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India Cricket Schedule 2026: Full Fixtures After IPL, Key Tours & Major Highlights
From Afghan encounters in June to the Border-Gavaskar showdown in early 2027 — India's calendar is unmissable.
Globe-trotting international calendar that will define India's cricketing story through 2026 and into 2027.
From high-altitude Test pitches in Mullanpur to the iconic Lord's in London, from the Caribbean flair of West Indies to the white-knuckle pressure of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy — India's schedule is nothing short of breathtaking. Buckle up. It's going to be one for the ages.
🇦🇫 India vs Afghanistan Series — June 2026
The post-IPL season kicks off with a home series against Afghanistan — a team that has rapidly evolved from a romantic underdog story into genuine cricketing contenders. This is not a series to take lightly.
- 6 June — Test Match at Mullanpur (PCA Stadium)
- 14 June — 1st ODI at Dharamshala (HPCA Stadium)
- 17 June — 2nd ODI at Lucknow (BRSABV Ekana Stadium)
- 20 June — 3rd ODI at Chennai (MA Chidambaram Stadium)
Why This Series Matters
The Mullanpur Test is particularly significant — Afghanistan's Test cricket is a rare and precious event, and India's new-look pace attack will be eager to make its mark. The ODI leg, spanning hill stations to coastal Chennai, gives selectors a deep look at squad depth ahead of a busier overseas schedule. Afghanistan's spinners — especially on the Dharamshala surface — will offer India's top-order a stern early examination.
🇮🇪 Ireland Tour — June 2026
Immediately after the Afghanistan series, India jets off to Belfast for a compact two-match T20I series against Ireland — a fixture that is always more competitive than the scoreline suggests.
- 26 June — 1st T20I at Belfast (Stormont)
- 28 June — 2nd T20I at Belfast (Stormont)
Ireland tours serve a very specific strategic purpose — they are the ideal proving ground for young T20 specialists and fringe players angling for a World Cup berth. The Belfast pitches, typically lively and overcast, offer a different challenge from subcontinental conditions. Don't be surprised if the selectors hand debut opportunities to promising talent here.
🏴 England Tour — July 2026
This is the series cricket romantics circle on their calendars. India vs England, on English soil, across two formats — there is no rivalry in world cricket quite like it. English conditions historically test India's batters with swing, seam, and lateral movement, while India's spin arsenal becomes a weapon once the sun breaks through.
- 1 July — 1st T20I at Chester-le-Street (Riverside)
- 4 July — 2nd T20I at Manchester (Old Trafford)
- 7 July — 3rd T20I at Nottingham (Trent Bridge)
- 9 July — 4th T20I at Bristol (County Ground)
- 11 July — 5th T20I at Southampton (Ageas Bowl)
- 14 July — 1st ODI at Birmingham (Edgbaston)
- 16 July — 2nd ODI at Cardiff (Sophia Gardens)
- 19 July — 3rd ODI at Lord's, London 🏛️
"Every Indian cricketer dreams of scoring a century at Lord's. Every Indian fan dreams of watching it happen."
The ODI series finale at Lord's is the jewel in this particular crown. Few cricket grounds carry the weight of history that Lord's does — and an India-England ODI at the "Home of Cricket" is appointment viewing. With a five-match T20I series preceding it, both teams will have settled into form and strategy by the time they walk out under the famous Long Room balcony.
🌏 Upcoming Overseas Tours — Aug, Sep & Oct–Nov 2026
The second half of 2026 sees India embark on a whirlwind of overseas assignments that will test both the first-choice XI and squad depth in equal measure.
- August 2026 — India tour of Sri Lanka: 2-Test series. Turning surfaces, spin battles, vital WTC points.
- September 2026 — India tour of UAE: 3 T20Is vs Afghanistan. A neutral-venue showcase of two of Asia's most dynamic T20 sides.
- October–November 2026 — India tour of New Zealand: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is. A comprehensive multi-format challenge in Kiwi conditions.
The Sri Lanka Tests in August are particularly interesting in the context of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. India's spinners — in their element on Sri Lankan surfaces — should be licking their lips. The New Zealand tour rounds off an extraordinary period of activity that will push India's squad management to its limits.
🏅 Asian Games 2026 — September to October
Cricket returns to the Asian Games in 2026, and India's participation will be keenly watched. The Asian Games typically features a junior or emerging squad rather than the full Test side — making it an invaluable platform for the next generation of Indian cricketers to wear national colours on a multi-sport stage. With a T20 format, India will look to blood young talent and project their developmental depth to the cricketing world.
