The Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home. A T20 World Cup on Indian soil. Five Tests in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Fourteen months of non-stop cricket that will either confirm India as the dominant force in world cricket or expose every crack the team has been hiding.
If you are trying to track the Indian cricket schedule without wading through outdated fixture tables, you are in the right place. This guide covers every confirmed match from June 2026 through March 2027, with venues, dates, IST timings, and the context that makes each series matter.
Quick Snapshot Indian Cricket Schedule 2026-27:
- Afghanistan Tour of India: June 6–20, 2026
- India Tour of England: July 1–19, 2026
- India Tour of Sri Lanka: August 2026
- India Tour of Afghanistan (T20Is): September 2026
- West Indies Tour of India: September 27 – October 17, 2026
- India Tour of New Zealand: October–November 2026
- Sri Lanka Tour of India: December 13–27, 2026
- Zimbabwe Tour of India: January 3–9, 2027
- Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia: January 21 – March 3, 2027
Why 2026 Is the Most Critical Year for Team India
The Indian cricket schedule in 2026-27 is not just a list of fixtures. It is a carefully engineered roadmap that will determine India’s standing in three simultaneous global competitions.
India are in the middle of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. Every Test result in this cycle earns WTC points that directly determine whether India qualifies for the Lord’s final in 2027. Beyond that, India’s white-ball form in England will shape squad decisions for the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle. And then there is the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January–February 2027 arguably the biggest bilateral Test series on the planet right now.
What most fans miss: The Tests against Afghanistan and in Sri Lanka in mid-2026 are not warmup assignments. They are direct WTC point battles. Losing even one of these could cost India their seat at Lord’s in 2027. These matches are eliminators dressed as bilaterals.
2026 is not a transition year. It is the year India earns the right to compete for everything.
Complete Indian Cricket Schedule 2026-27: Month-by-Month Breakdown
June 2026 Afghanistan Tour of India
The India cricket schedule for June 2026 begins with Afghanistan’s full multi-format visit their first Test appearance in India since 2018.
| Format | Date | Venue | IST Start |
| Only Test | June 6–10, 2026 | MYIS Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh | 9:30 AM |
| 1st ODI | June 14, 2026 | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala | 1:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | June 17, 2026 | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 1:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | June 20, 2026 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 1:30 PM |
The counterintuitive truth about this series: Afghanistan are no longer the lightweight Test side India played in 2018. They have Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and a batting lineup that can grind through 100 overs. The New Chandigarh Test will be a debut Test venue meaning fresh, unpredictable pitch conditions. India cannot take this lightly.
Why it matters for the WTC: This is India’s first home Test of the WTC 2025-27 cycle. A win keeps India’s points percentage competitive. A slip here creates immediate pressure for the Sri Lanka and New Zealand assignments.
What to watch: India’s spin combination in the Test whether they field two spinners or three will reveal their reading of the New Chandigarh surface and the tactical approach Rohit Sharma’s side will carry into 2026.
June 26 India Tour of Ireland (T20Is)
Just before the England white-ball series, India play T20Is in Ireland from June 26, 2026 a short but strategically important assignment. Fringe T20I players will likely feature here, making this a genuine squad selection signal ahead of England.
July 2026 India Tour of England (T20Is and ODIs)
The India tour of England 2026 is the marquee white-ball assignment of the summer. Five T20Is and three ODIs across eight iconic English venues, all confirmed by the ECB.
India vs England T20I Series 2026
| Match | Date | Venue | IST Start |
| 1st T20I | July 1, 2026 | Banks Homes Riverside, Durham | 11:00 PM |
| 2nd T20I | July 4, 2026 | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester | 7:00 PM |
| 3rd T20I | July 7, 2026 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 11:00 PM |
| 4th T20I | July 9, 2026 | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol | 11:00 PM |
| 5th T20I | July 11, 2026 | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 11:00 PM |
India vs England ODI Series 2026
| Match | Date | Venue | IST Start |
| 1st ODI | July 14, 2026 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 5:30 PM |
| 2nd ODI | July 16, 2026 | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | 5:30 PM |
| 3rd ODI | July 19, 2026 | Lord’s, London | 3:30 PM |
The real challenge here is not England it is the conditions. Four of the five T20Is start at 11 PM IST, meaning India will play in near-darkness at venues where the Dukes ball moves significantly under floodlights. England’s seamers thrive in exactly these conditions. India’s batting lineup, built heavily around players who dominate on subcontinental surfaces, will face a genuinely different test.
