Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
India A and New Zealand A begin three-match series on October 24
India A and New Zealand A will play three four-day matches starting October 24.
The series is a shadow tour alongside the senior India men’s team’s visit to New Zealand.
India have included several Test regulars, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul and Washington Sundar, to help them adjust to local conditions.
Dhruv Jurel will captain India A, while Rishabh Pant is unavailable for the first two matches because of a side strain.
New Zealand have named a 19-player squad, but players will be rotated across the three matches, with some released to play in the Ford Trophy.
The first and third matches are in Lincoln, with the second in Christchurch, and all are scheduled to start at 10:30am local time.
The series gives India’s players preparation before the senior teams’ Test series, which is part of the wider tour.
New Zealand A named a 19-member squad for a three-match unofficial Test series against India A.
The opening match is scheduled for October 24 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
The second match is scheduled for October 31 to November 3 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The teams are due to return to Lincoln for the third match from November 7 to 10.
Canterbury’s Rhys Mariu will captain New Zealand A in the first two matches.
- Who
- New Zealand A and India A.
- What
- They are scheduled to play a three-match unofficial red-ball series.
- When
- October 24 to November 10, 2026. One source gives October 23 as the opener’s start date, while the others say October 24.
- Where
- Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln and Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand.
- Why
- The series is described as a shadow tour, giving players a chance to test themselves ahead of the senior teams’ meeting.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wisden reported that the three-match unofficial Test series would start on October 24.
New Zealand named a 19-member A squad for the series.
The first match is scheduled at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
The second match is scheduled at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The third match is scheduled at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.
- New Zealand A squad
- 19 members
- Players available per match
- 13
- First match
- October 24–27, 2026
- First venue
- Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
- Second venue
- Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- New Zealand A captain
- Rhys Mariu for the first two matches
4 sources
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NZ-A vs IND-A unofficial Tests, all you need to know: Full schedule, squads, venue and match timings for India A tour of New Zealand
What people are saying
We’re really looking forward to hosting India A,
There's a huge buzz around having India on our shores, and I know the squad are raring to get their domestic summer underway,
You always want to test yourself against the best and potentially playing against some of those guys is a huge opportunity,