 series sweep. Once again, Brendon McCullum proved to be the thorn in India's side, scoring an unbeaten 69 off 55 balls.   
Key Performers: Suresh Raina & Yuvraj Singh: Provided lone resistance with the bat for India across the two fixtures.

Brendon McCullum (NZ): Named Player of the Match in both games, amassing 125 runs across two unbeaten match-winning efforts.

India's T20I tour history in New Zealand (2009–2022)

Since the last outing so much has changed. Team India, under new leadership in Shreyas Iyer, is yet again ready to take on Kiwi challenge, this time with a completely changed squad and experience.