South Africa is touring New Zealand in March 2026 for a five-match T20I series, and the tour is currently ongoing. It is an important bilateral contest between two strong T20 nations in world cricket.
The series began on March 15 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, and will conclude on March 25 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Both teams are looking to strengthen their T20 combinations ahead of upcoming ICC tournaments.
Mitchell Santner is leading New Zealand at home, while Keshav Maharaj captains South Africa. The ongoing series promises an exciting and competitive battle between two well-balanced T20 sides.
South Africa Tour of New Zealand 2026: Full Schedule
The five-match T20I series spans 10 days and covers five iconic New Zealand venues.
All matches start at 6:15 AM GMT, which is 11:45 AM IST and 7:15 PM local time.
| Date | Match | Venue | IST | GMT | Local | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Mar 15 | 1st T20I | Mount Maunganui, Bay Oval | 11:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:15 PM | South Africa won by 7 wkts |
| Tue, Mar 17 | 2nd T20I | Hamilton, Seddon Park | 11:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:15 PM | TBD |
| Fri, Mar 20 | 3rd T20I | Auckland, Eden Park | 11:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:15 PM | TBD |
| Sun, Mar 22 | 4th T20I | Wellington, Sky Stadium | 11:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:15 PM | TBD |
| Wed, Mar 25 | 5th T20I | Christchurch, Hagley Oval | 11:45 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:15 PM | TBD |
South Africa Tour of New Zealand 2026: Squads
Both squads are a blend of experience and youth, making this series truly competitive. Let us take a look at the official squads announced for the five T20I matches.
New Zealand T20I Squad
Mitchell Santner leads a balanced New Zealand squad with capable batters, all-rounders, and bowlers for the first 3 matches. The last 2 will be led by Tom Latham. Devon Conway and Tom Latham provide strong wicket-keeping options for the home side.
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Katene D Clarke, Tim Robinson |
| All Rounders | Josh Clarkson, Bevon Jacobs, Nick Kelly, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (C), Zakary Foulkes, Cole McConchie, Nathan Smith |
| Wicket Keepers | Dane Cleaver, Devon Conway, Tom Latham |
| Bowlers | Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Ben Sears |
South Africa T20I Squad
Keshav Maharaj leads a well-structured South African squad packed with match-winners. Gerald Coetzee and Andile Simelane form a dangerous pace attack for the Proteas touring side.
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Tony de Zorzi, Jordan Hermann, Jason Smith |
| All Rounders | Dian Forrester, George Linde, Prenelan Subrayen, Wiaan Mulder |
| Wicket Keepers | Connor Esterhuizen, Rubin Hermann |
| Bowlers | Keshav Maharaj (C), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Nqobani Mokoena, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Ish Sodhi |
Key Players to Watch
Both teams are packed with some power hitters and death-bowling specialists who can play a major part in winning the series.
New Zealand
- Devon Conway brings explosive batting and solid wicket-keeping skills to the New Zealand lineup. His form at the top or middle order can define the course of any match.
- Lockie Ferguson’s raw pace and ability to bowl at death overs make him New Zealand’s most dangerous bowler. He consistently generates an uncomfortable bounce even on slow pitches.
South Africa
- Tony de Zorzi is a solid and elegant top-order batter who has shown tremendous growth recently. His ability to anchor innings makes him crucial for South Africa’s success.
- Gerald Coetzee is South Africa’s pace spearhead and one of T20 cricket’s most exciting bowlers. His extra pace and ability to surprise batters make him a constant wicket threat.
New Zealand vs South Africa: T20I Head-to-Head
New Zealand and South Africa have played 20 T20I matches so far, with South Africa holding a comfortable overall lead. Their rivalry has always been closely fought and entertaining.
In their most recent T20 World Cup Semi-Final on March 4, 2026, New Zealand won convincingly by 9 wickets at Eden Gardens. South Africa leads the overall series 13–8 in T20Is between the two nations.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 21 |
| New Zealand Won | 8 |
| South Africa Won | 13 |
| No Result | 0 |
South Africa leads the T20I head-to-head against New Zealand with 13 wins in 21 matches. NZ’s most recent win came in March 2026 at Eden Gardens, winning by 9 wickets.
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Where to Watch South Africa Tour of New Zealand 2026
Cricket fans around the world can enjoy live coverage of the series across various platforms. Broadcasting rights vary by region, so fans should check their local providers for details.
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | Sony Liv, FanCode |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Sport Now |
| South Africa | SuperSport | DStv App |
