Team India are preparing for an extremely packed international schedule over the next year, with matches planned across several countries including England, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Japan. Apart from these overseas tours, India will also host several series at home, making the next 12 months one of the busiest phases in recent cricketing history.
The schedule comes soon after India’s T20 World Cup triumph under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. Following the success, the team is expected to continue playing an aggressive brand of cricket while balancing multiple bilateral series and global events.
Possible Sri Lanka Tour for Flood Relief
One of the notable additions being considered is a short T20I series in Sri Lanka. According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is evaluating a request from Sri Lanka Cricket to organise three T20 Internationals as a fundraiser for flood relief.
Sri Lanka suffered severe damage due to Cyclone Ditwah last year, and the proposed matches could help generate funds for recovery efforts. These games would likely be scheduled before the two Test matches that are already part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP), with the entire tour expected to take place in July and August.
England Tour and Possible Ireland Series
Before traveling to Sri Lanka, India are scheduled to tour England for a white-ball series that includes three One-Day Internationals and five T20 Internationals between July 1 and July 19.
Interestingly, there is also a possibility of India stopping in Dublin for a short three-match T20I series against Ireland national cricket team. Talks between the BCCI and Cricket Ireland are reportedly ongoing. India have previously supported Irish cricket by playing limited-overs series in Dublin in 2018, 2022 and 2023, and another short tour could be scheduled for the last week of June.
This Ireland series would take place after India host Afghanistan national cricket team for a home series consisting of one Test and three ODIs between June 6 and June 20.
Busy September with Multiple Series
The schedule becomes even more demanding in September. A three-match T20I series against Afghanistan national cricket team is already planned in the United Arab Emirates.
At the same time, India are also expected to tour Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. However, this tour will depend on clearance from the Government of India due to recent diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
There are also discussions regarding a possible short tour of Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series. If confirmed, these matches could take place around the same time as West Indies national cricket team are scheduled to tour India.
West Indies Series and Asian Games
The West Indies tour of India will include three ODIs and five T20Is and is expected to extend into October. Around the same period, cricket will also be played at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
The cricket competition at the Games will be played in the T20 format, and India will enter the event as the defending gold medallists. The men’s tournament is scheduled from September 25 to October 3, which raises the possibility of India fielding two different squads simultaneously—one participating in the Asian Games while another plays the West Indies series.
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Full Tour of New Zealand
After these engagements, India will travel to New Zealand for a full bilateral tour beginning in October. The tour will include five ODIs, five T20Is and two Test matches.
Interestingly, the number of ODIs in the series was recently increased from three to five following discussions between the BCCI and New Zealand Cricket. The first white-ball match is expected to begin on October 22, with the Test series scheduled after the limited-overs matches.
Home Series and Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India are likely to return from New Zealand in early December before hosting Sri Lanka national cricket team for a home series consisting of three ODIs and three T20Is.
Following that, the spotlight will shift to the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is scheduled to be played in India during January and February 2027 against Australia national cricket team.
Soon after the Test series concludes, attention will move to the 20th edition of the Indian Premier League, which is expected to run from March to May 2027.
With tours across multiple continents and participation in major tournaments, the next 12 months promise to be an intense and demanding period for Indian cricket. Managing player workload while maintaining performance will likely be one of the biggest challenges for the team management and selectors.