Few sights in cricket are as unexpected as a batting lineup crumbling for 46. Yet that’s exactly what happened when India faced New Zealand in 2021, a moment that still echoes in the rivalry’s long history. From record totals to ICC knockout drama, the India-New Zealand scorecard tells a story of shifting fortunes across every format.

4 related posts

Total matches (all formats): 217 (as of 2026) ·
India wins: 122 ·
New Zealand wins: 95 ·
Highest ODI total: 397/4 ·
Lowest total: 46 (Test, 2021) ·
Highest T20I total: 238/7 (1st T20I 2026)

Quick snapshot

1ODI Head-to-Head
2T20I Head-to-Head
3Test Head-to-Head
4Recent T20I Series 2026

Five key facts, one pattern: individual brilliance has defined the biggest moments in this rivalry, from Tendulkar’s run-scoring to Kumble’s wicket-taking.

Category Record Holder
Most runs in ODIs (India vs NZ) 1,345 runs Sachin Tendulkar
Most wickets in ODIs (India vs NZ) 34 wickets Anil Kumble
Highest individual score in Tests (India vs NZ) 225 Brendon McCullum (NZ)
Best bowling figures in T20Is (India vs NZ) 5/18 Tim Southee (NZ)

How many times has India beaten New Zealand?

Across all formats, India have beaten New Zealand 122 times out of 217 matches, giving them a clear edge in the overall head-to-head record. The Black Caps have won 95, with the remaining matches drawn or tied. These numbers reflect a rivalry that has tilted India’s way in recent decades, though New Zealand has delivered some of the most memorable knockout blows in ICC events.

What is the overall win-loss record in all formats?

  • India wins: 122
  • New Zealand wins: 95
  • Total matches: 217 (as of 2026)

The implication: India’s 27-win cushion is significant, but it masks a more competitive picture in ICC tournaments, where New Zealand has often risen to the occasion.

How does the record compare in ODIs, T20Is, and Tests?

India leads in both ODIs (68 wins to 48) and Tests (24 wins to 15), while the T20I record is closer at 16 wins to 12 in India’s favour, according to CricketSky (T20I statistics tracker). The Test record includes 27 draws, reflecting the hard-fought nature of their longer-format encounters. India’s dominance in ODIs is partly driven by home conditions, where they have won 12 of the last 15 bilateral ODI series against New Zealand.

The pattern

India’s 24 Test wins to New Zealand’s 15 looks commanding, but 27 draws tell a different story: New Zealand’s lower-order resilience has repeatedly denied India series victories in their own backyard.

Is NZ vs IND 46 all out?

Yes — India were bowled out for 46 in the first Test of the 2021 New Zealand tour of India, their lowest-ever Test score against New Zealand and their third-lowest in Test history. The collapse unfolded in Wellington on February 21, 2021, and remains one of the most shocking innings in the rivalry’s history.

When did India get bowled out for 46?

  • Date: February 21, 2021
  • Venue: Wellington
  • Format: 1st Test, New Zealand tour of India
  • India’s total: 46 all out

New Zealand’s reply was 123 all out, giving them a lead of 77, but the match ended in a draw after India’s second innings of 242. The 46 all out stands as India’s lowest Test total against New Zealand and the joint-lowest across all opponents for India in Tests, per MyKhel (sports statistics site).

What was the match context?

New Zealand’s pace attack — led by Tim Southee and Trent Boult — exploited overcast conditions and a green-tinged pitch to devastating effect. Southee finished with 5 wickets, and Boult with 3. The collapse was so rapid that India lost their last 8 wickets for 28 runs after being 18/2. New Zealand’s response was also shaky, but the damage was done. The draw meant India avoided a series loss, but the 46 all out became a defining image of the rivalry.

The catch

The 46 all out is often cited as India’s worst batting performance, but it underscores a broader truth: New Zealand’s seam attack in helpful conditions can dismantle even the strongest lineups — a pattern that has repeated in ICC knockout games.

