The Indian men's cricket team is set for a marathon year in 2026, with a calendar packed with high-stakes bilateral cricket and a major global tournament. According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Programme (FTP), India will play a total of 49 matches across formats in bilateral series throughout the year. This intense schedule is designed to balance the team's defense of the T20 World Cup title with the longer-term goals of qualifying for the ODI World Cup 2027 and the ICC World Test Championship final.
A Year Packed with Limited-Overs and Test Cricket
The Men in Blue will kick off their 2026 campaign with a home series against New Zealand in January, featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The spotlight then swiftly turns to the T20 World Cup 2026, where India, as defending champions, will begin their campaign in Mumbai on February 7. Following the World Cup and the annual break for the Indian Premier League (IPL), the team's focus will shift significantly towards the longer formats.
With an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup and the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for 2025-27, India's schedule post-IPL is dominated by red and white-ball cricket aimed at building a robust team. The proposed tour of Bangladesh, however, remains shelved indefinitely due to ongoing political and communal tensions between the two neighboring nations.
Detailed Format-Wise Breakdown of the 2026 Fixtures
India's 2026 itinerary is a blend of home and away series against a variety of opponents. In the 50-over format, the team is slated to play 18 ODIs. This includes series against New Zealand (home and away), Afghanistan, England, West Indies, and Sri Lanka. The three-match ODI series in Afghanistan in June, scheduled after the IPL, is yet to have its concrete details finalized.
In the Test arena, where the team's performance has seen a recent decline, captain Shubman Gill's side will aim to bolster their WTC standings. Key assignments include a two-Test series in Sri Lanka in August followed by another two-Test series during the tour of New Zealand in October-November. These matches will be crucial for accumulating points in the championship table.
The T20I format, outside of the World Cup, will also see significant action with 20 bilateral matches planned. These games will be spread across series against New Zealand, England, Afghanistan, West Indies, and Sri Lanka, keeping the team's T20 skills sharp.
The Grand Finale: Awaiting the Australians
The 2026-27 cricket season will culminate in a blockbuster finale for Indian fans. In early 2027, India will host Australia for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. This marquee Test series will not only be a major draw but could also have significant implications for the World Test Championship standings, setting the stage for a thrilling start to the following year.
Here is the full list of India's scheduled bilateral series for 2026:
- January 2026: New Zealand tour of India - 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is
- June 2026: Afghanistan tour of India - 1 Test, 3 ODIs
- July 2026: England tour of India - 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is
- August 2026: India tour of Sri Lanka - 2 Tests
- September 2026: India tour of Afghanistan - 3 T20Is
- September-October 2026: West Indies tour of India - 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is
- October-November 2026: India tour of New Zealand - 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is
- December 2026: Sri Lanka tour of India - 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is
This comprehensive schedule promises a non-stop year of cricket for the Indian team, testing their depth, skill, and endurance across all three formats of the game.
