Team India is set to face a challenging and exciting cricket calendar in 2026, filled with major tournaments and bilateral series. The year will test the team's depth and potential across all formats of the game. Here's a comprehensive look at the schedule:

Early Season: Home Series Against New Zealand

India will start the year by hosting New Zealand for a series of limited-overs matches. This series, comprising three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), will serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The ODI leg of the series is scheduled to begin on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by matches on January 14 in Rajkot and January 18 in Indore. The T20I series will commence on January 21 in Nagpur, with subsequent matches on January 23 in Raipur, January 25 in Guwahati, January 28 in Visakhapatnam, and January 31 in Thiruvananthapuram.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup (February - March)

The highlight of the year is undoubtedly the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. India, as defending champions, will aim to retain their title on home soil. India will play their group stage matches against Pakistan, Namibia, USA, and the Netherlands. Suryakumar Yadav is expected to lead the team in this tournament.

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026

Following the T20 World Cup, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to take place from March 26 to May 31. This will provide a platform for Indian players to showcase their skills and for young talents to emerge. No international fixtures are scheduled during this window.

Mid-Year: Hosting Afghanistan and Touring England

In June, India will host Afghanistan for a mixed-format series, including one Test match and three ODIs. Dates and venues are yet to be announced.

In July, the Indian team will tour England for a series of five T20Is and three ODIs. The T20Is are scheduled for July 1 in Chester-le-Street, July 4 in Manchester, July 7 in Nottingham, July 9 in Bristol and July 11 in Southampton. The ODIs will be played on July 14 in Birmingham, July 16 in Cardiff and July 19 at Lord's, London.

Late Season: Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, West Indies & New Zealand

August will see India touring Sri Lanka for a two-Test series. In September, India is scheduled to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is. India will also host Afghanistan for three T20Is in September. This will be followed by a home series against the West Indies, consisting of three ODIs and five T20Is.

In October and November, India will tour New Zealand for a full-scale series featuring two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is.

Year-End: Home Series Against Sri Lanka

India will conclude the year 2026 with a home series against Sri Lanka in December, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.

In addition to these major series, the Indian men's and women's teams will also aim to defend their gold medals at the Asian Games 2026, which will be held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.