New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has opened an unused sixth-tier seating area at Eden Park in Auckland for the first time in six years for the 4th T20I against India, having last been used during a match against the Men in Blue in 2019. A surge in ticket demand for India’s tour of New Zealand later this winter forced the home board to tap the unused seating space for the crowd. &nbsp;“High demand at Eden Park has required the stadium’s sixth tier of seating to open for the first time since the 2019 India tour of New Zealand, with the upper level available for the fourth T20I against India on Friday, October 30,” said NZC in a statement. &nbsp;“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and a men’s T20I against Australia in 2018 are the only other times in recent history that the sixth tier has opened up, signalling huge anticipation for the rematch between this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finalists.”&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-surpasses-waugh-ponting-third-most-capped-test-player-1788955580781">Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player</a> &nbsp;Over 50,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of tickets going live for the public. The NZC opened tickets for the fans on Monday after a two-week pre-sale window ‘for Cricket Nation members, Sky customers, and ANZ customers, with several matches on track to sell out, including the second T20I against India in Christchurch which sits at 75% sold out.’ &nbsp;Considering India will tour New Zealand for a full tour, including white-ball matches (ODIs and T20Is) and two Tests, NZC’s Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said that the board is ‘deep into planning for a number of events surrounding the tour and have some exciting at-game activations in the works.’ &nbsp;“Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour,” he said. “Matches at Hagley Oval (which will host the first two T20Is and the second Test) have always been well attended, but to have one of them over three-quarters sold already is quite remarkable.”

NZC opens Eden Park's sixth tier for the 4th T20I against India as ticket sales surge past 50,000 in the first week for the 2026 tour.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has opened an unused sixth-tier seating area at Eden Park in Auckland for the first time in six years for the 4th T20I against India, having last been used during a match against the Men in Blue in 2019. A surge in ticket demand for India’s tour of New Zealand later this winter forced the home board to tap the unused seating space for the crowd. “High demand at Eden Park has required the stadium’s sixth tier of seating to open for the first time since the 2019 India tour of New Zealand, with the upper level available for the fourth T20I against India on Friday, October 30,” said NZC in a statement. “The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and a men’s T20I against Australia in 2018 are the only other times in recent history that the sixth tier has opened up, signalling huge anticipation for the rematch between this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finalists.” Also read| Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player Over 50,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of tickets going live for the public. The NZC opened tickets for the fans on Monday after a two-week pre-sale window ‘for Cricket Nation members, Sky customers, and ANZ customers, with several matches on track to sell out, including the second T20I against India in Christchurch which sits at 75% sold out.’ Considering India will tour New Zealand for a full tour, including white-ball matches (ODIs and T20Is) and two Tests, NZC’s Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said that the board is ‘deep into planning for a number of events surrounding the tour and have some exciting at-game activations in the works.’ “Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour,” he said. “Matches at Hagley Oval (which will host the first two T20Is and the second Test) have always been well attended, but to have one of them over three-quarters sold already is quite remarkable.”

NZC opens Eden Park's sixth tier for the 4th T20I against India as ticket sales surge past 50,000 in the first week for the 2026 tour.

NZC opens Auckland’s unused seating tier for India T20I amid surge in ticket demand

