Key points
- India have won two of the 10 ODI series they have played in New Zealand: 3-1 in 2008/09 and 4-1 in 2018/19.
- New Zealand have won six of those series, while two ended in draws.
- India and New Zealand have played 123 ODIs overall; India lead with 63 wins to New Zealand's 52, with one tie and seven no-results.
- In New Zealand, India have won 14 of 45 ODIs, while the hosts have won 26; one match was tied and four had no result.
- India's last ODI win in New Zealand came in Wellington in February 2019; they have not won an ODI there since.
- The five-match 2026 ODI series begins at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, with further matches scheduled in Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga.
India have won ODI series in New Zealand, but the achievement has been rare. In 10 previous bilateral ODI series played on New Zealand soil, India have emerged winners only twice: first in 2008/09 and again in 2018/19. As the teams prepare for a five-match contest beginning in Auckland on November 4, 2026, the historical numbers underline the challenge facing the visitors.
India's overall record against New Zealand in the 50-over format is favourable, with 63 wins in 123 matches. The balance changes significantly in New Zealand, where the hosts have won 26 of 45 matches against India's 14. One game was tied and four ended without a result.
India's two series victories in New Zealand
India's first ODI series win in New Zealand came in the 2008/09 tour. They won the five-match series 3-1, 33 years after first visiting the country for an ODI series in 1975/76. It was a breakthrough result in conditions that had historically favoured the home side.
The second success arrived a decade later, in 2018/19. Virat Kohli's team won the series 4-1, taking the first three matches at Napier and Mount Maunganui before New Zealand claimed the fourth ODI in Hamilton. India then finished the tour with a 35-run win in Wellington.
The 2018/19 campaign remains India's most successful ODI series in New Zealand by margin. It also included their biggest ODI victory against New Zealand on the hosts' ground: a 90-run win at Mount Maunganui on January 26, 2019.
New Zealand's home advantage in the head-to-head
The overall ODI rivalry is much closer than the record in New Zealand. Across 123 matches, India have won 63 and New Zealand 52, with one tie and seven no-results. On New Zealand soil, however, the hosts have won nearly twice as many matches as India.
Of the 45 ODIs played in New Zealand, India have won 14 and lost 26. The tie came in Auckland in January 2014, while four matches ended without a result. India's last win there came in Wellington in February 2019. Since that 2018/19 tour, they have lost matches in the country without recording another victory.
The 2019/20 tour proved difficult for India, who lost all three ODIs. On the 2022/23 visit, India lost the match in Auckland before rain washed out the remaining two games in Hamilton and Christchurch. Those results mean the upcoming series offers India an opportunity to end a long wait for an away ODI win in New Zealand.
How the bilateral series record compares
Across all venues, India and New Zealand have contested 18 bilateral ODI series. India have won nine, New Zealand seven and two ended in draws. India's record at home is stronger, while New Zealand have the advantage in series played on their own ground.
India's home dominance is reflected in a 32-10 win record from 43 ODIs against New Zealand in India, with one no-result. The teams' most recent bilateral ODI series before this tour was played in India in January 2026, when New Zealand won 2-1. That was New Zealand's first ODI series victory on Indian soil.
The contrast between the two countries' home records gives the 2026 contest an added edge. India will be looking to build on their overall advantage and recent T20I success, while New Zealand will aim to maintain their strong home record in the 50-over format.
What to expect from the 2026 ODI series
The five-match series begins at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4. The teams will then travel to Wellington and Hamilton, with the final two matches scheduled at Bay Oval in Tauranga. The series follows India's 3-2 victory in the T20I leg of the tour.
India's previous best result in New Zealand came in 2018/19, when they won four of five matches. Repeating that performance will require the visitors to adapt quickly to the conditions and overcome a home side that has historically been difficult to beat in this format.
The numbers offer a clear answer to the question of whether India have ever won an ODI series in New Zealand: yes, twice. The first came in 2008/09 and the second in 2018/19. The next opportunity begins in Auckland, with India seeking their first ODI win in the country since February 2019 and a third series triumph on New Zealand soil.
Frequently asked questions
How many ODI series has India won in New Zealand?
India have won two of the 10 ODI series they have played in New Zealand. Those victories came in 2008/09, when India won 3-1, and in 2018/19, when Virat Kohli's side secured a 4-1 series result.
When did India last win an ODI in New Zealand?
India's most recent ODI victory in New Zealand came in Wellington on February 3, 2019, during the fifth match of the 2018/19 series. India won that match by 35 runs and sealed the five-match series 4-1. They have not won an ODI there since.
What is India's overall ODI record against New Zealand?
India lead the overall ODI head-to-head against New Zealand, with 63 wins from 123 matches. New Zealand have won 52, one match was tied and seven ended without a result. The figures include matches played in India, New Zealand and at neutral venues.
What is India's ODI record in New Zealand?
In 45 ODIs played in New Zealand, India have won 14 matches and lost 26. One match ended in a tie and four produced no result. The record illustrates the challenge India have faced when playing the Black Caps in home conditions.
When does the 2026 India-New Zealand ODI series begin?
The five-match ODI series begins at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, 2026. The tour itinerary then moves to Wellington and Hamilton before the final two matches at Bay Oval in Tauranga, according to the series preview.