The Plunket Shield is New Zealand’s top domestic first-class cricket competition. It showcases the country’s best red-ball players. The 2025-26 Plunket Shield season will start on 18 November 2025 and end on 30 March 2026. It will feature months of competitive cricket at famous venues in New Zealand.
Six domestic teams will take part in the tournament. Northern Knights, the defending champions, will try to keep their title. Each team will compete for the top spot in this longer format, testing their skill, consistency, and endurance.
The competition is an important opportunity for domestic cricketers who want to join the New Zealand national team. Selectors will closely watch performances during the season. This blog covers the fixtures, teams, and important details of the Plunket Shield 2025-26.
Plunket Shield 2025-26 – Tournament Overview
The 2025–26 Plunket Shield will mark the 100th season of the tournament — a historic milestone that celebrates the rich cricketing heritage of New Zealand.
| Tournament | Plunket Shield 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| Organiser | Cricket New Zealand |
| Format | First-class |
| Tournament format | Round-robin |
| Teams | 6 |
| Matches | 24 |
| Current champion | Northern Districts |
Organized by New Zealand Cricket, the tournament follows a round-robin format, giving each team an equal chance to prove their skills. Northern Districts enter as defending champions, while the other sides aim to challenge for the title.
Plunket Shield 2025-26 – Teams
The 2025-26 Plunket Shield features six strong domestic teams from across New Zealand competing in a first-class, round-robin format. Each team aims to perform consistently to challenge for the title.
Below is a list of all participating teams along with their full squads for the season.
Auckland
Bevon Jacobs, Dale Phillips, Harrish Kannan, Lachlan Stackpole, Rohit Gulati, Sean Solia, Siddhesh Dixit, Simon Keene, Cam Fletcher (wk), Adithya Ashok, Angus Olliver, Ben Lister, Jock McKenzie, Jordan Sussex, Matthew Gibson, Samrath Singh
Wellington
Jesse Tashkoff, Nick Kelly, Oscar Jackson, Sam Mycock, Samuel Morgan, Tim Robinson, Logan van Beek, Nick Greenwood, Peter Younghusband, Callum McLachlan (wk), Gareth Severin (wk), Amogh Paranjpe, James Hartshorn, Liam Dudding, Michael Snedden, Ryan Tsourgas, Yahya Zeb
Canterbury
Chad Bowes, Jesse Frew, Leo Carter, Matthew Boyle, Rhys Mariu, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley, Michael Rippon, Angus McKenzie, Cameron Paul, Fraser Sheat, Ish Sodhi, Matt Rowe, Michael Rae, Scott Janett, Sean Davey
Otago
Jack Boyle, Jacob Cumming, Jamal Todd, Llew Johnson, Thorn Parkes, Troy Johnson, Ben Lockrose, Luke Georgeson, Matthew Bacon, Zac Cumming, Max Chu (wk), Andrew Hazeldine, Danru Ferns, Jake Gibson, Jarrod McKay, Mason Clarke
Northern Knights
Bharat Popli, Henry Cooper, Jeet Raval, Joe Carter, Katene Clarke, Robert O’Donnell, Brett Hampton, Daryl Mitchell, Fergus Lellman, Kristian Clarke, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Pringle, Ben Pomare (wk), Tim Seifert (wk), Xavier Bell (wk), Joshua Brown, Matthew Fisher, Zak Gibson
Central Districts
Tom Bruce, Brad Schmulian, Dean Foxcroft, Doug Bracewell, Joey Field, Josh Clarkson, William Clark, Curtis Heaphy (wk), Dane Cleaver (wk), Ajaz Patel, Angus Schaw, Blair Tickner, Brett Randell, Jayden Lennox, Ray Toole, Toby Findlay
Plunket Shield 2025-26 – Schedule
The tournament will begin from 18th November 2025 and the fixtures are given below,
| Match | Date | Time(Local) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Districts vs Auckland | 18 November 2025 | 10:30 AM | Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North |
| Wellington vs Otago | 18 November 2025 | 10:30 AM | Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Canterbury vs Northern Knights | 18 November 2025 | 10:30 AM | Mainpower Oval, Rangiora |
| Northern Knights vs Central Districts | 26 November 2025 | 10:30 AM | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui |
| Wellington vs Central Districts | 26 November 2025 | 10:30 AM | Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Otago vs Canterbury | 26 November 2025 | 10:30 AM | University Oval, Dunedin |
| Central Districts vs Canterbury | 05 December 2025 | 10:30 AM | McLean Park, Napier |
| Northern Knights vs Otago | 05 December 2025 | 10:30 AM | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| Auckland vs Wellington | 05 December 2025 | 10:30 AM | Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland |
| Northern Knights vs Wellington | 13 December 2025 | 10:30 AM | Cobham Oval, Whangarei |
| Canterbury vs Auckland | 13 December 2025 | 10:30 AM | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Otago vs Central Districts | 13 December 2025 | 10:30 AM | University Oval, Dunedin |
| Canterbury vs Otago | 28 February 2026 | 10:30 AM | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Central Districts vs Wellington | 28 February 2026 | 10:30 AM | McLean Park, Napier |
| Auckland vs Northern Knights | 28 February 2026 | 10:30 AM | Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland |
| Auckland vs Otago | 09 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland |
| Central Districts vs Northern Knights | 09 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | McLean Park, Napier |
| Wellington vs Canterbury | 09 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Otago vs Northern Knights | 18 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | University Oval, Dunedin |
| Canterbury vs Central Districts | 18 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | Mainpower Oval, Rangiora |
| Wellington vs Auckland | 18 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Auckland vs Canterbury | 27 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland |
| Northern Knights vs Central Districts | 27 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | Seddon Park, Hamilton |
| Otago vs Wellington | 27 March 2026 | 10:30 AM | University Oval, Dunedin |
Plunket Shield – Past 5 Winners
Northern Knights are the defending champions after winning the 2024/25 Plunket Shield season.
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | Canterbury |
| 2021/22 | Auckland |
| 2022/23 | Central Districts |
| 2023/24 | Wellington |
| 2024/25 | Northern Knights |
Conclusion: Plunket Shield 2025/26 Season to Started From 18th November 2025!
The 2025-26 Plunket Shield will run from 18th November 2025 to 30th March 2026, offering several months of competitive first-class cricket. Fans can look forward to high-quality performances across New Zealand’s premier venues as teams battle for supremacy.
Each match will be crucial for players aiming to impress national selectors, making every fixture significant for both individual careers and team strategies. The long-format competition will test skill, endurance, and consistency, highlighting the depth of talent in New Zealand’s domestic cricket circuit.
As the 100th season of the tournament, the Plunket Shield 2025-26 promises historic milestones, memorable moments, and a thrilling cricketing journey for players and fans alike.
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