India face packed calendar in 2026 with more games in the works

India face a packed cricket calendar over the next 12 months, with additional games potentially lined up in Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, apart from scheduled engagements in England, the UAE, Bangladesh, Japan and a full slate of matches at home.

Cricbuzz understands that the Suryakumar Yadav-led side, which won the World Cup last Sunday, may play three T20Is in Sri Lanka in July-August, in addition to the two Tests already part of the Future Tours Program (FTP).

It is learnt that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering a request from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to schedule three T20Is as a fundraiser for Sri Lanka's flood relief. The island was hit by Cyclone Ditwah last November, resulting in widespread devastation. The T20Is are likely to precede the two Tests.

Prior to the Sri Lanka tour, India will travel to England for three ODIs and five T20Is between July 1 and 19, with the possibility of a short stopover in Ireland en route. Cricbuzz understands that a three-match series in Dublin is being explored, something sources within the BCCI and Cricket Ireland (CI) have indicated.

"Discussions are underway," said a source, expressing confidence that the series will materialise. The BCCI has previously supported CI (in 2018, 2022 and 2023) with short series in Dublin. Should the talks succeed, the games could be scheduled for the last week of June, before the tour of England and after the home series against Afghanistan, who are set to play a Test and three ODIs between June 6 and 20.

The BCCI is likely to face scheduling challenges after the Sri Lanka series. A three-match T20I series against Afghanistan is scheduled in the United Arab Emirates in September, which is already shaping up to be a busy month for Indian cricket. There is also an announced tour of Bangladesh for six white-ball games - three ODIs and three T20Is. That series, of course, will be subject to clearance from the Government of India in view of the recent diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Meanwhile, there is also talk of a possible short visit to Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series. While nothing has been confirmed yet, the tour could take place in September, around the time the West Indies are scheduled to tour India for three ODIs and five T20Is. The eight-match series against West Indies is expected to extend into October.

Amid this comes the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya, Japan. The cricket competition at the Games will be played in the T20 format and India are the defending gold medallists. The men's matches are slated to run from September 25 to October 3, raising the possibility of the T20I squad playing in Japan while an ODI side takes on West Indies simultaneously.

India are then expected to reach New Zealand on October 18 for a full tour featuring five ODIs, five T20Is and two Tests. It is understood that the BCCI and New Zealand Cricket recently agreed to increase the number of ODIs from three to five. The two Tests will follow the 10 white-ball matches, the first of which is slated to begin on October 22.

India are expected to return home from New Zealand in the first week of December, when they are in line to play three ODIs and three T20Is at home against Sri Lanka. This will be followed by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India in January-February 2027, before the 20th season of the Indian Premier League runs from March to May 2027.