India vs NZ 1st T20I: Mayank, Nitish return as Shreyas Iyer wins toss at Hagley Oval
Synopsis
The first T20I between India and New Zealand since this year's World Cup final is underway at Hagley Oval, with Shreyas Iyer opting to bowl after winning the toss. The big team news: Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy are back, replacing Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube — a pace-heavy selection call that signals India's intent on a fresh Christchurch surface.
Key Takeaways
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first in the 1st T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on 22 October .
Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy return to the XI, replacing Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube .
This is the first T20I between the two sides since the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad , which India won to retain the title.
India arrived just four days after their West Indies series decider was rained out in Bengaluru .
Mitchell Santner said New Zealand also wanted to bowl first but opted to bat on the fresh pitch in front of a sell-out home crowd.
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the 1st T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on Thursday, 22 October, with India handing recalls to express pacer Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for the series opener.
Team Changes and Toss Decision
Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy have replaced Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube in the playing eleven, with Iyer confirming the changes after winning the toss. Notably, this is the first time both players feature in a T20I on New Zealand soil.
Explaining his decision to bowl first, Iyer said he wanted 'a fair idea about how the wicket will play, how much bounce it's going to offer.' The skipper acknowledged a quick turnaround but added there were 'no complaints' from a 'bunch of professionals' who adapted to the conditions, time difference, and weather.
India's Confidence Riding High After West Indies Series
India arrive in New Zealand just four days after their series decider against the West Indies was washed out in Bengaluru. Despite the abrupt end, Iyer drew positives from that campaign, particularly the batting unit's consistency. 'Scoring 230, 250 in almost every alternate game was a plus for us,' he noted, also crediting the bowlers for showing 'a lot of character' on flat, smaller grounds.
This match carries added context: it is the first T20I encounter between India and New Zealand since the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad earlier this year, in which India triumphed to retain the title on home soil.
New Zealand's Take on the Contest
Mitchell Santner, captaining New Zealand in front of a sell-out home crowd, said his side would also have bowled first, but with a fresh pitch on offer, they were backing themselves to post a big total. 'Looks like a fresh wicket. Guys are really excited for a big series. It's cool to play against India,' Santner said.
The Kiwi captain also highlighted the batting depth his side brings, specifically mentioning Bevon Jacobs: 'He has shown what he can do, and brings a lot of power in the middle-order.'
Playing XIs
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav.
New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
With India's pace arsenal bolstered by Mayank's return and the post-World Cup momentum still fresh, all eyes are on whether the bowling-first decision pays early dividends at Hagley Oval.
Point of View
And the selection of Mayank alongside Arshdeep and Bhuvneshwar gives India a genuinely varied pace attack. The more telling subtext is the team management's ability to refresh combinations so quickly — swapping out Dube and Prince Yadav while keeping faith in Nitish's utility as a seam-bowling finisher. The real test of India's claimed West Indies batting form — those 230-plus totals — will come if the bowlers don't set up a small target, since New Zealand's Ferguson-Henry-Milne pace battery on home soil is no relay warm-up. The first T20I since the World Cup final also carries a pressure of narrative: India will want to prove that title defence translates to form away from home.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the toss in the 1st T20I between India and New Zealand?
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 22 October and elected to bowl first, citing his desire to assess the pitch's pace and bounce before batting.
Which players returned to India's XI for the 1st T20I against New Zealand?
Express pacer Mayank Yadav and seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy returned to the playing XI, replacing Prince Yadav and Shivam Dube. It is the first T20I appearance for both players on New Zealand soil.
Why is the India vs New Zealand T20I series significant?
This is the first T20I series between the two teams since India beat New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad earlier this year. India arrive looking to carry that momentum into an away series.
What did Mitchell Santner say about the pitch and his team's preparation?
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his side also intended to bowl first but decided to bat on the fresh pitch. He expressed confidence in his team's depth, specifically highlighting Bevon Jacobs' power-hitting ability in the middle-order.
What are India's full and New Zealand's full playing XIs for the 1st T20I?
India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav. New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
