The first batch of the Indian men’s cricket team has arrived in Christchurch ahead of a demanding multi-format tour of New Zealand, with the opening T20I scheduled for Thursday.
New Zealand Cricket shared pictures of the Indian contingent arriving at Christchurch Airport.
The group included head coach Gautam Gambhir, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Naman Dhir and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Fast bowling coach Morne Morkel and members of the support staff also accompanied the players.
India’s tour comprises five T20Is, five ODIs and two Test matches, with the final fixture scheduled to conclude on December 1.
The T20I series will run from October 22 to November 1, with matches in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton. The five-match ODI series will follow from November 4 to 15.
The two Tests will take place in Wellington from November 19 to 23 and Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.
The ODI series will provide India with valuable preparation for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The Test leg will also carry significance for the team’s campaign to reach the World Test Championship final.
Leadership responsibilities will be shared between Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Gill will captain the Test side and the first three ODIs, while Iyer will lead the T20I team and the final two ODIs.
The tour will also offer opportunities to emerging talent. Wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra and fast bowler Yash Thakur have received maiden ODI call-ups for the final two matches.
Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj have returned to the Test squad.
With 12 international matches scheduled across six weeks, India’s arrival marks the beginning of a demanding assignment against the Blackcaps across all three formats.
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