New Zealand’s cricketers will barely have time to breathe this summer. From late October, the men host India for 12 matches across all three formats, then zip over to Australia for a four-Test series, and finally return home for another all-format visit from Sri Lanka. The White Ferns have a shorter schedule, welcoming Bangladesh before Christmas. It is, in short, a lot of cricket – 42 days of it spread over eight cities if you’re counting.
First up: India, 22 October to 1 December
Five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests; that’s the biggest inbound programme New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has ever squeezed into one tour. Hagley Oval starts things off with back-to-back T20Is on 22 and 24 October, then Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton share the remaining three. Two days later the ODI series begins at Eden Park (4 November) before moving south and north again – Wellington (7 Nov), Hamilton (10 Nov) and a double-header at Bay Oval (13 and 15 Nov). The Tests follow: Wellington from 19 November, Christchurch from 27 November.
NZC has lined up government support to mark 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations. Sky New Zealand returns as host broadcaster, locking in a six-season deal.
Players know the scale of the challenge. “It’s always a special occasion playing India. They’re an unbelievable cricket team, full of talent and star power – you know every time you face them it’s going to be seriously challenging. The rivalry we’ve built in recent years is pretty staggering and I’m sure this tour will deliver many more big moments” said leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, who grew up in Papatoetoe dreaming of bowling at Virat Kohli.
NZC’s marketing chief Glenn Critchley struck a similar tone. “It simply doesn’t get bigger than India and we’re determined to deliver New Zealanders a tour like no other,” he said, promising full houses and a few extras around the grounds to mark the centenary link.
A brief Australian interlude
Once the Basin Reserve crowd files out after the second India Test, the men board a plane. Four Tests in Australia from early December to early January – including, intriguingly, a Boxing Day Test at Melbourne – should provide just the tune-up required before Sri Lanka land back in Aotearoa.
Sri Lanka: late January to mid-February
Napier hosts the first ODI on 16 January, then Wellington (19 Jan) and Dunedin (22 Jan) wrap up the 50-over stuff. Christchurch gets the opening T20I on 26 January, with a Nelson double (29 and 31 Jan) to follow. Tests are set for Bay Oval (4 February) and Seddon Park (12 February). Different opponents, similar workload, and one eye on World Test Championship points.
White Ferns welcome Bangladesh
The women’s programme is lighter but no less useful. Bangladesh arrive for three T20Is and three ODIs between 10 and 23 December, venues to be confirmed shortly. It is the squad’s only home outing of the season after the women’s T20 Champions Trophy shifted to February 2027, forcing a planned tour of Australia into a new slot. Expect fringe players to push hard, with places in next year’s World Cup squads looming.
Context and small print
New Zealand come into the summer on the back of a confidence-boosting one-off Test win over Ireland. The men’s side is settled but not without questions – particularly around middle-order batting and a fast-bowling group that, while skilful, has clocked plenty of overs lately. India’s depth is well documented; Sri Lanka remain awkward opponents who can spoil a party if taken lightly. For the women, regular game time is gold, especially against a Bangladesh side improving quickly on slower, turning pitches.
There will be terminology flying about – ‘powerplays’, ‘seam-friendly mornings’, ‘reverse swing after tea’ – but the essentials are simple: 30 matches for the men, six for the women, all within five months. If your summer diary still has blank pages, it might not for long.
