India Cricket Schedule 2026: Rohit, Kohli to play 17 ODIs at home

BCCI announces a packed 2026-27 home season featuring Australia, West Indies, and Sri Lanka as India prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday unveiled a comprehensive home schedule for the 2026-27 season, marking a significant roadmap for the Men in Blue. The calendar confirms that senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are slated to feature in at least 17 One Day Internationals (ODIs) before the conclusion of the calendar year.

The marathon season includes high-profile visits from West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia. In a massive logistical undertaking, the BCCI has scheduled 22 international matches to be hosted across 17 different cities, ensuring a wide reach for the sport across the country.

Mega home season unveiled

The international cycle begins with a white-ball focus, specifically designed to fine-tune the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Before the primary home season kicks off, India will travel for shorter assignments against Afghanistan and England.

According to officials, the domestic gala officially commences in September 2026. The schedule emphasizes the 50-over format, giving the senior core ample game time to build momentum for the ICC trophy that narrowly eluded them in 2023.

West Indies tour details

The Caribbean side is scheduled to land in India on September 27, 2026, for a multi-format white-ball series. The tour consists of three ODIs followed by five T20Is.

The ODI leg will see matches hosted in Trivandrum, Guwahati, and New Chandigarh. Following this, the T20I caravan will move through Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, and Hyderabad, concluding at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe visits

As per the BCCI release, December 2026 will belong to the India-Sri Lanka rivalry. The neighbors will compete in three ODIs and three T20Is. Delhi, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad have been designated as the venues for the ODI fixtures.

Immediately following this, Zimbabwe will arrive in early January 2027 for a three-match ODI series. These games are set to be played at iconic venues including Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, Hyderabad, and Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy returns

The crown jewel of the home season remains the five-match Test series against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Scheduled from January 21 to March 3, 2027, this series carries immense emotional weight for Indian fans.

After losing the previous edition 1-3 on Australian soil, India aims to reclaim the trophy at home. The Tests will be played in Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad, with the final match potentially serving as a farewell to the longest format for several veterans.

Focus on Kohli’s century

The heavy density of ODIs—totaling 20 matches by May 2027—provides a massive platform for Virat Kohli. Currently sitting on 85 international centuries, the prolific batter has a realistic window to chase Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 tons.

Sources indicated that the selection committee is keen on managing the workload of senior players to ensure they remain peak-fit for the 2027 World Cup. The upcoming 17 ODIs in 2026 are viewed as the "Golden Phase" for the senior duo to cement their legacies.

Future roadmap established

The announcement brings clarity to India’s transition phase. While the T20I series will focus on blooding young talent, the ODI and Test assignments will rely heavily on the experienced core.

As the road to the 2027 World Cup begins, the BCCI's strategic placement of matches across 17 cities aims to revive fan engagement following recent stadium tragedies. This schedule remains the most ambitious home calendar in recent Indian cricket history.