IND vs NZ 1st T20I, Ishan Kishan ready for comeback:Focus on Surya’s batting, India’s road to T20 World Cup begins

The reigning T20 World Champions are all set to play their first T20I fixture of 2026 as India take on New Zealand for a five-match T20I series. The series opener will be played at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. Interestingly, the venue has hosted the most T20I fixtures in India; the IND-NZ fixture will be the 14th match here. India head into the T20I series after a 1-2 ODI series loss at home, but the Men in Blue have been in red-hot form in the shortest format. Since the last T20 World Cup in 2024, India won the Asia Cup, and last year, Surya’s men lost only 3 games, winning 16 matches. With only five matches remaining in the T20 World Cup at home, the series gives the Indian team a chance to fine-tune their playing XI. Surya himself has been undergoing a lean patch; he will want to get some runs under his belt. With Tilak Varma ruled out of the first three T20Is, it will be interesting to see if the management will give a chance to Ishan Kishan, who is part of the T20 World Cup squad, or if they will look at Shreyas Iyer, who hasn’t played any T20 matches since the IPL. IND vs NZ, 1st T20I match details What: India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I Where: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur When: 21 Jan 2026, Wed, 7:00 PM IST How to follow: Star Sports/JioHotstar/Bhaskar English app Surya’s form in focus Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav didn’t manage to score even a single fifty last year; his form is a concern for the management. Speaking at the pre-match presser, the white-ball specialist highlighted that he is practising well and the runs should come in time. He also confirmed that Ishan Kishan will play ahead of Shreyas Iyer, as Tilak Varma is sidelined for the first three matches of the series. IND vs NZ, T20I head-to-head India and New Zealand have played each other 25 times in the shortest format. The Men in Blue have won 14 games, while the Kiwis have emerged victorious 10 times, with one match ending in a tie. VCA Stadium, Jamtha pitch report The Nagpur pitch is made of red soil, which generally provides good bounce and pace at the start. Fast bowlers can extract movement and carry with the new ball during the powerplay overs. If batters manage to negotiate the initial phase cautiously, playing attacking shots becomes easier later on. Nagpur weather report The weather on Wednesday is expected to be pleasant and dry, with evening temperatures in the low 20s (Celsius).