This collapse remains a pivotal moment, one that India’s batters have had to confront in subsequent tours of New Zealand.

Which team scored 498 in ODI?

No team has scored 498 in an ODI — that figure is likely a misremembered total from a different format or a different match. The highest ODI total between India and New Zealand is India’s 397/4, set in 2016. The 498 figure may refer to a Test innings or a misreported score, but it does not appear in any official ODI scorecard between the two sides.

Did India score 400 in ODI?

  • India’s highest ODI total against New Zealand: 397/4
  • India has never scored 400+ in ODIs against New Zealand
  • New Zealand’s highest ODI total against India: 349/9

India came closest to the 400 mark in the 5th ODI at Visakhapatnam in 2016, where they posted 397/4, powered by centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. New Zealand’s highest ODI total against India is 349/9, scored in the 2019 World Cup semifinal, per NDTV Sports (sports news outlet).

Who scored 400 runs in a Test?

No player has scored 400 runs in a Test between India and New Zealand. The highest individual Test score in this rivalry is Brendon McCullum’s 225 for New Zealand. The 400-run mark in Test cricket has only been reached by Brian Lara (400*), Matthew Hayden (380), and a handful of others — none in India-New Zealand matches.

What is the India vs New Zealand head-to-head record in T20Is?

India leads the T20I head-to-head 16 wins to 12, with 3 no results, across 30 matches played as of early 2026. The two sides have played several memorable T20I series, including the 2026 New Zealand tour of India, where India won the 1st T20I by 48 runs. The record is closer than the overall head-to-head suggests, with New Zealand having won key games in ICC events, including the 2026 T20 World Cup final that India won by 48 runs, per The Economic Times (business and sports news).

Who has the most T20 wins overall?

  • India: 16 wins
  • New Zealand: 12 wins
  • No results: 3
  • Total matches: 30

The pattern: India’s T20I dominance is real but thin — four wins separate the sides, and three of India’s wins came in the 2026 T20 World Cup final and the 2026 series opener. New Zealand’s 12 wins include a 7-wicket victory in the 2nd ODI of the 2026 tour, showing their ability to strike back quickly, as reported by Sky Sports (sports broadcaster).

What is the T20I series history?

India has won the majority of bilateral T20I series against New Zealand, including the 2026 series that is currently ongoing. The 1st T20I of the 2026 series saw India post 238/7 — their highest T20I total against New Zealand — and bowl New Zealand out for 190/7. The series also includes the 2026 T20 World Cup final, which India won by 48 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, according to The Indian Express (news publication).

What was the scorecard of the 1st T20I between India and New Zealand in 2026?

India won the 1st T20I of the 2026 New Zealand tour of India by 48 runs, posting 238/7 and restricting New Zealand to 190/7. The match was played on January 21, 2026, and set the tone for a competitive series. India’s 238/7 is their highest T20I total against New Zealand, and the 48-run margin is one of the largest in the rivalry’s T20I history, per Cricbuzz (cricket coverage platform).

What is the India vs New Zealand T20 series schedule for 2026?

  • 1st T20I: India won by 48 runs (238/7 vs 190/7)
  • 2nd T20I: Scheduled
  • 3rd T20I: Scheduled
  • Series: New Zealand tour of India, 2026

The series is part of New Zealand’s 2026 tour of India, which also includes ODIs and Tests. The 2nd T20I is scheduled to follow shortly after the 1st, with the series serving as preparation for both teams ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.

Timeline signal

  • 2021-02-21 — India bowled out for 46 in the 1st Test at Wellington (MyKhel (sports statistics site))
  • 2023-11-19 — India vs New Zealand World Cup semi-final — India won by 70 runs (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster))
  • 2026-03-08 — 1st T20I: India won by 48 runs (238/7 vs 190/7) (Cricbuzz (cricket coverage platform))

These moments trace a rivalry where momentum shifts abruptly, often defined by a single bowling spell or batting collapse.

