As India seek to book a slot in the ICC WTC 2025-27 final at The Oval, they head into the New Zealand Test series later in the year. Prior to the series, however, India A will play New Zealand A in three four-day matches in Christchurch, starting October 24. This series will aim to provide the Indian side with early exposure to New Zealand’s playing conditions. The preparatory matches are an excellent outlet to provide first-class match practice to players pushing for a place in the national squad.
India recently won the Sri Lanka Test series by 1-0, but missed out on a clean sweep. New Zealand, though, will be a different ball game given the fast & swinging conditions would test batters. India haven’t won a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, as now Shubman Gill’s brigade has got a great chance to create history & get closer to ICC WTC 2025-27 top rankings. India currently is ranked at 5th position with a percentile of 51.52 & Kiwis placed at 3rd position with a percentile of 72.22.
India’s Packed and Busy Tour of New ZealandÂ
The India A series comes in the midst of a packed tour for the Indian team, with the Men in Blue scheduled to play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests in New Zealand during the months of October and November. The A-team pathway has proved quite beneficial for India in the past, with several players from the A setup such as Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Saransh Jain and Gurnoor Brar, gaining valuable first-class competitive experience before the arrival of the senior squad.
The Tests will begin from the 19th of November, with the first Test scheduled from November 19 to 23 in Wellington. The second match is scheduled to be played from November 27 to December 1 at Christchurch. This series also provides India an opportunity to retaliate after their previous Test experience against New Zealand. During their 2024-25 tour of India, the Kiwis stunned the cricket fraternity by clean sweeping the hosts 3-0 in the series. India currently sit fifth in the WTC points standings, with New Zealand in third.
New Zealand Cricket’s Official Statement
New Zealand Cricket included the India A fixtures in its announcement of the upcoming Plunket Shield schedule as the country’s premier domestic first-class competition enters its 101st season.
“New Zealand’s premier first-class competition returns for its 101st season, adding to a packed rota of red ball cricket that also includes Tests against India and Sri Lanka at home, and Australia away.The domestic red ball summer will also get an injection of international class as New Zealand A host India A for three four-day matches in Christchurch starting October 24,” read the statement from New Zealand cricket.
Also Read: ICC WTC 2025-27: Scenarios For Teams Reaching ICC WTC Final