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-match Test series in late November. The ‘A’ games, from October 24 to November 10, will run parallel with India’s white-ball leg against the Kiwis, including five T20Is and three ODIs from October 22 to November 15. While the first ‘A’ match will be played from October 24 to 27 in Lincoln, the second will get underway from October 31 to November 3 in Christchurch and the third from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln. &nbsp;However, the ‘A’ series will also overlap with the domestic tournaments of both India and New Zealand. &nbsp;For the Indian players, this ‘A’ series will clash with the Ranji Trophy tournament, which starts on October 11 – meaning those picked for four-day matches in New Zealand will miss the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy for their state teams. On the other hand, the ‘A’ tour will coincide with the Ford Trophy (One-Day Tournament), which takes place from October 28 to November 12.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tilak-varma-south-zone-north-zone-duleep-trophy-semifinal-2026-1788346593695">Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, India and New Zealand will see this ‘A’ series as preparatory matches for the two-match Test series, crucial to their respective World Test Championship (WTC) standings.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Kiwis, placed third in the current WTC standings, will first host India before touring Australia for four Tests from November to January. After that, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka and travel to Pakistan as part of their WTC schedule. &nbsp;Elsewhere, India is fifth in the standings after winning the away Sri Lanka Tests 1-0. The New Zealand Test series is their next assignment before they host Australia for five Tests in January-February next year, wrapping up their WTC schedule for this cycle. &nbsp;While Australia, South Africa and even New Zealand are top contenders for the 2027 WTC Final, two-time runners-up India could also make a late push for qualification. For Shubman Gill’s side to qualify for their third WTC Final, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-Test WTC series in November. Read the full tour schedule and WTC breakdown.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-match Test series in late November. The ‘A’ games, from October 24 to November 10, will run parallel with India’s white-ball leg against the Kiwis, including five T20Is and three ODIs from October 22 to November 15. While the first ‘A’ match will be played from October 24 to 27 in Lincoln, the second will get underway from October 31 to November 3 in Christchurch and the third from November 7 to 10 in Lincoln. However, the ‘A’ series will also overlap with the domestic tournaments of both India and New Zealand. For the Indian players, this ‘A’ series will clash with the Ranji Trophy tournament, which starts on October 11 – meaning those picked for four-day matches in New Zealand will miss the opening rounds of the Ranji Trophy for their state teams. On the other hand, the ‘A’ tour will coincide with the Ford Trophy (One-Day Tournament), which takes place from October 28 to November 12. Also read| Tilak Varma's masterclass drives South Zone into Duleep Trophy final Meanwhile, India and New Zealand will see this ‘A’ series as preparatory matches for the two-match Test series, crucial to their respective World Test Championship (WTC) standings. The Kiwis, placed third in the current WTC standings, will first host India before touring Australia for four Tests from November to January. After that, New Zealand will host Sri Lanka and travel to Pakistan as part of their WTC schedule. Elsewhere, India is fifth in the standings after winning the away Sri Lanka Tests 1-0. The New Zealand Test series is their next assignment before they host Australia for five Tests in January-February next year, wrapping up their WTC schedule for this cycle. While Australia, South Africa and even New Zealand are top contenders for the 2027 WTC Final, two-time runners-up India could also make a late push for qualification. For Shubman Gill’s side to qualify for their third WTC Final, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches.

India A will play three four-day matches in New Zealand ahead of the two-Test WTC series in November. Read the full tour schedule and WTC breakdown.

