IND vs NZ Pitch, Weather Report of VCA Stadium Nagpur - 1st T20I, NZ tour of India 2026

VCA Stadium in Nagpur will host IND vs NZ 1st T20I [Source: @ddsportschannel/X]

India will lock horns with New Zealand in the first T20I of the five-match home series on Wednesday, January 21. The high-voltage clash will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. Led by Shubman Gill, India recently incurred an unexpected ODI series defeat against a second-string New Zealand side. 

Although talismanic batter Virat Kohli came out with all guns blazing, the visitors comprehensively outclassed the home side, registering a historic series victory on Indian soil. However, T20I cricket, being a different format altogether, poses contrasting challenges for both teams looking to conclude the white-ball leg on a high note. 

India's T20I side comprises match-winners like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. Although India's regular number three batter, Tilak Varma, has been ruled out of the first three T20Is due to injury, the return of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan gives a formidable look to the team. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand will rely on the in-form Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, with all-rounders like Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell also expected to play a significant role. 

As the stage is set for a cracking series opener, here we decode the expected playing conditions, including the pitch report and the weather report, of the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. 

VCA Stadium Nagpur Pitch Report for IND vs NZ 1st T20I

(VCA Stadium Nagpur stats in Men's T20Is)

The pitch at VCA stadium in Nagpur has traditionally offered a balanced contest between bat and ball, as evidenced by the average run rate of 7.40 across 13 T20Is at the venue. The pitch doesn't really offer significant lateral movement to the fast bowlers, so the opening batters can freely play their shots once they adapt to the pace and bounce of the surface. 

On the contrary, spinners generally play a crucial role in Nagpur. If dew doesn't come in, the pitch might slow down as the game progresses. So, unless the track has a bit of grass covering, the toss-winning side will likely bat first and put runs on the board. 

Nagpur Weather Report for IND vs NZ 1st T20I

(Source: AccuWeather)

According to AccuWeather, a pleasant evening awaits India and New Zealand for their T20I series opener in Nagpur on Wednesday. The temperature will hover around the higher tens, with the wind blowing gently from the East/South-East at 7 km/h. Although there may be some cloud cover, the chance of precipitation is nil. 

So, expect an uninterrupted game of cricket at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, with India and New Zealand preparing to take on each other in the first T20I of the five-match series. 

Conclusion

As the data shows, the pitch in Nagpur will offer a sporting deck with a hint of tackiness and spin for the bowlers. The batters may take a bit of time to get their eyes in; however, anything too full or short will be easily dispatched into the stands. The weather is expected to be ideal for a game of cricket, and something around 175 could be a challenging total at this ground.