🏝️ West Indies Tour of India — September–October 2026
Home cricket returns in style as the West Indies arrive in India for a full-fledged white-ball series — 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is across some of India's most vibrant cricket cities.
- 27 Sept — 1st ODI at Trivandrum (Greenfield Stadium)
- 30 Sept — 2nd ODI at Guwahati (Barsapara Cricket Stadium)
- 3 Oct — 3rd ODI at New Chandigarh (Mullanpur)
- 6 Oct — 1st T20I at Lucknow (Ekana Stadium)
- 9 Oct — 2nd T20I at Ranchi (JSCA International)
- 11 Oct — 3rd T20I at Indore (Holkar Stadium)
- 14 Oct — 4th T20I at Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi Intl.)
- 17 Oct — 5th T20I at Bengaluru (M. Chinnaswamy Stadium)
Few things excite Indian cricket fans like home series — the roars of Guwahati, the electric atmosphere at Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru, the intimate intensity of Ranchi. West Indies bring flair, power-hitting, and the lingering magic of Caribbean cricket. India will use this series to refine combinations for future tournaments.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Tour of India — December 2026
India rounds off the calendar year in style with Sri Lanka visiting for a 3-ODI and 3-T20I series — the perfect end-of-year cricket gift for fans.
- 13 Dec — 1st ODI at Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium)
- 16 Dec — 2nd ODI at Bengaluru (M. Chinnaswamy Stadium)
- 19 Dec — 3rd ODI at Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)
- 22 Dec — 1st T20I at Rajkot (Saurashtra Cricket Stadium)
- 24 Dec — 2nd T20I at Cuttack (Barabati Stadium)
- 27 Dec — 3rd T20I at Pune (MCA Stadium)
Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium — the world's largest cricket ground — hosting an ODI is always a spectacle. The December matches also provide crucial preparation ahead of the January–February Tests against Australia.
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe Series — January 2027
The new year begins with a three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe — a series India will approach with one eye on squad management and another on the Border-Gavaskar Tests that follow immediately after.
- 3 Jan — 1st ODI at Kolkata (Eden Gardens)
- 6 Jan — 2nd ODI at Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi Intl. Stadium)
- 9 Jan — 3rd ODI at Mumbai (Wankhede Stadium)
Eden Gardens, Wankhede, and Rajiv Gandhi — three legendary venues doubling as the final tune-up before Australia arrives. Expect smart rotation in the playing XI as India preserve key players for the Test battles ahead.
🏆 Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs Australia — January–February 2027
And then… the main event. The series that every cricket fan on the planet will be watching. Five Tests. Historic grounds. WTC implications. India vs Australia at their absolute best.
🔥 THE SERIES OF THE SEASON
- 21 Jan — 1st Test at Nagpur (VCA Stadium)
- 29 Jan — 2nd Test at Chennai (MA Chidambaram Stadium)
- 11 Feb — 3rd Test at Guwahati (Barsapara Stadium)
- 19 Feb — 4th Test at Ranchi (JSCA International)
- 27 Feb — 5th Test at Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium) 🏟️
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is to Test cricket what El Clásico is to football — a collision of philosophies, cultures, and cricketing genius. India's spin-friendly tracks will challenge Australia's batting unit, while Australia's pace depth will probe India's batters relentlessly. The Nagpur opener — historically one of the most spin-conducive surfaces in world cricket — will set the tone immediately. And the finale at the colossal Narendra Modi Stadium? Cinema could not script it better.
📊 Key Highlights of India's 2026–27 Season
Busiest Months
July 2026 stands out as the most intense period — 8 matches across T20Is and ODIs in England within a single month. October 2026 follows closely with the West Indies T20I series running alongside NZ tour preparations.
Most Important Series
Three series tower above the rest: the England tour (reputation and T20 world rankings), the Sri Lanka Tests (WTC points), and above all, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy — a five-Test saga with historical prestige and WTC qualification at stake.
Player Workload & Squad Rotation
The Zimbabwe series in January 2027 is perfectly timed for workload management. Senior players will likely receive rest across certain white-ball assignments to ensure they arrive at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy fresh and firing.
Home vs Away Balance
The season is superbly balanced — England, Ireland, Sri Lanka (Tests), UAE, and New Zealand are all away; Afghanistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka (Dec), Zimbabwe, and Australia are all at home. India will be tested across conditions and continents like rarely before.
