New Zealand Cricket has announced the itinerary for the home series against India.

The Indian cricket team would play two Twenty20 internationals, five one-day internationals and two Tests on their first tour of New Zealand in six years starting in February. The tour would last from February 20 to April 7, 2009.

India will arrive in New Zealand on February 20 and will begin the tour with a Twenty20 international match in Christchurch on February 25 and ends with the final Test, from April 3-7, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

The one-day series would precede the short Test rubber.

India had a torrid time on their last trip in December 2002-January 2003, losing the two-Test series 2-0 and the seven-ODI contest 5-2. The visit came in the build-up to the World Cup in South Africa, where the Indian team, under severe pressure initially, made it to the final. Cold and damp conditions resulted in favourable conditions for bowlers, with neither Test lasting five days, and teams batting first often getting bowled out cheaply in the ODI series.

The 1st Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand will be played on 25th February 2009 at AMI Stadium, Christchurch.