The competition between the India vs New Zealand Cricket Team has developed into one of the most respected matches in world cricket. Stemming back to the 1950s, the competitive history is full of exciting matches, historic performances, and memorable moments in formats. Their encounters have been a part of cricketing history as they have fought hard in Test series and nail-biting ICC knockouts.
Both teams have produced the finest cricket whether in conditions in India or in New Zealand, which has a swinging nature. This detailed look at the India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline will explore how this rivalry evolved over the decades and continues to thrill fans worldwide.
Early Encounters (1950s–1980s)
The India national cricket team first met the New Zealand national cricket team in an official Test match in November 1955, when New Zealand toured India, and the two sides played a five-Test series in India. The first Test at Hyderabad (Nov 19 24, 1955) was a draw with a lot of runs made: India declared at 498 for 4 (Polly Umrigar 223, Vijay Manjrekar 118) and New Zealand replied with 326 before following on to 212/2.
India subsequently won the series 21, with victories by an innings in Mumbai and Madras, and three Tests drawn. Umrigar, Mankad, and Subhash Gupte with his extraordinary spin bowling-34 wickets in the series, are early highlights, Umrigar made a double century, and Mankad played all-round cricket.
These initial encounters laid the basis of the rivalry: India were strong at home with their spinning attack and New Zealand had a strong pace bowling and batting in overseas conditions.
Rise of the Rivalry (1990s–2000s)
During the 1990s–2000s phase of the India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline, iconic leaders emerged: Sachin Tendulkar for India and Stephen Fleming for New Zealand who defined this era with consistent brilliance.
India demonstrated increasing power back home. An example is that India won a tough Test series when New Zealand came to visit in 1999-2000, where Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan performed well, and Fleming showed maturity as captain. On the contrary, New Zealand did not win many matches on Indian soil until the 2000s.
The next landmark was in October 2000 when New Zealand won their first major ICC trophy by beating India in the final of the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy, led by Chris Cairns who scored a century and Fleming in charge.
This era was a watershed moment in India solidifying home dominance, with Tendulkar and co at the helm, and New Zealand gaining momentum in the ICC events laying the foundation for a more thrilling rivalry across formats in the years to come.
ICC Tournament Clashes
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline features several dramatic ICC tournament showdowns, including World Cups, T20 World Cups, Champions Trophy, and the inaugural World Test Championship.
One such defining moment was the 2003 Cricket World Cup when India had defeated New Zealand in an ICC tournament after 18 years. India has reached the semifinals and New Zealand was knocked out.
The competition was taken to another level in the 2019 World Cup Semi-Final at the Old Trafford. New Zealand pursued 239 and India was bowled out at 221 with just 18 runs difference. Matt Henry (3/37) and Trent Boult were instrumental, and Martin Guptill direct-hit run-out of MS Dhoni ensured the end of India.
The inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final, held at Southampton between June 18 23, was won by New Zealand, who beat India by eight wickets, to win the first WTC title. Kyle Jamieson took seven wickets including five in the first innings to win the Player of the Match award.
The matches, 2003, 2019, and the WTC 2021 final, can be discussed as the landmark moments in the history of the India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team rivalry because they reflect the New Zealand dominance in the ICC events since 2003 and the changing nature of the rivalry.
Head-to-Head Statistics (Test, ODI, T20I)
Here’s a snapshot of the India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline in numbers, covering all three international formats.
| Format | Matches | India Won | New Zealand Won | Drawn / Tied | India Home Wins | NZ Away Wins | Neutral Wins |
| Test | 65 | 22 | 16 | 27 draws, 0 tied | 17 | 5 | 0 |
| ODI | 119 | 61 | 50 | 7 no‑results, 1 tied | 31 | 14 | 16 |
| T20I | 25 | 14 | 10 | 1 tied | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Test cricket: India have won 22, lost 16 and drawn 27 of 65 Tests. The home advantage at the expense of India is 17 home victories compared to the five victories by New Zealand in India.
ODIs: India have 61 wins to 50 by NZ in 119 matches. Seven no-results and a tie have occurred. India have had a great record at home (approx. 31 wins), New Zealand have won about 14 times in India; neutral venue wins are about equal 16.
T20Is: In the shortest format, India are ahead with 14 wins, 10 losses and one tied game. India have won seven of the home matches as opposed to four away; two matches were played on neutral grounds.
This information is obtained using reputable cricket statistics websites such as ESPNcricinfo and Jagran Josh, and highlights the way the rivalry has changed, with India performing well at home and New Zealand always being competitive away, particularly in ICC events.