📋 Full India Fixtures — 2026–27 Schedule
| Date | Match | Format | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2026 | IND vs AFG | Test | Mullanpur |
| 14 Jun 2026 | IND vs AFG | ODI 1 | Dharamshala |
| 17 Jun 2026 | IND vs AFG | ODI 2 | Lucknow |
| 20 Jun 2026 | IND vs AFG | ODI 3 | Chennai |
| 26 Jun 2026 | IND vs IRE | T20I 1 | Belfast |
| 28 Jun 2026 | IND vs IRE | T20I 2 | Belfast |
| 1 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | T20I 1 | Chester-le-Street |
| 4 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | T20I 2 | Manchester |
| 7 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | T20I 3 | Nottingham |
| 9 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | T20I 4 | Bristol |
| 11 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | T20I 5 | Southampton |
| 14 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | ODI 1 | Birmingham |
| 16 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | ODI 2 | Cardiff |
| 19 Jul 2026 | IND vs ENG | ODI 3 | Lord's, London 🏛️ |
| Aug 2026 | IND tour of SL | 2 Tests | Sri Lanka |
| Sep 2026 | IND vs AFG (UAE) | 3 T20Is | UAE |
| Sep–Oct 2026 | Asian Games | Multi | TBC |
| 27 Sep 2026 | IND vs WI | ODI 1 | Trivandrum |
| 30 Sep 2026 | IND vs WI | ODI 2 | Guwahati |
| 3 Oct 2026 | IND vs WI | ODI 3 | New Chandigarh |
| 6 Oct 2026 | IND vs WI | T20I 1 | Lucknow |
| 9 Oct 2026 | IND vs WI | T20I 2 | Ranchi |
| 11 Oct 2026 | IND vs WI | T20I 3 | Indore |
| 14 Oct 2026 | IND vs WI | T20I 4 | Hyderabad |
| 17 Oct 2026 | IND vs WI | T20I 5 | Bengaluru |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | IND tour of NZ | 2T+3ODI+5T20 | New Zealand |
| 13 Dec 2026 | IND vs SL | ODI 1 | Delhi |
| 16 Dec 2026 | IND vs SL | ODI 2 | Bengaluru |
| 19 Dec 2026 | IND vs SL | ODI 3 | Ahmedabad |
| 22 Dec 2026 | IND vs SL | T20I 1 | Rajkot |
| 24 Dec 2026 | IND vs SL | T20I 2 | Cuttack |
| 27 Dec 2026 | IND vs SL | T20I 3 | Pune |
| 3 Jan 2027 | IND vs ZIM | ODI 1 | Kolkata |
| 6 Jan 2027 | IND vs ZIM | ODI 2 | Hyderabad |
| 9 Jan 2027 | IND vs ZIM | ODI 3 | Mumbai |
| 21 Jan 2027 | IND vs AUS | BGT Test 1 | Nagpur |
| 29 Jan 2027 | IND vs AUS | BGT Test 2 | Chennai |
| 11 Feb 2027 | IND vs AUS | BGT Test 3 | Guwahati |
| 19 Feb 2027 | IND vs AUS | BGT Test 4 | Ranchi |
| 27 Feb 2027 | IND vs AUS | BGT Test 5 | Ahmedabad 🏟️ |
⭐ Top Series to Watch in 2026–27
Don't Miss These
- IND vs ENG, England (July 2026) — 5 T20Is + 3 ODIs culminating at Lord's. The rivalry, the conditions, the stakes — unmissable.
- IND vs WI at Home (Sep–Oct 2026) — 8 white-ball matches across India's most passionate cricket cities.
- India tour of New Zealand (Oct–Nov 2026) — A full 10-match multi-format tour testing India's all-format depth.
- Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs AUS (Jan–Feb 2027) — The crown jewel. Five Tests. Historic venues. WTC implications. Pure cricket theatre.
A Season Like No Other 🏏
India's 2026–27 cricket calendar is a masterclass in ambition. It demands excellence across all three formats, on five continents, against nine nations. For players, it is a gruelling test of skill, fitness, and mental strength.
For fans — it is pure, unfiltered joy. From the green outfields of Belfast to the sun-baked red soil of Nagpur, this season will produce stories, heroes, heartbreaks, and moments that fans will recount for decades. Soak up every ball.