Indian cricket team schedule 2026: Check match list, team list, date, time, venues

Indian Men's Cricket Team (Source:@MyKhel Malayalam,x.com)

As the calendar turns to 2026, the Indian cricket team is preparing for one of its busiest and most important years in recent times. Over the next twelve months, Team India will be involved in several high-profile tournaments and bilateral series across formats.

After a strong performance in 2025, the Men in Blue will look to carry that momentum forward in T20Is and ODIs, while also working towards a revival in Test cricket.

 A significant highlight of the year will be the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where India will enter as the defending champions after lifting the trophy in 2024.

The 2026 schedule is broadly divided into three key phases. It begins with a home white-ball series against New Zealand, followed by the ICC T20 World Cup hosted in India and Sri Lanka, and later an essential overseas limited-overs tour of England. 

Alongside these, India will also play series against teams such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. In this article, let's take a look at the India's cricket schedule 2026-27.

---

ALSO READ

India ODI schedule: How many matches will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play in 2026?

---

January 2026: New Zealand Tour of India

India’s international season in 2026 will begin at home in January with a complete white-ball series against New Zealand. The tour will include three ODIs and five T20Is.

The ODI series will be India’s first fifty-over assignment of the year. Senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to be part of the squad. The three ODIs will be played across Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.

The T20I leg will follow soon after, spread across five venues in different parts of the country. Cities such as Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram will host the matches. This series will also serve as necessary preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

February to March 2026: ICC T20 World Cup 2026

The biggest event of the year will be the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from early February to early March.

The Indian Cricket Team will begin the tournament as defending champions, having won the title in 2024. Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the side. The Indian team has been placed alongside Pakistan, Namibia, the United States of America, and the Netherlands.

• India vs USA - February 7 (Mumbai)
• India vs Namibia - February 12 (Delhi)
• India vs Pakistan - February 15 (Colombo)
• India vs Netherlands - February 18 (Ahmedabad)

India’s group-stage matches will be played across major venues such as Mumbai, Delhi, Colombo, and Ahmedabad.

Afghanistan series at Home

After the conclusion of the T20 World Cup and the IPL, India will host Afghanistan. This home series is expected to take place around June.

The tour will include a three-match ODI series and a single Test match. The Test will not be part of the World Test Championship cycle. While the exact dates and venues are yet to be confirmed, the series will be important for India's bench strength. 

July 2026: India Tour of England

In July, India will travel to England for an away limited-overs series. The tour will consist of five T20Is followed by three ODIs.

The T20I series will be played across Chester-le-Street, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, and Southampton. 

The ODI series will follow soon after, with matches scheduled in Birmingham, Cardiff, and at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Shubman Gill is likely to captain the Indian Cricket Team during the tour, while senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli expected to feature in the ODI matches. 

August 2026: Test Series in Sri Lanka

India’s first World Test Championship action of the year is expected to come in August, when the team tours Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series. 

This series will be important for India’s Test revival, as performances here will directly impact their standing in the World Test Championship cycle (dates and venues for the series are yet to be announced).

September 2026: India tour of Bangladesh

The series is expected to feature three ODIs and three T20Is. The dates and venues for the series will be announced.

September 2026: Afghanistan Series and Asian Games

In September, the Indian Cricket Team will host Afghanistan once again, this time for a three-match T20I series. The dates and venues for this series are still to be announced. Followed by and a home white-ball series against West Indies (dates and venues to be announced).

Later in the same month, India will also take part in the Asian Games, which will be held in Japan. 

October 2026: India Tour of New Zealand

Around October, Team India will head to New Zealand for a challenging overseas tour. The series will include two Test matches and three ODIs. The dates and venues for the much-awaited series have not been announced.

December 2026: Sri Lanka Tour of India

India’s cricket calendar for 2026 will conclude in December with a home series against Sri Lanka. The visitors will play three T20Is followed by three ODIs (dates and venues to be announced).

India's next cricket match schedule​

India's T20I Cricket schedule

India's ODI Cricket schedule

---

ALSO READ

Pakistan's cricket schedule 2026: Check Babar Azam and co's full fixtures across formats

---