India A’s New Zealand Tour to Be Televised Live on Sony Sports
Cricket fans will be able to follow India A’s three four-day matches in New Zealand live, with Sony Sports set to broadcast the fixtures as part of the team’s shadow tour alongside India’s senior Test assignment. The unusual coverage gives supporters a closer look at a group of emerging and established players preparing for demanding conditions away from home.
Led by wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, India A will play three matches between October 24 and November 10. The fixtures are scheduled for October 24–27, October 31–November 3 and November 7–10. All three games are due to begin at 3.30am Indian Standard Time, reflecting the time difference between India and New Zealand.
Three fixtures, two New Zealand venues
The opening match will take place at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, before the teams move to Hagley Oval in Christchurch for the second game. The final fixture will return to Bert Sutcliffe Oval. The sequence offers India A a valuable opportunity to adapt to different conditions while building match rhythm ahead of the senior team’s Test commitments.
Sony Sports, which holds the Indian broadcast rights for cricket in New Zealand, is expected not only to televise the matches but also to produce the coverage. Sources familiar with the plans have confirmed that all three India A fixtures will be shown live. Televised coverage of India A tour games in New Zealand is unusual, making the announcement a notable development for fans who often have limited access to the team’s longer-format matches.
The presence of several high-profile players is likely to have helped make the broadcast possible. India A tours traditionally serve as important preparation and selection opportunities, but they do not always attract the same coverage as senior internationals. This time, the squad includes players with substantial experience at the highest level, as well as promising performers seeking to strengthen their claims for future India selection.
Star names add interest to the India A squad
The touring group includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar and Sai Sudharsan, alongside captain Jurel. Their presence gives the series added appeal and creates several storylines for viewers to follow. For some players, the matches will provide a chance to build form; for others, they may offer a test of technique, fitness and adaptability against New Zealand conditions.
Four-day cricket is particularly useful for assessing how batters manage long innings and how bowlers sustain pressure over extended spells. New Zealand pitches and weather can also present distinct challenges, including movement for seamers and periods when patience becomes essential. The fixtures should therefore offer a meaningful examination of India A’s preparation, rather than simply serving as a warm-up exercise.
For fans interested in cricket prediction, the matches may also provide clues about player form and likely combinations ahead of the wider tour. However, four-day results can be difficult to forecast: changing conditions, workload management and the balance between development and winning all influence how teams approach each game. Watching the action live will give supporters a stronger basis for assessing performances than relying on squad lists alone.
Live coverage alongside India’s international schedule
The India A games will be part of a much larger broadcast schedule. Sony Sports will also show India’s other matches on the New Zealand tour, which includes five T20 internationals, five one-day internationals and two Tests. On some days, an India A fixture will overlap with a senior-team match, meaning viewers could have live cricket featuring Indian sides across both levels of the game.
That simultaneous schedule is a rare treat for supporters, but it may also require them to plan around early starts and overlapping fixtures. The India A matches begin at 3.30am IST, so fans in India will need to tune in before dawn. The early timing, however, may suit viewers following the tour closely, particularly those keen to track players who could feature in future senior-team plans.
Coaching and support staff confirmed
The Centre of Excellence staff, who regularly oversee India A assignments, are expected to manage the team’s work in New Zealand. The support group includes personnel who travelled with India’s contingent to the Asian Games. It is not yet clear whether VVS Laxman, who served as head coach of the Indian team at those Games, will join the New Zealand tour.
Hrishikesh Kanitkar will travel as batting coach, while former India fast bowler Laxmipathy Balaji will oversee the pace bowlers. Sunil Joshi has been named spin-bowling coach. The travelling support team will also include physiotherapist Thulasi and trainer Harrsha, providing players with specialist assistance throughout the demanding schedule.
The blend of experienced coaches and a strong playing group should help India A make the most of the tour. With three extended matches, multiple venues and a busy senior-team programme running alongside it, the series offers a valuable window into India’s player development pathway. Sony Sports’ decision to broadcast every game means fans will be able to follow that process directly—one innings, spell and selection opportunity at a time.
