India prepare to face World Cup participants New Zealand in Auckland on November 12
India's first-choice senior national team will meet New Zealand in Auckland on November 12, with the friendly at Go Media Stadium scheduled to kick off at 11:30 AM during the November international window. The match is part of a two-game friendly series between the sides.
New Zealand are among the opposition who can test the Blue Tigers: the Kiwis featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while India under coach Khalid Jamil enter their eighth straight match against a higher-ranked FIFA opponent. That sequence stretches back to the 2026 Unity Cup in the United Kingdom and, across those eight games, India have recorded no wins, two draws and conceded 15 goals.
New Zealand arrive with mixed recent results, having won only once in their last nine matches in normal time since their pre-World Cup friendlies in June; that sole victory was a 3-0 friendly win over China. The hosts also lost to Japan in the final of the 2026 Kirin Cup, a result noted as part of their form entering the friendlies.
One of the matchups to watch is 19-year-old Pramveer Singh, expected to start at left centre-back in the absence of the injured Anwar Ali and the omitted Sandesh Jhingan. Pramveer is described as physically strong, dominant in the air and good at reading the game but prone to occasional errors — qualities that will be tested by striker Chris Wood, a traditional number nine who relies on box movement and positioning and has scored around 45 goals for New Zealand since his debut.
Full-back Abhishek Singh Tekcham, who drew attention for a one-on-one performance against Brazil’s Vinícius Jr. in the previous international window, is likely to face Matthew Garbett. Garbett returns to the national setup after a lengthy injury layoff and, while primarily an attacking midfielder, has frequently been deployed on the left wing to use his ball progression and forward runs to exploit spaces inside the box.
In midfield, New Zealand’s Alex Rufer is expected to anchor the side in a number six role, shielding the defence and recycling possession between defence and attack. He is set to contend with Ryan Williams, who has been effective as a second striker behind players such as David Lalhlansanga or Manvir Singh; Williams is noted for aggressive pressing, creating turnovers for quick transitions and an ability to score from around the edge of the box.
Anwar Ali is not in the 23-member squad for the New Zealand friendlies due to a hamstring injury, and Sandesh Jhingan has been omitted from selection. Coaches Khalid Jamil and Darren Bazeley are preparing their respective teams for the two scheduled friendlies between India and New Zealand.
The encounter at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on November 12 at 11:30 AM is the first of the two international friendlies between the nations.