The India national cricket team vs New Zealand national cricket team timeline is a testament to a new rivalry of abiding stature developing between two proud, traditional, and talented nations, that have enjoyed both long, even and evenly contested rivalries and exciting contests in modern times across all formats. From the drawn out years of Test matches in the 1950s, early 1960s and other eras, to the high-octane World Cup clashes of other places in the world, to T20 thrills and spills – India and New Zealand have met many times. This article will discuss and share a timeline of their clashes in Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals (T20Is), covering significant events, shifts in power, and the overall head-to-head stats.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline in Test
Initial Encounters (1955–1969)
India and New Zealand first met in Test cricket in November 1955, in a five-match series played in India, with India winning two matches by innings and three draws. This series shaped a rivalry based on the type of match that rewarded patience. As a result, the condensed cavalier style, associated with more exuberant gameplay, was not an accurate representation of either team.
India and New Zealand also met in the 1960s. After a few years, the teams again played together in India and New Zealand. During the 1967–68 tour, India won their first overseas Test series against New Zealand, after victories in Carisbrook, Basin Reserve, and Eden Park, and secured more communication with indigenous groups.
The 1970s-1980s: Regular Rivalry with Uneven Results
Between 1970 and 1980, India and New Zealand fell outside of the regular series, with results beginning to turn evenly between India and New Zealand. Both teams won matches at home, but each often had tougher tours arranged as well as longer home series. In 1976, India had a distant tour, and ran away from a win in Auckland, then suffer a heavy defeat in Wellington.
In the home series with New Zealand (1988-89), India won two of the three fixtures – decisively – New Zealand in response to India’s win returned the favour in 1990m Christchurch, by ten-wickets.
1990s – 2000s: Era & Competition Changes
There were more contests in the nineties and more draws with India’s tours of New Zealand being rather pointless as New Zealand had the home advantage. The 2002 – 2003 tours of New Zealand stood out as New Zealand won two Test matches coherently in a space of four days and applied their pace attack against a frail Indian batting line-up.
New Era (2010 – 2025): New rivalries & high stakes
The 2010’s brought a bolder Indian side but New Zealand, while still very competitive at home. India got its significant win at Seddon Park in 2009 against New Zealand but New Zealand would later famously beat India in back to back Tests in 2020 and again in the World Test Championship Final in 2021, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton – it was a significant win at eight wickets after trailing at the close of Day 2.
As both countries prepare for a 2024 – 25 Test series again in India, expectations were turned again with New Zealand beating India three times in a row, with a rare clean sweep.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline In ODIs
1975 – 1980s : Fairly Equal Battles in the Closer Format Beginning and Early Issues
The ODI rivalry started at the 1975 World Cup with New Zealand first up. New Zealand’s intuitive 10 years developed as certain ascent including elevator towards the Benson & Hedges World Series as New Zealand won more often than not. By the late 1980s, India started to keep pace winning ODI series/tournaments while New Zealand winning only part times ultimately upsetting New Zealand in 2-3 occasions playing in Sharjah Stadium and home formats.
1990s – 2000s: Swings and battles
In the 1990s, rivalry had hosted swayed while New Zealand could beat India consistently at home. India were still very capable considering they won key ICC matches and on neutral venues which did help. In 1999 bilateral series in India, the two teams were even winning half – half, and eventually in 2003 World Cup match in South Africa; India recorded a smooth seven-wicket victory.
2010s: India rise to prominence
Between 2010 and 2019 India had much dominance as they won at will, typically in home series and ICC tournaments. First at home India put together a convincing 5 – 0 victory. Then, away from home, India was able to replicate their success and secure a draw in New Zealand.
Still, the ultimate heartbreak came in the 2019 World Cup semifinal when New Zealand knocked India out of the tournament with a gut-wrenching 18 run win at Old Trafford, one of the most painful losses in Indian Cricket history.
2020s: Mixed Results in Multi-Nations Tournaments
At the beginning of the 2020s, New Zealand enjoyed a home ODI series victory against India in 2020, however, India came back with a vengeance in the 2023 World Cup, winning both matches; including an unforgettable 70 run semifinals victory at Wankhede stadium.
During the 2025 Champions Trophy, India continued to dominate New Zealand, winning both matches and maintaining a stronghold in ICC tournaments.
India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline in T20i
Birth and Early Supremacists of New Zealand (2007-2016)
The T20I animosity began at the 2007 T20 World Cup, when New Zealand dealt India one of its rare defeats. Even as they did more havoc with India again, New Zealand won five of the subsequent six times India played them, including their victory at the 2016 World T20 in Nagpur, which had dire consequences.
2017-2020: Momentum Shifts Back to India
Post 2017, India was swift in all formats, and started winning matches both at home and abroad, albeit not always convincingly, despite winning series. The most significant consequence during the New Zealand series in 2020 was when India broke through to achieve consecutive super over victories, completing a 5-0 series whitewash against New Zealand, for the first time and abroad too.
2021-2025: Continues the Upward Trajectory of India
India National Cricket Team continued to relish dominance in subsequent bilateral series of 2021 and 2023, winning most matches convincingly. India’s 2023 match at Ahmedabad was also significant, as India won by 168 runs, the largest margin of victory in the history of T20i between India and New Zealand.