The Indian men’s cricket team faces a packed 2026, with commitments spread across all three formats. The year kicked off with a home white-ball series against New Zealand in January and moved straight into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March.
After the IPL wraps up in late May, the focus shifts to overseas tours. India will visit England in July for T20Is and ODIs, tour Sri Lanka in August for two World Test Championship matches, and travel to New Zealand in October–November for another all-format series. The year ends with Sri Lanka visiting India in December.
According to the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, India will play around 49 bilateral matches across formats in 2026. Add the T20 World Cup and the Asian Games, and this becomes one of the busiest calendars in recent memory.
2026 At A Glance
Here is a quick overview of every series India will play in 2026.
| Month(s) | Series / Tournament | Format | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | New Zealand tour of India | 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is | India (Multiple) | Completed |
| Feb–Mar | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | T20I | India & Sri Lanka | Ongoing |
| Mar–May | Indian Premier League (IPL) | T20 | India | Confirmed |
| Jun | Afghanistan tour of India | 1 Test, 3 ODIs | New Chandigarh, etc. | Confirmed |
| Jul | India tour of England | 5 T20Is, 3 ODIs | England | Confirmed |
| Aug | India tour of Sri Lanka | 2 Tests (WTC), 2 T20Is | Sri Lanka | Planned |
| Sep | India vs West Indies | 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is | India | Planned |
| Sep–Oct | 2026 Asian Games | T20I | Japan | Confirmed |
| Oct–Nov | India tour of New Zealand | 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is | New Zealand | Planned |
| Dec | Sri Lanka tour of India | 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is | India | Planned |
January: New Zealand Tour of India
India opened their 2026 international calendar with a home white-ball series against New Zealand. The series featured three ODIs and five T20Is, played across seven Indian cities from January 11 to January 31.
This series served as an important warm-up ahead of the T20 World Cup. It gave the selectors a final look at the squad options before naming the World Cup team.
ODI Series (3 matches)
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (IST) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | January 11, 2026 | Vadodara | 1:30 PM | India won by 4 wkts |
| 2nd ODI | January 14, 2026 | Rajkot | 1:30 PM | New Zealand won by 7 wkts |
| 3rd ODI | January 18, 2026 | Indore | 1:30 PM | New Zealand won by 41 runs |
T20I Series (5 matches)
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (IST) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | January 21, 2026 | Nagpur | 7:00 PM | India won by 48 runs |
| 2nd T20I | January 23, 2026 | Raipur | 7:00 PM | India won by 7 wkts |
| 3rd T20I | January 25, 2026 | Guwahati | 7:00 PM | India won by 8 wkts |
| 4th T20I | January 28, 2026 | Visakhapatnam | 7:00 PM | New Zealand won by 50 runs |
| 5th T20I | January 31, 2026 | Thiruvananthapuram | 7:00 PM | India won by 46 runs |
February–March: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
India and Sri Lanka co-host the ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8. India entered the tournament as the defending champions, having won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA under Rohit Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav leads the squad for this edition.
India sits in Group A alongside Pakistan, the Netherlands, the United States of America, and Namibia. The group stage will determine which teams advance to the Super Eights.
India’s Group Stage Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | India vs United States of America | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | India won by 29 runs |
| Feb 12 | India vs Namibia | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | India won by 93 runs |
| Feb 15 | India vs Pakistan | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | India won by 61 runs |
| Feb 18 | India vs Netherlands | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | India won by 17 runs |
If India qualify for the Super Eights (as expected), they will play in Super Eights Group 1. Potential opponents in that stage include South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe, along with a qualifier from another group.
The last time India hosted a men’s T20 World Cup was in 2016, when the West Indies won the title.
March–May: Indian Premier League 2026
The IPL 2026 season runs from March 26 to May 31. No international cricket takes place during this window, as Indian players commit fully to their franchise duties.
The IPL remains the world’s most-watched T20 league. It also serves as a form lab for the selectors, who watch closely to assess players’ fitness and form ahead of the busy international season that follows.
