India cricket schedule 2026: 3 World Cups and major tours in a busy year

By Admin

01 Jan, 2026

Indian cricket steps into 2026 at a decisive crossroads, with an unusually packed calendar dominated by white-ball cricket and three ICC World Cups across men’s, women’s and Under-19 levels. From title defences and leadership transitions to the emergence of the next generation, the year promises moments that could redefine careers and shape India’s cricketing future.

A Pivotal Year Begins

As the calendar flips to 2026, Indian cricket finds itself balancing legacy and transition. The men’s team enters the year as reigning T20 World Cup champions, the women’s side rides the high of their maiden ODI World Cup triumph in 2025, and the Under-19 squad prepares to showcase the next wave of talent on the global stage. With pressure, opportunity and expectation colliding, 2026 is set to be one of the busiest and most consequential years in Indian cricket history.

Men’s T20 World Cup 2026: History on the Line

The first major milestone is the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India begins its title defence as reigning champions, aiming to achieve something no men’s team has managed before   retaining the T20 World Cup trophy.

India’s group-stage matches will see them face the USA, Namibia, Pakistan and the Netherlands, setting the tone for a high-pressure home campaign. At the heart of this challenge is Suryakumar Yadav, leading a youthful side into a World Cup without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the first time in over a decade.

The burden on Suryakumar is immense. Captaining India in a home World Cup, defending an unprecedented title, and proving his leadership credentials all converge in one defining tournament. With growing speculation that 2026 could mark his final stint as T20I captain, the stakes could not be higher. A successful defence would not only etch his name into history but also see India break an ICC record.

Can Indian Women Complete the Double?

While the men command much of the spotlight, Indian women’s cricket enters 2026 with quiet confidence and soaring ambition. Fresh from their historic ICC Women’s ODI World Cup win in late 2025, the team begins the year as reigning world champions for the first time.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL), running from January 9 to February 5 in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, once again becomes the competitive engine room for talent, leadership and tactical growth. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled from June 12 to July 5 in England, India has a rare chance to complete a world-title double.

Led by experienced campaigners like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, the challenge will be to strike a balance between celebration and reinvention. A T20 World Cup triumph would cement this generation among the greatest in women’s cricket and signal the beginning of a sustained era of dominance rather than a one-off success.

Veterans, Transitions and the Gill Question

Beyond the World Cups, 2026 also tests India’s long-standing pillars. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, though stepping away from T20Is, remain central to India’s ODI plans as the road to the 2027 ODI World Cup begins. Their fitness, form and mentorship will be crucial in maintaining stability across formats.

Parallel to this is the evolution of Shubman Gill. Once viewed as a future all-format leader and vice-captain, Gill’s omission from the T20 World Cup squad sparked major debate in late 2025. His IPL 2026 campaign becomes pivotal, offering a chance to silence doubts, overcome injury concerns and reassert his claim as India’s next generational leader.

Under-19 World Cup: The Future Takes Shape

Another compelling storyline unfolds early in the year at the ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup, held from January 15 to February 6 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Led by captain Ayush Mhatre, India’s squad features exciting prospects, including batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Their performances will offer early glimpses into the next crop of Indian stars, many of whom could transition to senior cricket over the next few seasons.

Major Cricket Events in 2026

WPL: January 9 to February 5 (Navi Mumbai and Vadodara)
ICC U19 Men’s World Cup: January 15 to February 6 (Zimbabwe and Namibia)
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: February 7 to March 8 (India and Sri Lanka)
IPL: March 26 to May 31
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: June 12 to July 5 (England)

India Men’s Cricket Schedule 2026

January | New Zealand tour of India
ODIs
Jan 11 – 1st ODI, Vadodara
Jan 14 – 2nd ODI, Rajkot
Jan 18 – 3rd ODI, Indore

T20Is
Jan 21 – 1st T20I, Nagpur
Jan 23 – 2nd T20I, Raipur
Jan 25 – 3rd T20I, Guwahati
Jan 28 – 4th T20I, Visakhapatnam
Jan 31 – 5th T20I, Thiruvananthapuram

February–March | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Feb 7 – Mar 8 | Hosts: India & Sri Lanka

March–May | Indian Premier League 2026
Mar 26 – May 31

June | Afghanistan tour of India
1 Test
3 ODIs

July | India tour of England
T20Is
Jul 1 – Chester-le-Street
Jul 4 – Manchester
Jul 7 – Nottingham
Jul 9 – Bristol
Jul 11 – Southampton

ODIs
Jul 14 – Birmingham
Jul 16 – Cardiff
Jul 19 – Lord’s

August | India tour of Sri Lanka
2 Tests

September | India tour of Bangladesh
3 ODIs
3 T20Is

September–October
India tour of Afghanistan (neutral venue)
3 T20Is

West Indies tour of India
3 ODIs
5 T20Is

October–November | India tour of New Zealand
2 Tests
3 ODIs
5 T20Is

December | Sri Lanka tour of India
3 ODIs
3 T20Is

A Year That Could Define a Generation

With three World Cups, relentless touring and critical leadership transitions, 2026 is more than just a busy calendar for Indian cricket   it is a year that could define an era. From Suryakumar Yadav’s high-stakes leadership and the women’s quest for a historic double, to the grooming of future stars across formats, Indian cricket stands on the edge of transformation, ready to script another chapter in its ever-evolving story.