Watch the Lord’s ODI on July 19 closely. It is the final match of this tour, carries the most prestige, and will serve as a direct preview of India’s batting intent ahead of the 2027 ODI cycle. The performances at Lord’s tend to define how a touring side’s summer is remembered.
Bold opinion: If India win the ODI series in England 3-0, it should be considered a stronger signal of their readiness for the Australia Test series than most home series results. English conditions test every technical gap that subcontinental pitches hide.
August 2026 India Tour of Sri Lanka (Tests)
India travel to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series in August 2026 their most important overseas assignment before New Zealand.
Sri Lanka’s turning pitches are not spin-friendly for visiting teams in the way India’s home tracks are for Indian spinners. They are deceptive, uneven, and punishing for batters who struggle with low bounce. India’s 2022 tour of Sri Lanka went to the final session of the deciding Test. Expect the same intensity here.
What people think vs reality:
- Common assumption: “India dominate Sri Lanka.”
- Reality: India’s overseas record in Sri Lanka is 4 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws in the last decade. That is a competitive series, not a walkover.
WTC calculation: Two Tests in Sri Lanka means two sets of WTC points on offer. India need both to keep their WTC qualifying campaign on track heading into the second half of the cycle.
September 2026 India Tour of Afghanistan (T20Is)
India travel to Afghanistan for three T20Is in September 2026 a compact series that carries bilateral and ranking significance.
This is India’s only scheduled T20I tour of 2026 outside of England. Expect heavy rotation of the T20I squad, with selectors using this series to test combinations ahead of the West Indies home T20Is in October.
September 27 – October 17, 2026 West Indies Tour of India
The Indian cricket schedule at home resumes in late September with the West Indies visiting for three ODIs and five T20Is. This is one of the most fan-friendly home series of 2026, spread across ten different cities.
West Indies vs India ODI Series 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st ODI | September 27, 2026 | Trivandrum |
| 2nd ODI | September 30, 2026 | Guwahati |
| 3rd ODI | October 3, 2026 | New Chandigarh |
West Indies vs India T20I Series 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st T20I | October 6, 2026 | Lucknow |
| 2nd T20I | October 9, 2026 | Ranchi |
| 3rd T20I | October 11, 2026 | Indore |
| 4th T20I | October 14, 2026 | Hyderabad |
| 5th T20I | October 17, 2026 | Bengaluru |
Why this series matters more than its billing suggests: Five home T20Is is a genuine proving ground for India’s middle-order. The T20 batting slot at positions 4, 5, and 6 is India’s most contested selection debate of 2026. These matches will either settle those questions or create more of them before the New Zealand tour.
October–November 2026 India Tour of New Zealand
This is the most complete overseas assignment in the Indian cricket schedule for 2026 two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is across New Zealand.
| Format | Details |
| Tests | 2 Tests (Wellington and Christchurch expected) |
| ODIs | 3 ODIs |
| T20Is | 5 T20Is |
New Zealand is one of the most technically demanding away Test destinations on the planet. The Dukes ball swings late in overcast Wellington conditions. Christchurch’s Basin Reserve offers genuine seam movement off the surface. India dropped crucial WTC points on their last Test tour of New Zealand in early 2020 a 0-2 series defeat that still haunts their WTC final ambitions.
This tour also serves as the final dress rehearsal for India’s Test squad before the Australia series in January 2027. The batting order, the pace attack combination, and the spin strategy used in New Zealand will almost certainly carry forward into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
What to watch: How India’s top-order handles the moving ball in New Zealand will directly predict their performance in Nagpur and Chennai against the Australian pace attack in January.
December 13–27, 2026 Sri Lanka Tour of India
Sri Lanka return to India for a six-match white-ball series in December three ODIs and three T20Is, confirmed by BCCI.
