Honestly, if you told a cricket fan a few years ago that India would get swept at home—and I mean a proper, soul-crushing 3-0 whitewash—they’d have probably laughed you out of the stadium. It just didn't happen. India was a fortress. But then the late 2024 Test series happened, and everything we thought we knew about india vs nz cricket shifted.
The Kiwis didn't just win; they dismantled the myth of Indian invincibility on turning tracks. Now, as we sit in early 2026, the rivalry has taken on this weird, tense energy. Every time New Zealand lands in India now, there’s this collective "uh oh" from the home crowd. It’s no longer the "nice guys" visiting for a friendly beating. It's a legitimate threat.
The Day the Fortress Crumbled
Let’s look at that 2024 Test series for a second, because you can't understand the current vibe without it. It was historic. Not the good kind of historic if you're an India fan. It was the first time India had been whitewashed in a home series of three or more Tests. Ever.
It started in Bengaluru with that nightmare 46 all out. The ball was moving, the clouds were grey, and Matt Henry and William O'Rourke looked like they were bowling on a different planet. Then came Pune and Mumbai. India tried to fix things by asking for "rank turners"—pitches designed to spin from ball one. Usually, that’s where Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja feast.
But Mitchell Santner had other plans.
In Pune, Santner basically turned into a wizard, taking 13 wickets in the match. India’s batters, who are supposed to be the masters of spin, looked lost. They were playing for turn that wasn't there or getting beaten by the ones that bit. By the time they got to Wankhede for the third Test, the spirit was already flagging. Even a heroic 64 from Rishabh Pant—who was basically playing a different game than everyone else—couldn't save them. Ajaz Patel, back in the city of his birth, picked up 11 wickets to seal the 3-0.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
What’s Happening Right Now (January 2026)
Fast forward to today, January 18, 2026. We are currently in the middle of a high-stakes ODI series. As I'm writing this, the third ODI in Indore is actually happening. The series is locked at 1-1.
The first game in Vadodara was a classic. New Zealand put up 300, and it looked like they might snatch it, but Virat Kohli (93) and KL Rahul (who finished it with a flurry of boundaries) pulled India across the line. But then Rajkot happened. Daryl Mitchell—who is becoming a massive thorn in India's side—smashed an unbeaten century to level things up.
New Zealand has never won a bilateral ODI series in India. Not since they first started touring here in 1989. They are currently one win away from making that history.
The Rishabh Pant Factor
You can't talk about india vs nz cricket without mentioning Rishabh Pant. He’s the X-factor. He’s the guy who makes New Zealand captains pull their hair out. In that 2024 whitewash, he was the only one who didn't look scared.
The way he bats against them is almost disrespectful, but in a tactical way. He knows if he lets the spinners settle, he’s dead. So he charges. He reverse-sweeps. He makes the fielders move.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
"Pant has batted phenomenally... I had to think out of the box and stay ahead of him," Ajaz Patel admitted after that Mumbai Test.
Even in the current white-ball matches, the New Zealand bowlers have a specific "Pant Plan." It involves a lot of wide lines and pace variations, trying to bait him into a mistake before he can take the game away. He missed the start of this 2026 ODI series with a small niggle, and you could feel the difference in the middle overs. India lacks that "fearless" gear when he’s not there.
Why India Struggles With This Specific Matchup
It’s tempting to say it’s just a fluke, but it’s not. New Zealand plays a very specific brand of "boring" cricket that is actually genius. They don't try to out-spin India. They try to out-patience them.
- The Discipline: Guys like Tom Latham and Will Young don't care if they don't score for three overs. They wait for the loose ball.
- The Fielding: New Zealand is consistently 15-20 runs better in the field than almost any other team.
- Tactical Flexibility: In Bengaluru 2024, they used pace. In Pune, they used Santner’s side-spin. In the current ODIs, they’ve been using a lot of "slower-ball bouncers" to cramp the Indian power-hitters.
Honestly, India has looked a bit shell-shocked. Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, is under immense pressure because losing a home Test series 3-0 is a massive stain on the record. He’s trying to bring in more aggressive players—look at Harshit Rana getting a go—but the core issue remains: India’s top order has become strangely vulnerable to quality spin at home.
The Head-to-Head Reality
If you look at the raw numbers, India still leads the overall tally. In ODIs, they've won 63 out of 121 matches. At home, that dominance is even higher. But stats are trailing indicators. The "new" reality of india vs nz cricket is that the gap has closed.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
The Black Caps are no longer just "scrappy." They have world-class operators. Rachin Ravindra, with his local roots, plays like he’s lived on these pitches his whole life. Daryl Mitchell is arguably one of the best all-format players in the world right now.
What to Watch For Next
After this ODI series wraps up in Indore, we move into a five-match T20I series starting January 21 in Nagpur. This is where things get really wild. India is likely to rest the seniors (Kohli and Rohit) to focus on the younger crop.
Expect to see:
- Shubman Gill leading the charge: He’s been prolific but needs to prove he can handle the high-pressure "decider" moments.
- Spin-heavy New Zealand: They’ll likely bring in Ish Sodhi for the T20s to partner with Santner.
- High scores: The venues (Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati) are generally batter-friendly, so don't be surprised if 200 is the par score.
The rivalry has reached a point where the "big brother, little brother" dynamic is dead. New Zealand knows they can win here. India knows they can lose. That makes for some of the best cricket on the planet.
If you’re following the current series, pay close attention to the first six overs of the Indian innings. New Zealand has been using a very specific "short-ball" trap for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill that has worked twice already. If India can't counter that, the Black Caps might just leave with another trophy in their luggage.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Toss: In Indore and the upcoming T20s, the dew factor is massive. Teams batting second have a huge advantage because the ball gets slippery for the spinners.
- Track the Middle Overs: India's scoring rate against Santner and Phillips usually decides the game. If they get stuck, they lose.
- Player to Watch: Harshit Rana. If he gets a consistent run, his extra bounce could be the answer to New Zealand's disciplined batting.
The next few weeks will tell us if the 2024 whitewash was a one-off or the start of a new era where New Zealand is the real king of the sub-continent.