Confirmed facts

  • India beat New Zealand in the 1st T20I of the 2026 series by 48 runs (Cricbuzz (cricket coverage platform))
  • India was bowled out for 46 in a Test match against New Zealand in 2021 (MyKhel (sports statistics site))
  • India leads the overall T20I head-to-head 16 wins to 12 (CricketSky (T20I statistics tracker))
  • India’s highest ODI total against New Zealand is 397/4 (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster))
  • India won the 2026 T20 World Cup final by 48 runs (The Indian Express (news publication))

What’s unclear

  • Exact head-to-head record as of 2026 requires verification with latest results — some sources cite 117 ODIs, others 120 (AiScore (aggregator platform))
  • The claim of a team scoring 498 in an ODI between India and New Zealand remains unverified — likely a misremembered figure from another format or match
  • Exact ODI head-to-head as of 2026 varies by source — some report 117 matches without clarification (YouTube (video source))
  • Aggregator data for all-competitions head-to-head may not align with official records (AiScore (aggregator platform))

These gaps highlight the need for cross-referencing official scorecards when analyzing the rivalry.

What the players said

“We knew we had to stay aggressive after that total. The pitch was good, and the boys executed the plans perfectly.”

— India captain, post-match comments after the 1st T20I 2026 victory (Cricbuzz (cricket coverage platform))

“To see a side like India bowled out for 46 — it’s one of those days where everything clicks. The conditions were helpful, but you still have to put the ball in the right areas.”

— Commentator describing the 46 all out collapse (MyKhel (sports statistics site))

The quotes capture the two extremes of this matchup: clinical aggression from India’s camp and the raw shock of New Zealand’s bowling mastery.

The rivalry between India and New Zealand has produced some of cricket’s most memorable scorecards — from the shock of 46 all out to the fireworks of 238/7. For Indian fans, the 2026 T20I series offers a chance to build on a 122-win legacy; for New Zealand supporters, the 95 wins and the memory of Wellington 2021 prove that the Black Caps can never be counted out. For the neutral observer, the message is clear: when these two sides meet, the scorecard is always worth watching.

Related reading: India vs New Zealand 2026 T20 World Cup Final: Score & Prize · Michigan vs Michigan State: Rivalry History and Records

Additional sources

timesofindia.indiatimes.com, scribd.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is the India vs New Zealand head-to-head record in World Cups?

India has won 4 of their 6 World Cup matches against New Zealand, including the 2023 semifinal and the 2026 T20 World Cup final. New Zealand won the 2019 semifinal.

Who has scored the most centuries in India vs NZ matches?

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most centuries in India-New Zealand ODIs with 5. In Tests, the record is shared between several players, with Brendon McCullum’s 225 being the highest individual score.

How many times has New Zealand beaten India in T20Is?

New Zealand has beaten India 12 times in T20Is, with 3 no results, across 30 matches. India leads 16-12.

What is the highest partnership in India vs NZ ODIs?

The highest partnership in India-New Zealand ODIs is 212 runs for the 2nd wicket between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in 2016.

When did India last win a Test series in New Zealand?

India last won a Test series in New Zealand in 2009, winning 2-0. Since then, New Zealand has won two home series and drawn one.

What is the lowest total in India vs NZ T20Is?

The lowest total in India-New Zealand T20Is is New Zealand’s 79 all out in 2012, followed by India’s 81 all out in 2020.

Who holds the record for best bowling figures in India vs NZ matches?

Tim Southee holds the best bowling figures in T20Is (5/18), while Anil Kumble holds the ODI record (5/33) and Richard Hadlee holds the Test record (9/52).

What is the India vs New Zealand World Cup 2026 status?

India won the 2026 T20 World Cup final against New Zealand by 48 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Related reading: India vs New Zealand 2026 T20 World Cup Final: Score & Prize