Sri Lanka vs India ODI Series 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st ODI | December 13, 2026 | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| 2nd ODI | December 16, 2026 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 3rd ODI | December 19, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
Sri Lanka vs India T20I Series 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st T20I | December 22, 2026 | Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot |
| 2nd T20I | December 24, 2026 | Barabati Stadium, Cuttack |
| 3rd T20I | December 27, 2026 | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune |
With Australia arriving in Nagpur just three weeks later, India’s Test specialists will almost certainly rest during this entire white-ball series. Expect a near-experimental squad here the ideal series for young talent to cement their place.
January 3–9, 2027 Zimbabwe Tour of India (ODIs)
Zimbabwe tour India for three ODIs in the first week of January 2027, confirmed by BCCI.
| Match | Date | Venue |
| 1st ODI | January 3, 2027 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 2nd ODI | January 6, 2027 | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| 3rd ODI | January 9, 2027 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
These three ODIs will function as final warm-up matches before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins 12 days later. Some Test players may feature here to find their rhythm in match conditions before the biggest series of India’s home schedule.
January 21 – March 3, 2027 Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia (5 Tests)
This is the series the entire Indian cricket schedule has been building toward. Five Tests against Australia, at home, in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle confirmed by both BCCI and Cricket Australia.
| Test | Date | Venue |
| 1st Test | January 21–25, 2027 | VCA Stadium, Nagpur |
| 2nd Test | January 29 – February 2, 2027 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 3rd Test | February 11–15, 2027 | Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati |
| 4th Test | February 19–23, 2027 | JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi |
| 5th Test | February 27 – March 3, 2027 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
India’s home advantage in Test cricket is real but not automatic. Australia won the 2004-05 and 2017-18 Border-Gavaskar series in India. They have learnt to play India’s turning tracks. Expect Australia to arrive with an extensive preparation campaign their A-side toured India in September–October 2026 for exactly this reason.
The WTC stakes are massive: Based on the current cycle structure, the India vs Australia series could effectively decide which of the two sides qualifies for the WTC final at Lord’s in 2027. India need a series win here not just for national pride, but for a place in the sport’s most important occasion.
Bold take: Nagpur in January is the most important individual Test of India’s entire 2026-27 cycle. If India win the first Test, the psychological momentum of a home crowd and the first-strike advantage in the WTC points table makes them near-impossible to stop.
The Three Series That Will Define India’s 2026-27
Out of the entire Indian cricket schedule, three assignments will define how this period is remembered in Indian cricket history.
1. India Tour of New Zealand Tests (October–November 2026)
This is where India’s Test squad proves or disproves its overseas quality. New Zealand conditions expose technical weaknesses that no home series ever reveals. A 2-0 win here would be one of the strongest signals India have sent about their Test readiness in years.
2. India Tour of Sri Lanka Tests (August 2026)
Sri Lanka away Tests always carry more weight than their reputation suggests. Two WTC wins here put India firmly in control of their qualifying campaign before the pressure of the Australia series.
3. Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 (January–March 2027)
Five Tests. Two cricketing superpowers. WTC qualification on the line. National pride at stake. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home is the undisputed headline of this entire cycle and the reason every selection decision from June 2026 onward is made with January 2027 in mind.
India’s Workload Problem Nobody Is Talking About
Here is the hard truth buried beneath all the fixture excitement.
Between June 2026 and March 2027, Indian cricketers play approximately 50+ international matches in ten months. Add an IPL campaign completed just weeks before this cycle began minimum 14 group matches per player, potentially 17 for finalists and you are looking at elite athletes attempting to peak across 60+ high-intensity competitive matches in under 12 months.
This is where things go wrong. Fatigue-based injuries, mental burnout, and a loss of bowling rhythm in key series are predictable outcomes when scheduling density reaches this level.
- Fast bowlers are most vulnerable. Bumrah, Siraj, and Arshdeep cannot play every series from June through January without breaking down.
- Tactical rotation is not a luxury it is the only path to arriving at Nagpur in January 2027 with a fully fit first-choice pace attack.
- What most fans misread as “squad weakness” when India fields a rotated XI in Ireland or the Afghanistan ODIs is actually intelligent squad management. The players sitting out minor series in June are the ones who will bowl 30 overs a Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The BCCI selection committee has never managed this well publicly rotation is rarely communicated clearly, which creates noise. But watch the pattern: the players who rest in Ireland and Afghanistan will start against Australia in Nagpur.
