After a roller-coaster 2025, Indian men’s cricket heads into 2026 with a calendar that leaves little room for pause. With a home T20 World Cup, multiple bilateral series across formats and the long shadow of the 2027 ODI World Cup looming, the year is set to play a defining role in shaping Team India’s next phase.
The men’s team will juggle white-ball consolidation with red-ball redemption, while senior stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could be entering their final stretch in ICC events.
New Zealand tour opens a marathon year
India’s 2026 campaign begins at home against New Zealand in January, featuring three ODIs followed by five T20Is. The ODI series gets underway on January 11, while the T20Is start from January 21, offering an early look at India’s white-ball combinations as the World Cup cycle progresses.
T20 World Cup at home brings spotlight and pressure
The biggest assignment of the year follows immediately- the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka (February-March). India enter the tournament as defending champions, having lifted the title in 2024.
Placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will face intense scrutiny, especially with expectations sky-high on home soil.
IPL bridge and rare Afghanistan Tests
The T20 World Cup seamlessly rolls into IPL 2026, expected to run from late March to May 31, ensuring non-stop action in the shortest format.
Post IPL, India are set to host Afghanistan in June for three ODIs and a one-off Test. The red-ball fixture is particularly notable – only the second Test between the two nations, the first having been played in 2018.
England tour and spin test in Sri Lanka
July brings an away white-ball tour of England, with five T20Is and three ODIs scheduled. The ODI leg could hold added significance if it turns out to be one of the last appearances in England for Kohli and Rohit.
India then travel to Sri Lanka in August for a two-match Test series, a stern examination for a side still searching for consistency in overseas and spin-heavy red-ball conditions.
Busy September and Asian Games return
September is stacked with commitments. India are expected to play three T20Is against Afghanistan, defend their Asian Games gold medal in Japan, and also host the West Indies for three ODIs and five T20Is.
With T20 cricket having evolved rapidly since the last Asian Games, squad selection and workload management will be closely watched.
Tough New Zealand tour, Sri Lanka at home to finish
India’s final overseas challenge of the year comes in October, with a two-Test and three-ODI tour of New Zealand- traditionally one of the toughest destinations for touring sides.
The season wraps up in December with a home series against Sri Lanka, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, rounding off a year that blends preparation, pressure and transition.
As India balance legacy stars with the next generation, 2026 could quietly decide the blueprint for their World Cup push and perhaps the final chapters of an era.