India is likely to field its core squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in the T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026. According to a source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee is expected to pick the same squad for both the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup.

The series against New Zealand will serve as crucial preparation and a final tune-up for the Men in Blue before the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026.

According to ICC tournament rules, teams must submit their final 15-member squad a month before the start of the tournament. The selection committee will announce their picks with an option to make changes until a specified cut-off date. The New Zealand T20I series starts on January 21 and will be the last series before the T20 World Cup.

A BCCI source said that with only 10 T20Is left before the T20 World Cup, there won't be many changes happening in the squad unless someone is ruled out due to injury. The source added that one of the biggest reasons is continuity, and the 15 chosen for the series against the Black Caps won't be tinkered with because of the short turnaround time.

The five T20I matches against New Zealand will be played in Nagpur (January 21), Raipur (January 23), Guwahati (January 25), Visakhapatnam (January 28), and Thiruvananthapuram (January 31).

Prior to the series against New Zealand, India will complete a two-Test series at home. The white-ball squad will then head to Australia for a bilateral series featuring three ODIs and five T20Is.

The series holds significance as it represents the final T20I preparation for India before the World Cup begins. As things stand, these five T20Is could be the last ones for India before the start of the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 also being held in India, the New Zealand series gains even more significance. It will offer the Indian team a chance to test their combinations, solidify strategies, and adapt to home conditions before the tournament begins. This packed schedule reflects India's strategic approach to World Cup preparation, blending competitive exposure with opportunities to groom emerging talent.

The ODI leg of the series is scheduled to kick off on January 11, 2026, in Baroda, while the T20I series will commence on January 21 in Nagpur and wrap up on January 31 in Trivandrum. A total of eight different venues across India will host the matches, offering fans nationwide a chance to catch the action live.

Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the T20I series for India. Facing him will likely be Kane Williamson or a new face in New Zealand's evolving leadership structure.