How India’s 2026-27 Schedule Fits the ICC World Test Championship
The WTC 2025-27 cycle runs until June 2027, with the final at Lord’s. India have reached back-to-back WTC finals in 2021 and 2023, losing both.
India’s confirmed WTC Tests in this cycle:
- One-off Test vs Afghanistan (June 2026)
- Two Tests in Sri Lanka (August 2026)
- Two Tests in New Zealand (October–November 2026)
- Five Tests vs Australia at home (January–March 2027)
That is ten WTC Tests remaining in this cycle. India need to win at minimum eight of these to maintain their WTC qualifying percentage above the threshold. Away wins in Sri Lanka and New Zealand historically tougher assignments carry the same WTC points as home victories, but with far higher difficulty.
The Australia five-Test series is the decisive points battle. If India win 4-1 or 5-0, they almost certainly qualify for Lord’s. A 2-2 draw or narrow 3-2 win may not be enough depending on how England, South Africa, and Australia perform in their remaining WTC matches.
Every Indian cricket fan tracking the schedule should monitor the WTC points table alongside match results it is the single most important context behind every Test India plays in 2026-27.
Format-by-Format Fan Guide for 2026-27
For T20I Fans
The peak T20I events in this Indian cricket schedule are the India vs England T20I series in July 2026 and the West Indies five-T20I series at home in October. The England series in particular, played under lights on seaming English pitches, will be a genuine technical examination of India’s T20I batting depth.
For ODI Fans
The ODI at Lord’s on July 19 and the New Zealand ODI series in October–November are the standout white-ball moments. Both test India in conditions far removed from their comfort zone. With the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle beginning, performance in these series will directly influence squad building.
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For Test Cricket Fans
Circle October–November for New Zealand and January–March 2027 for Australia in your calendar. These are where India’s true Test character will be confirmed or questioned. Every selection, every pitch choice, every captaincy decision in these two assignments will be scrutinized intensely. Practical step: Follow the official BCCI app and BCCI.tv for squad announcements, which arrive 7–10 days before each series begins. Schedule updates and venue changes are frequent always verify via official sources before making travel plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is India’s next international match in 2026?
Ans. India’s next scheduled international match is the one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting June 6, 2026 at MYIS Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh.
Q2. When does India tour England in 2026?
Ans. The India tour of England 2026 begins on July 1 with the first T20I at Banks Homes Riverside, Durham. The series runs through July 19, concluding with the final ODI at Lord’s, London.
Q3. When does the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 start?
Ans. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy Australia’s five-Test tour of India begins on January 21, 2027 in Nagpur and concludes on March 3, 2027 in Ahmedabad.
Q4. When does West Indies tour India in 2026?
Ans. West Indies tour India from September 27 to October 17, 2026, for three ODIs and five T20Is across Trivandrum, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
Q5. When does Sri Lanka tour India in 2026-27?
Ans. Sri Lanka tour India in December 2026 for three ODIs (December 13–19) and three T20Is (December 22–27), and also tour India for Tests in August 2026.
Q6. Does India have a home series in 2026-27?
Ans. Yes. India host four teams at home in 2026-27 West Indies (September–October), Sri Lanka (December), Zimbabwe (January 2027), and Australia in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy (January–March 2027), totaling 22 home matches across 17 venues.
Q7. When does Zimbabwe tour India in 2027?
Ans. Zimbabwe tour India for three ODIs January 3 in Kolkata, January 6 in Hyderabad, and January 9 in Mumbai just before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins.
Q8. How many Tests does India play in 2026-27?
Ans. India play ten Tests in the 2026-27 period one vs Afghanistan (June), two in Sri Lanka (August), two in New Zealand (October–November), and five against Australia at home (January–March 2027).
Q9. Does India tour Afghanistan in 2026?
Ans. Yes. India tour Afghanistan for three T20Is in September 2026, making it one of the few bilateral series India have played on Afghan soil.
Q10. Where can I find the official Indian cricket schedule?
Ans. The official Indian cricket schedule is published on BCCI.tv under the International Men’s section. ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz also maintain confirmed schedules with live IST timings and venue updates.
