Team India just made history by lifting the T20 World Cup 2026 trophy and becoming the first team to win the title three times. They beat New Zealand in the final, and now, for a while, you won’t see them on the international stage. The IPL 2026 kicks off on March 28, so you’ll catch the Indian players turning out for their usual franchises instead.
Once the IPL wraps up, India gets right back into the swing of things with a home series against Afghanistan in June. After that, there’s barely a break as the calendar is packed. Until the next ICC ODI World Cup rolls around, India’s going to spend more time playing overseas than at home. And just recently, some big news dropped about their upcoming schedule.
The next year is going to be non-stop for Team India. They’re set to tour England, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. Plus, there’s the Asia Cup and Asian Games, where they’ll be gunning for more titles. One can expect even more series to sneak their way onto the calendar.
BCCI isn’t giving the players much breathing room. According to Cricbuzz, India’s probably heading to Sri Lanka in July or August. Two Tests are already locked in, but now it looks like three T20Is could be added as these games are supposed to help raise money for flood relief in Sri Lanka after last year’s cyclone. Those T20s would happen before the Tests.
Before all that, early July brings a big tour to England where India will play three ODIs and five T20Is between July 1 and 19. And right before England, India might squeeze in a quick three-match T20I series in Ireland and talks are ongoing. If it happens, those matches would land in Dublin at the end of June. But first, India takes on Afghanistan at home, with a one-off Test and three ODIs from June 6 to 20.
After Sri Lanka, things get tricky. There’s a scheduled three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in the UAE in September. Then comes a tour to Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is, but with some recent diplomatic tensions, that one needs government clearance. On top of all that, a possible T20I series against Zimbabwe is also on the table.
The West Indies visit India in September, bringing three ODIs and five T20s, and that series could stretch into October. But here’s the twist, the 2026 Asian Games are in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with cricket played in T20 format. So, while one Indian team’s battling for gold in Japan, another squad will be facing West Indies at home.
Then, on October 18, India heads to New Zealand. That tour is massive with five ODIs, five T20Is, and two Tests. Apparently, New Zealand and the BCCI just agreed to bump the number of ODIs from three to five, and the action kicks off October 22.
After the New Zealand trip, India returns home in early December to play Sri Lanka again as there is three ODIs and three T20Is. Not long after, it’s time for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Jan-Feb 2027, and then the 20th IPL season will run from March to May. So, the fans need to buckle up as the next year’s going to be jam-packed with cricket of different formats, different countries and hardly a moment’s rest for Team India.
