Hero VIDA has been named the title sponsor of India’s 12-match tour of New Zealand in 2026, bringing the electric mobility brand into one of the year’s biggest international cricket properties. The series begins on October 22 and features five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
New Zealand Cricket has named Hero VIDA as the Title Sponsor for India’s landmark 2026 tour of New Zealand, giving the brand naming rights across the entire 12-match bilateral series.
The partnership arrives at a significant moment in the relationship between the two countries. India and New Zealand are marking 100 years of sporting connections, with the 2026 cricket tour forming part of New Zealand’s wider “100 Years of Unity through Sport” programme. The sporting relationship traces back to 1926, when an Indian Army hockey team toured New Zealand.
For Hero VIDA, the association provides visibility across three formats of international cricket while connecting the brand with a major India-New Zealand sporting event.
Hero VIDA to Hold Title Rights Across the Series
As title sponsor, Hero VIDA will have naming rights across the full India-New Zealand series, with brand visibility throughout the tour. The commercial partnership has been facilitated by TCM Sports, New Zealand Cricket’s exclusive naming-rights and on-ground partner under its long-term relationship with NZC.
This partnership also continues Hero VIDA’s connection with sports and cricket fans. Earlier, the brand became a long-term title partner for the Kolkata Knight Riders, linking its electric scooters and bikes to one of India’s biggest cricket teams.
According to Hero MotoCorp Executive Vice President Sanjay Bhan, the partnership reflects the company’s interest in associating VIDA with a major international cricket series and themes including movement, ambition and progress.
India vs New Zealand 2026: Full Tour Schedule
The India tour of New Zealand is scheduled as a 40-day, 12-match campaign spanning T20Is, ODIs and Tests. The published schedule is as follows:
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st T20I | October 22 | Christchurch |
| 2nd T20I | October 24 | Christchurch |
| 3rd T20I | October 27 | Wellington |
| 4th T20I | October 30 | Auckland |
| 5th T20I | November 1 | Hamilton |
| 1st ODI | November 4 | Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | November 7 | Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | November 10 | Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | November 13 | Mount Maunganui |
| 5th ODI | November 15 | Mount Maunganui |
| 1st Test | November 19–23 | Wellington |
| 2nd Test | November 27–December 1 | Christchurch |
The tour therefore moves through several major New Zealand cricket centres, including Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.
Why the Hero VIDA Sponsorship Matters
The partnership is more than a conventional cricket sponsorship because it combines sports, mobility and a major bilateral milestone.
India’s tour is part of New Zealand’s centenary-year sporting programme, which encompasses cricket alongside other India-New Zealand sporting and cultural activities. Sport New Zealand describes the cricket itinerary as a record 12-match tour across all three formats.
For VIDA, the association creates a platform to connect the brand with audiences following one of India’s most prominent international sporting properties. The sponsorship also places an electric mobility brand at the centre of a series that will receive attention across both Indian and New Zealand markets.
100 Years of India-New Zealand Sporting Connections
The 2026 series has an additional historical dimension. The wider 100 Years of Unity through Sport programme commemorates the sporting relationship between India and New Zealand that began with the 1926 tour by an Indian Army hockey team. The 2026 celebrations include cricket, football, lawn bowls and other community and cultural activities across New Zealand.
The main focus is on cricket, with 12 matches between India and New Zealand, turning Hero VIDA’s sponsorship into a major part of a larger sports celebration rather than just a basic business deal.
TCM Sports’ Role in the Partnership
TCM Sports played a central role in bringing Hero VIDA and New Zealand Cricket together for the series. The sports marketing company has been NZC’s exclusive naming-rights and on-ground partner since 2019, with the current partnership extending through 2031. It has worked with New Zealand Cricket to develop commercial opportunities around the board’s international cricket portfolio.
For the 2026 India tour, that commercial infrastructure has enabled Hero VIDA to secure title rights across the complete 12-match itinerary rather than an individual match or format.
Hero VIDA’s Growing Association With Cricket
The New Zealand partnership follows Hero VIDA’s broader push into cricket-led brand associations. In December 2025, VIDA announced a three-season partnership with Kolkata Knight Riders as the franchise’s title partner. Hero MotoCorp described that association as a way of connecting the brand with a younger generation while highlighting its electric and sustainable mobility proposition.
The New Zealand tour therefore adds an international dimension to VIDA’s cricket marketing strategy. Instead of focusing solely on domestic franchise cricket, the brand will have visibility around an international bilateral series involving the Indian team and New Zealand’s BLACKCAPS.
What to Expect From the India-New Zealand Series
The cricket schedule itself provides multiple opportunities for audience engagement. The opening five T20Is will take India and New Zealand through Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton before the five-match ODI series begins in Auckland on November 4.
The final part of the tour shifts to Test cricket, starting with the first match in Wellington (November 19–23) and finishing with the second match in Christchurch (November 27–December 1). The Test leg also represents India’s first Test assignment in New Zealand since the 2019–20 tour, adding another notable storyline to the series.
Hero VIDA and the Future of Mobility
VIDA is Hero MotoCorp’s electric mobility brand, and the company’s sports partnerships are being used to connect the brand with audiences beyond traditional automotive advertising.
The New Zealand title sponsorship gives VIDA an international platform at a time when electric mobility is becoming an increasingly visible part of the automotive market.
The combination of an international cricket series, a centenary sporting celebration and an electric mobility brand creates a distinctive commercial setting for the partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the title sponsor of India’s 2026 tour of New Zealand?
Hero VIDA is the main sponsor for India’s 2026 tour of New Zealand, getting its name attached to all 12 matches in the series.
2. How many matches will India play in New Zealand in 2026?
India will play 12 matches: five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
3. When does India’s New Zealand tour begin?
The tour begins with the first T20I on October 22, 2026, in Christchurch.
4. When does the India-New Zealand 2026 series end?
The tour concludes with the second Test in Christchurch on December 1, 2026.
5. Why is the 2026 India-New Zealand tour historically significant?
The tour forms part of New Zealand’s 100 Years of Unity through Sport programme, which commemorates a century of sporting connections between India and New Zealand dating back to 1926.
6. Who facilitated the Hero VIDA title sponsorship?
The partnership was facilitated by TCM Sports, New Zealand Cricket’s exclusive naming-rights and on-ground partner.