Memorable Matches and Turning Points
Competition between the New Zealand and India national cricket teams has given rise to some of the most memorable games that have made an indelible mark on the history of the cricketing world. These are some of the most unforgettable meetings:
Kanpur Test 1976
One of the most severe battles between India and New Zealand was in Kanpur in 1976. It was a historic draw as the Kiwis stretched India to its maximum. The double century of Sunil Gavaskar in this game remains as one of his best innings and shows his dexterity and patience.
Napier Test 2009
Skip to 2009 and the Napier Test was a lesson in survival. Next, the memorable innings of Gautam Gambhir of 137 in the second innings enabled India to draw the game when they were almost facing defeat. This match reflected the spirit of never giving up of India and demonstrated that they can cope with the difficult situations in New Zealand.
World Cup Semi-Final 2019
An exciting semi-final. Flashback to the previous encounter of India and New Zealand in a Men Cricket World Cup in 2019.
Champions Trophy Final 2025
On Sunday, India won the Champions Trophy and further cemented their position as the best white-ball team in the world. Skipper Rohit Sharma was the star of the show as India overcame New Zealand in a thrilling final by four wickets to win their second global trophy in a row.
Such matches not only demonstrate the spirit of rivalry between these two teams but also reflect the history and development of this rivalry in international cricket.
Recent Developments (2020–2025)
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline has seen significant developments in recent years, marked by intense series and the emergence of new cricketing talents.
Test Series 2024-25: New Zealand won a 30 whitewash against India in a Test series played in India, the first ever series win in India and also the first time New Zealand had won a series in India and broke India 18 series home record.
Champions Trophy 2025 Final: India won the final of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand by 4 wickets, Rohit Sharma was the star of the show. The game was a world record with 65.3 billion minutes of live viewing across the world, making it the most-watched ICC Champions Trophy final.
Emerging Stars:
Rachin Ravindra: New Zealand all-rounder was the Player of the Tournament in the 2025 Champions Trophy, scoring 263 runs with an average of 65.75.
Shubman Gill: The Indian opener broke the record of being the youngest batsman to hit a double century in ODIs when he did it in a series against New Zealand in January 2023.
Tilak Varma: The Indian middle-order batsman grabbed the headlines when he scored his first T20I century against South Africa in November 2024.
These meetings have heightened the competition, and it has demonstrated the changing dynamics and emergence of new cricketing stars.
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Key Players Who Defined the Timeline
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline is rich with legendary players whose performances have shaped this rivalry.
India
Kapil Dev: Kapil Dev was a fast-medium bowler and a hard hitting middle order batsman who is considered as one of the greatest all rounders ever in the history of cricket. He guided India to their first world cup in 1983 and he is the only player to have taken over 400 wickets and scored above 5,000 runs in test cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar: The Little Master, as he is commonly known, Tendulkar made his Test debut when he was 16 years old and was the highest run-scorer in Test cricket and ODIs. He is the first cricketer to make 100 international centuries.
MS Dhoni: India has won the three major ICC tournaments under the leadership of Dhoni, T20 world cup, ODI world cup, and the Champions Trophy. He has a reputation of being cool and having a keen cricketing sense.
Virat Kohli: Kohli has been one of the most aggressive captains and a brilliant batsman who has helped India to dominate Test cricket. India under his captaincy won historic overseas victories and became a force to reckon with in international cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah: Bumrah is known to have a tactical brain and has played big roles in the matches, and his ascension to Indian cricket has been legendary. He is regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers of the globe.
New Zealand
Richard Hadlee: Hadlee is widely considered to be one of the best all-rounders in the history of the game of cricket and represented New Zealand in 86 Test matches during an eighteen year career. This made him the record holder in the world for most wickets in Test matches with 374 wickets.
Daniel Vettori: Vettori is the youngest cricketer to play Test cricket in New Zealand and also the most capped cricketer in New Zealand with a very impressive 112 caps. His spin bowling and captaincy abilities were associated with his left-arm orthodox spin.
Brendon McCullum: A wicketkeeper-batter, McCullum was a player who was aggressive in his batting. He is the first player to have played 100 consecutive Tests since his debut and retired in 2016.
Kane Williamson: Williamson is a player with a cool head and marvelous batting abilities. He has played a central role in the success of the New Zealand cricket team in recent years.
Trent Boult: Boult is a swing bowler and has played a prominent role in the bowling attack of New Zealand. He has always been leading wicket-taker in international cricket on behalf of New Zealand.
These players have not only defined their respective teams but have also left an indelible mark on the India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline, contributing to the rich history and rivalry between the two nations.
Final Word
The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline showcases decades of thrilling contests, iconic players, and historic moments. This competition is unique in the world of cricket, as it is competitive and respectful at the same time. With the two sides developing more and more new talents and competition, fans will be treated to more thrilling encounters in future ICC events and bilateral series. The history is not yet complete, it is an evolving history of cricket that holds some unforgettable moments of cricket in the future.
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