NZ vs IND Dream11 prediction & fantasy tips: 3rd T20I 2026

New Zealand vs India, the 3rd T20I of the New Zealand vs India T20I Series 2026, starts at 12:30 PM IST on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 at Hnry Stadium, Wellington. The squads below are the announced squads, not confirmed playing XIs, so check the lineups at the toss before locking your team.

Squads

New Zealand's announced 16-member squad, according to the Tribune India report: Mitchell Santner, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert and Nathan Smith.

India's announced squad, according to the BCCI: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.

Outlook reports that Ishan Kishan was ruled out of the second T20I with a low-grade right adductor strain sustained in the series opener. Outlook also reports that Clarkson and Tickner were brought into New Zealand's side in place of the injured Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes. Wisden notes that Finn Allen, who has not played a T20I since the final, is back in New Zealand's side.

Form and head-to-head

India lead this series after winning both matches by 4 wickets. In the first, on 22 October, New Zealand made 225/4 (20 ov) and India replied with 230/6 (19.4 ov). In the second, on 24 October, New Zealand made 180/5 (20 ov) and India finished on 181/6 (19.5 ov).

India also beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match on 8 March 2026. Outlook reports that India have won 19 of 31 men's T20Is against New Zealand, with New Zealand winning 11 and one match tied. Business Standard also lists 19 India wins and 11 New Zealand wins.

In the January 2026 T20I series in India, India won four matches and New Zealand won one, by 50 runs on 28 January.

Captain and vice-captain picks

These choices are our opinion, based on squad and series context. Ishan Kishan's fitness is a concern, so avoid leaning on him unless he appears in the XI.

India won both chases in this series. Shreyas Iyer, as India's captain, is a sensible captain option if he plays. Tilak Varma, named vice-captain by the BCCI, is a reasonable vice-captain option. Both are only options until the XIs are out.