India lead New Zealand 2-0 and can seal the T20I series in Wellington

India can win the five-match T20I series against New Zealand on Tuesday, 27 October, when they take a 2-0 lead into the third match at Hnry Stadium (also called Sky Stadium) in Wellington. The toss is at 12:00 PM IST and play begins at 12:30 PM IST, live on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV.

India won both earlier games by four wickets, the second of them on 24 October, and New Zealand now have to win to stay alive in the series.

How India got here

In the first T20I on 22 October, New Zealand made 225/4 and India replied with 230/6 in 19.4 overs. Sanju Samson hit 67 off 33 balls and Naman Dhir finished unbeaten on 42 off 15.

The second match, on 24 October, was tighter. New Zealand posted 180/5 and India reached 181/6 in 19.5 overs. Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls took India home with a ball to spare.

Team news

Ishan Kishan is out of the third T20I with an injury, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may keep his place in the XI. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel did not say whether the conditions would force any tactical changes.

New Zealand are short of pace. Matt Henry is ruled out of the rest of the series and Lockie Ferguson misses this game. Adam Milne and Blair Tickner are the available pace options, and Kyle Jamieson is expected to play.

Arshdeep’s milestones

Arshdeep Singh has 38 T20I wickets in 2026, one short of Josh Little’s record for most in a calendar year by a player from a Full Member nation. He is also two wickets away from 150 in T20Is, which would make him the first Indian bowler to reach that mark.

What’s next

If the series is not decided in Wellington, it moves to Auckland for the fourth T20I on 30 October and ends with the fifth in Hamilton on 1 November. Both of those matches also start at 12:30 PM IST.