The Indian squad recovered from the series losses against England and Ireland by defeating Zimbabwe 3-0 in the T20I series that ended on Sunday. After taking over as captain from Suryakumar Yadav, who won the 2026 T20 World Cup, Shreyas Iyer began his career with six defeats in his first seven games.
However, things took a turn for the better in Harare, where the Men in Blue won all three games and went home smiling. The Indian team will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series next month after the Zimbabwe series; the roster is anticipated to be revealed on Tuesday.
The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle includes the India vs. Sri Lanka Test series, and the Shubman Gill-led team will need to step up to move up in the standings. One position ahead of Sri Lanka, India is now ranked fifth in the WTC rankings.
The dates of India’s T20I series against Afghanistan in September will rely on the country’s visit of Bangladesh, which was originally planned for August 2025. However, the series was moved to September 2026 because of political problems between the two nations.
The World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 cycle includes the India vs. Sri Lanka Test series, and the Shubman Gill-led team will need to step up to move up in the standings.
India’s Cricket Schedule 2026
| Month | Tour details | Host Country | No. of matches |
| August 2026 | India tour of Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 2 Tests |
| September 2026 | India tour of Afghanistan | Afghanistan | 3 T20I |
| September-October 2026 | West Indies tour of India | India | 3 ODIs, 5 T20Is |
| September–October 2026 | Asian Games | Japan | T20Is |
| October-November 2026 | India tour of New Zealand | New Zealand | 2 Test, 3 ODI, 5 T20Is |
| December 2026 | Sri Lanka tour of India | India | 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is |
Before traveling to New Zealand for a ten-match series across formats, India would host the West Indies for three ODIs and five T20Is in September and October. To end the year, India will host Sri Lanka for three ODIs and the same number of T20Is.
India Current 2026 Performance
India’s 2026 has been uneven thus far, despite winning the T20 World Cup at home.
India won the T20I series 4-1 after losing to New Zealand in the ODI series, and they went on to win the T20 World Cup.
Following that, India crushed Afghanistan 3-0 in the ODI series and won the one-off Test. But in June and July, India lost to England (T20Is & ODIs) and Ireland (T20Is).
India tour of Sri Lanka
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Aug 15-19, 2026 | 1st Test | Galle |
| Aug 23-27, 2026 | 2nd Test | Colombo (SSC) |
West Indies tour of India
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Sep 27, 2026 | 1st ODI | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Sep 30, 2026 | 2nd ODI | Guwahati |
| Oct 3, 2026 | 3rd ODI | Tira |
| Oct 6, 2026 | 1st T20I | Lucknow |
| Oct 9, 2026 | 2nd T20I | Ranchi |
| Oct 11, 2026 | 3rd T20I | Indore |
| Oct 14, 2026 | 4th T20I | Hyderabad |
| Oct 17, 2026 | 5th T20I | Bengaluru |
India tour of New Zealand
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct 22, 2026 | 1st T20I | Christchurch |
| Oct 24, 2026 | 2nd T20I | Christchurch |
| Oct 27, 2026 | 3rd T20I | Wellington |
| Oct 30, 2026 | 4th T20I | Auckland |
| Nov 1, 2026 | 5th T20I | Hamilton |
| Nov 4, 2026 | 1st ODI | Auckland |
| Nov 7, 2026 | 2nd ODI | Wellington |
| Nov 10, 2026 | 3rd ODI | Hamilton |
| Nov 13, 2026 | 4th ODI | Mount Maunganui |
| Nov 15, 2026 | 5th ODI | Mount Maunganui |
| Nov 19-23, 2026 | 1st Test | Wellington |
| Nov 27 – Dec 1, 2026 | 2nd Test | Christchurch |
Sri Lanka tour of India
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Dec 13, 2026 | 1st ODI | Delhi |
| Dec 16, 2026 | 2nd ODI | Bengaluru |
| Dec 19, 2026 | 3rd ODI | Ahmedabad |
| Dec 22, 2026 | 1st T20I | Rajkot |
| Dec 24, 2026 | 2nd T20I | Cuttack |
| Dec 27, 2026 | 3rd T20I | Pune |
Conclusion
India’s cricket schedule for 2026 is packed with important matches across all three formats. After an uneven start to the year, the Indian team will look to build consistency through the upcoming Test, ODI and T20I assignments. The two-Test series against Sri Lanka will be particularly important for India’s position in the World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.
The home series against West Indies, the multi-format tour of New Zealand and the year-ending Sri Lanka tour will give India several opportunities to strengthen its squads and prepare for future major tournaments. With a busy calendar ahead, fans can expect plenty of exciting cricket throughout the remainder of 2026.
FAQs on India Cricket Schedule 2026
1. What is India’s next cricket series in 2026?
India’s next major assignment is the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, scheduled for August 2026.
2. How many Tests will India play against Sri Lanka in 2026?
India will play two Tests against Sri Lanka in August 2026. The first Test is scheduled in Galle, followed by the second Test in Colombo.
3. Who will India play after the Sri Lanka Test series?
After the Sri Lanka series, India is scheduled to play Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in September 2026, subject to the final schedule.
4. How many matches will India play against West Indies in 2026?
India is scheduled to host West Indies for three ODIs and five T20Is, making it an eight-match limited-overs series.
5. When will India tour New Zealand in 2026?
India’s tour of New Zealand is scheduled from October to November 2026 and includes five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.
I’m Rajesh Kumar, a passionate cricket and sports enthusiast who enjoys writing about the latest happenings in the world of sports. I create well-researched, engaging, and easy-to-read articles covering cricket, football, and other major sporting events. My goal is to provide readers with accurate news, match analysis, player insights, team updates, and informative guides that help them stay informed. Through my writing, I aim to share my passion for sports while delivering reliable and valuable content for fans around the world.
