3rd T20I: Shreyas Iyer wins toss, India bowl first as New Zealand make 3 changes
Synopsis
India go unchanged for the third straight T20I as Shreyas Iyer wins the toss and elects to bowl at Wellington's Hnry Stadium. New Zealand, managing fast-bowling workloads ahead of ODIs and Tests, ring in three changes — resting Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and dropping Nathan Smith, with Fisher, Jamieson, and Milne stepping in.
Key Takeaways
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first in the 3rd T20I at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on 27 October .
India named an unchanged XI for the third consecutive match; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi holds the No.
Ishan Kishan remains out of the squad, continuing his recovery from a groin injury .
New Zealand made three changes : Matt Henry , Lockie Ferguson (both injured), and Nathan Smith out; Matthew Fisher , Kyle Jamieson , and Adam Milne in.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner confirmed changes are part of managing workload ahead of the ODI and Test series against India.
India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first in the third T20I against New Zealand at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on Tuesday, 27 October. India fielded an unchanged lineup for the third consecutive match, while the hosts made three changes to manage their fast bowlers' workload ahead of upcoming ODIs and Tests.
India Keep Faith With Unchanged XI
India named the same eleven that featured in the previous fixture, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi retaining his slot at No. 3. Ishan Kishan remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a groin injury, keeping him out of this game as well. Iyer underlined the importance of adaptability after winning the toss. 'We are going to bowl. Certain aspects we definitely need to keep improving. The dimensions and conditions are different, so the quicker we adapt, the better for us. A lot of players are pretty mature to understand when they are not starting. Same team for us,' he said at the toss.
New Zealand Ring In Three Changes
New Zealand made calculated alterations with a busy series schedule in mind. Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, both managing injuries, have been rested, and Nathan Smith has been dropped. Coming in as replacements are Matthew Fisher, Kyle Jamieson, and Adam Milne. Skipper Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenge of facing India at a new venue. 'Looks like another good wicket, some pace and bounce. There is no wind, which is nice. The dimensions are slightly different to where we have come from. We know India are a great side; you can't let your foot off the gas. Three changes. Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Nathan Smith are out. Matthew Fisher, Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne are in,' the all-rounder said.
Wellington Conditions and Match Context
The change of venue to Wellington's Hnry Stadium introduces different dimensions and a pitch expected to offer pace and bounce, according to both captains. India's decision to bowl first suggests they intend to exploit the conditions with their seam attack before chasing. Notably, this is the third match of the series, making it a potentially series-defining contest depending on the current standings.
Playing XIs
India Playing XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher.
With both sides adjusting to Wellington's distinct dimensions, the third T20I sets the stage for a pivotal evening in the series.
Point of View
Which bears watching ahead of the ODIs. New Zealand's rotation of Henry and Ferguson is pragmatic rather than alarming: with Tests on the horizon, the hosts are playing the long game. The real test at Wellington will be whether India's bowling unit can adapt quickly to the changed ground dimensions Iyer himself flagged — conditions that could expose any lack of local knowledge. A series lead here would carry significant momentum into the white-ball stretch.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in the 3rd T20I between India and New Zealand?
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss in the 3rd T20I at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on 27 October and elected to bowl first. He cited the different dimensions and conditions at Wellington as a key factor in the decision.
Why did New Zealand make three changes for the 3rd T20I?
New Zealand made three changes primarily to manage their fast bowlers' workload ahead of the ODI and Test series against India. Injured pacers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson were rested, while Nathan Smith was dropped; Matthew Fisher, Kyle Jamieson, and Adam Milne came in.
Is Ishan Kishan playing in the 3rd T20I against New Zealand?
No, Ishan Kishan is not playing in the 3rd T20I. He continues to recover from a groin injury that has kept him out of the series so far, with no return date confirmed yet.
What is India's Playing XI for the 3rd T20I in Wellington?
India's Playing XI is: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, and Prince Yadav. The team is unchanged from the previous match.
What conditions are expected at Hnry Stadium, Wellington for the 3rd T20I?
Both captains described the pitch as likely to offer pace and bounce, with no significant wind. The ground dimensions at Wellington's Hnry Stadium differ from the previous venue, a factor both Shreyas Iyer and Mitchell Santner highlighted as key to adapting quickly.
