The newly crowned T20 World Champions are set for another hectic year of international cricket between June 2026 and May 2027, when the Indian men's cricket team get back on the road with a packed international calendar following the conclusion of the IPL 2026 season.
The 12-month stretch features some high-stakes matches in the ICC World Test Championship cycle and a surprisingly heavy dose of T20Is despite the fact that India will begin shaping its squad for the 2027 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in South Africa.
From bilateral tours away to England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Ireland and Zimbabwe to a blockbuster five-test home series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the schedule leaves little room for resting players. The volume of fixtures also increases the likelihood of India deploying split squads at one stage of the season.
What's At Stake In The WTC Cycle
A major portion of the upcoming season will revolve around India's push to reach the 2027 World Test Championship final.
India's two away assignments, the tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand, form crucial parts of the cycle. With just two Tests each in both those tours, India will view them as must-win fixtures to maintain a strong points percentage ahead of the decisive home series against Australia.
The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy early in 2027 could ultimately determine India's qualification for the WTC final scheduled at Lord's in June 2027.
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ODI Focus As 2027 World Cup Looms
Alongside the Test commitments, India are scheduled to play roughly 20 ODIs across the year.
Away series against England and New Zealand, along with a home assignment against Sri Lanka and West Indies, are expected to serve as key testing grounds for the ODI squad as management begins looking at team combinations ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
The decision by the BCCI and New Zealand Cricket to expand the New Zealand tour from three to five ODIs further underlines the increased emphasis on the 50-over format.
Split Squads Likely During Asian Games
The possibility of the BCCI deploying split squads arises in late September when the Asian Games overlap with a home white-ball series against West Indies.
India will most likely field two separate squads, a young side representing the country in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, while the senior core competes in the bilateral ODI series at home, continuing their world cup preparations.
Below is a closer look at the fixtures shaping India's upcoming international season.
India Men's Cricket Calendar (June 2026 – May 2027)
- Afghanistan Tour Of India (June 6 to 20, 2026)
1 Test, 3 ODIs
India will resume their international commitments with a short home series against Afghanistan featuring a one-off Test and three ODIs.
- Ireland T20I Series (Late June 2026)
3 T20Is
The squad will travel to Ireland for a three-match T20I series which could provide opportunities to also test players ahead of the England tour.
- England White-Ball Tour (July 1st to 19th, 2026)
5 T20Is, 3 ODIs
India's first major overseas assignment of the season is their trip to England which will conclude with an ODI at Lord's.
- Sri Lanka Tour (July - August 2026)
2 Tests (WTC), 3 T20Is
A crucial Test assignment in the WTC cycle awaits the team in Sri Lanka. The series will also be paired with charity T20Is that have been tentatively labelled as the ‘flood relief series'.
- Afghanistan Series In UAE (September 2026)
3 T20Is
A neutral-venue T20I series against Afghanistan is expected to provide preparation ahead of a busy home stretch.
- Bangladesh Tour (Subject to government clearance - September 2026)
3 ODIs, 3 T20Is
Another mixed-format bilateral series has been planned in Bangladesh as India continues its ODI build-up toward the 2027 World Cup. However, the series is subject to government clearance with rising tensions between the two nations.
- Zimbabwe T20I Series (September 2026)
3 T20Is
In a packed September, India will also prepare for the Asian Games with a three-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe.
- West Indies Tour Of India (September - October 2026)
3 ODIs, 5 T20Is
This home white-ball series overlaps with the Asian Games and could trigger a split-squad scenario.
- Asian Games Cricket (Sept 25th to Oct 3rd, 2026)
T20 Format
India will defend its cricket gold medal won at Hangzhou 2023, likely with a separate squad while the senior team plays at home.
- New Zealand Tour (October to December 2026)
2 Tests (WTC), 5 ODIs, 5 T20Is
The two boards decided to expand the ODI leg from three to a five-match series which highlights the emphasis on World Cup preparation.
- Sri Lanka Tour Of India (December 2026)
3 ODIs, 3 T20Is
The series will provide another opportunity to test ODI combinations late in the year.
- Border-Gavaskar Trophy (January to February 2027)
5 Tests
The marquee home Test series against Australia could prove decisive for India's WTC final hopes.
IPL 2027 (March to May 2027)
The international season will take a pause as attention will shift to the 20th edition of the Indian Premier League.
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