June: India vs Afghanistan (ODIs)
India will play a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in June, right after the IPL concludes. The exact dates and venues have not yet been confirmed by the BCCI.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 6 – June 10 | Only Test | New Chandigarh |
| June 14 | 1st ODI | Dharamshala |
| June 17 | 2nd ODI | Lucknow |
| June 20 | 3rd ODI | Chennai |
These ODIs will contribute to India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
July: India Tour of England
India heads to England for a white-ball tour from July 1 to July 19. The tour includes five T20Is followed by three ODIs, spread across some of England’s best-known grounds.
T20I Series (5 matches)
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | July 1, 2026 | Chester-le-Street | 6:30 PM |
| 2nd T20I | July 4, 2026 | Manchester | 2:30 PM |
| 3rd T20I | July 7, 2026 | Nottingham | 6:30 PM |
| 4th T20I | July 9, 2026 | Bristol | 6:30 PM |
| 5th T20I | July 11, 2026 | Southampton | 6:30 PM |
ODI Series (3 matches)
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | July 14, 2026 | Birmingham | 1:00 PM |
| 2nd ODI | July 16, 2026 | Cardiff | 1:00 PM |
| 3rd ODI | July 19, 2026 | Lord’s, London | 11:00 AM |
The third ODI at Lord’s will be a highlight. India always draw huge crowds in England, and a series decider at the Home of Cricket would make for a fitting end to the tour.
August–September: India Tour of Sri Lanka (Tests)
India will tour Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series in August and September. Both matches count toward the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.
India’s Test form dipped in 2025. They lost the home series 0–2 against South Africa and won only four of their ten Tests that year. This Sri Lanka tour gives them a chance to gather crucial WTC points and rebuild confidence in the longer format.
Exact dates and venues for this series have not yet been announced.
September–October: 2026 Asian Games (Japan)
Cricket returns to the Asian Games in 2026, with the event scheduled in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. A men’s T20I tournament will feature ten teams selected based on ICC rankings.
India won the gold medal in cricket at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. They will look to defend that title in Japan. The BCCI has not yet confirmed the squad, but it could include a mix of senior players and rising talent.
October–November: India Tour of New Zealand
India travels to New Zealand for a full-format tour in October and November. The tour features two Test matches (part of the WTC 2025–27 cycle), three ODIs, and five T20Is.
New Zealand has historically been a tough place for India. The away conditions test batting patience and bowling discipline. These two Tests could go a long way in deciding India’s place in the WTC final.
The exact dates and venues for this tour are yet to be announced.
December: Sri Lanka Tour Of India
India will close out their 2026 international calendar by hosting Sri Lanka for three ODIs and three T20Is in December. This home series offers a fitting end to a long year and feeds into India’s 2027 ODI World Cup preparations.
Dates and venues for this series are yet to be confirmed.
Key Storylines to Watch in 2026
- T20 World Cup title defence: India have a golden chance to win a T20 World Cup on home soil. The 2024 triumph in Barbados raised expectations. Fans and pundits alike expect Suryakumar Yadav’s side to deliver again.
- World Test Championship race: With four away Tests across Sri Lanka and New Zealand, India will need strong results to keep their WTC final hopes alive. Their 2025 home losses to South Africa hurt their standing.
- 2027 ODI World Cup preparation: India play 18 ODIs this year. Every series is a chance to test combinations for the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
- Asian Games gold defence: Cricket’s growing presence at the Asian Games gives India another title to defend. The T20I format suits their depth of talent.
- Transition and squad depth: With a massive workload spread across 49+ matches, India will rotate players throughout the year. This gives younger players a real shot at cementing their place in the squad.
Looking Ahead
India’s 2026 schedule is relentless but exciting. From the thrill of a home T20 World Cup to the challenge of away Tests in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the year will test every part of this team. How they manage their workload, develop their bench strength, and perform in big moments will define their 2026.
The year wraps up in December, but the bigger picture extends into 2027, when India will host Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and prepare for the ODI World Cup. Every match in 2026 is a building block for what comes next.