India A to play three four-day games in New Zealand ahead of Test series

The IPL 2026 is over, and Team India will be back playing international cricket, with the first goal being to qualify for the WTC Final next year. Currently sixth on the WTC table for the 2025-27 cycle, India will play nine scheduled Tests, including two against New Zealand later this winter. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced its schedule for the home summer, with the Men in Blue slated to play five T20Is and as many ODIs in the 12-match full-fledged tour from October to December.&nbsp;India will begin its tour with five T20Is, starting with the first two at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the remaining three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1, respectively. Following a two-day window, Auckland will host the ODI series opener on November 4. Wellington (November 7) and Hamilton (November 10) are venues for the second and the third ODI, with Mount Maunganui staging the final two One-Dayers on November 13 and 15, respectively.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-eng-w-3rd-t20i-harmanpreet-s-50-goes-in-vain-as-england-seal-series-2-1-after-capsey-and-knight-masterclass-1780450151980">IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: Harmanpreet's 50 goes in vain as England seal series 2-1 after Capsey and Knight masterclass</a> &nbsp;The Test series gets underway in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch starting November 27. &nbsp;"The New Zealand government will be supporting the inbound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later in the year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated," the NZC statement said. &nbsp;For India, this tour would hold great significance. While the 10 white-ball games will help them prepare for the ODI and T20 World Cups that follow, the two Tests will be Team India’s priority. To qualify for their third WTC final, India must at least win seven of their remaining nine Tests, two of which would be played on quick and double-paced New Zealand pitches. &nbsp;Yet to win a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, Shubman Gill-led India’s Test team will aim to end their winning drought in those challenging conditions. &nbsp;New Zealand, however, will also host Sri Lanka for three ODIs, as many T20Is and two Tests from January 16 to February 12. In between the two series, New Zealand will also host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23.&nbsp;<h3>Check Team India's Full Schedule -&nbsp;</h3>T20I Series -<ul><li>1st T20I - October 22</li><li>2nd T20I – October 24</li><li>3rd T20I – October 27</li><li>4th T20I – October 30</li><li>5th T20I – November 1</li></ul>ODI Series –<ul><li>1st ODI – November 4</li><li>2nd ODI – November 7</li><li>3rd ODI – November 10</li><li>4th ODI – November 13</li><li>5th ODI – November 15</li></ul>Test Series –<ul><li>1st Test – November 19 to 2</li><li>2nd Test – November 27 to December 1</li></ul>

Get the full schedule, match dates, and venues for India's marathon 12-match winter tour of New Zealand 2026. Can Shubman Gill's men seal vital WTC points?

The IPL 2026 is over, and Team India will be back playing international cricket, with the first goal being to qualify for the WTC Final next year. Currently sixth on the WTC table for the 2025-27 cycle, India will play nine scheduled Tests, including two against New Zealand later this winter. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced its schedule for the home summer, with the Men in Blue slated to play five T20Is and as many ODIs in the 12-match full-fledged tour from October to December. India will begin its tour with five T20Is, starting with the first two at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the remaining three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1, respectively. Following a two-day window, Auckland will host the ODI series opener on November 4. Wellington (November 7) and Hamilton (November 10) are venues for the second and the third ODI, with Mount Maunganui staging the final two One-Dayers on November 13 and 15, respectively. Also read | IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd T20I: Harmanpreet's 50 goes in vain as England seal series 2-1 after Capsey and Knight masterclass The Test series gets underway in Wellington on November 19, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch starting November 27. "The New Zealand government will be supporting the inbound India tour alongside adjacent sporting tours by India later in the year, as 100 years of sporting ties between New Zealand and India are commemorated," the NZC statement said. For India, this tour would hold great significance. While the 10 white-ball games will help them prepare for the ODI and T20 World Cups that follow, the two Tests will be Team India’s priority. To qualify for their third WTC final, India must at least win seven of their remaining nine Tests, two of which would be played on quick and double-paced New Zealand pitches. Yet to win a Test series in New Zealand since 2009, Shubman Gill-led India’s Test team will aim to end their winning drought in those challenging conditions. New Zealand, however, will also host Sri Lanka for three ODIs, as many T20Is and two Tests from January 16 to February 12. In between the two series, New Zealand will also host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23. Check Team India's Full Schedule - T20I Series - 1st T20I - October 22 2nd T20I – October 24 3rd T20I – October 27 4th T20I – October 30 5th T20I – November 1 ODI Series – 1st ODI – November 4 2nd ODI – November 7 3rd ODI – November 10 4th ODI – November 13 5th ODI – November 15 Test Series – 1st Test – November 19 to 2 2nd Test – November 27 to December 1

Get the full schedule, match dates, and venues for India's marathon 12-match winter tour of New Zealand 2026. Can Shubman Gill's men seal vital WTC points?

2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for marathon New Zealand tour this winter| Check full schedule

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NZC opens Auckland’s unused seating tier for India T20I amid surge in ticket demand

India A to play three four-day games in New Zealand ahead of Test series

2 WTC Tests, 10 white-ball games: India set for NZ tour| Check full schedule