BCCI Announces 22-Match Home Seasonia to Face Australia in 5-Test Series

Nitin Trivedi — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:50:52 +0530

BCCI Announces 22-Match Home Season: India to Host Australia, West Indies, Sri Lanka & Zimbabwe

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially unveiled the schedule for Team India's senior men's international home season for 2026-27, announcing a massive 22-match calendar that will see four visiting teams tour the country across 17 cities .

The action-packed season kicks off on September 27, 2026, with the West Indies tour and culminates in a high-voltage five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, beginning January 21, 2027 .

With a mix of ODIs, T20Is, and Tests, the upcoming home season promises to be one of the busiest in recent memory, offering cricket fans across the nation a feast of international action.

Breaking Down the 22-Match Schedule

The comprehensive schedule includes 8 T20Is, 9 ODIs, and 5 Tests. Here is how the action unfolds across the season:

Tour	Format	Dates	Venues
West Indies	3 ODIs, 5 T20Is	Sep 27 – Oct 17, 2026	Trivandrum, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad, Bengaluru
Sri Lanka	3 ODIs, 3 T20Is	Dec 13 – Dec 27, 2026	Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Cuttack, Pune
Zimbabwe	3 ODIs	Jan 3 – Jan 9, 2027	Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai
Australia	5 Tests	Jan 21 – Mar 3, 2027	Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, Ahmedabad

1. West Indies Tour (September-October 2026)

The season opens with a white-ball series against the West Indies. The action begins with three ODIs in Trivandrum, Guwahati, and New Chandigarh, followed by five T20Is across Lucknow, Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru .

2. Sri Lanka Tour (December 2026)

As winter sets in, Sri Lanka will arrive for a white-ball series. The three ODIs are scheduled for Delhi, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, while the T20Is will be played in Rajkot, Cuttack, and Pune .

3. Zimbabwe Tour (January 2027)

The new year begins with Zimbabwe visiting for a three-match ODI series. The matches will be held at iconic venues: Kolkata's Eden Gardens, Hyderabad, and Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium .

4. Australia Tour (January-March 2027) – The Headline Act

The season's crown jewel is the five-match Test series against Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This series is a crucial part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle .

The Test venues are:

1st Test: January 21-25, Nagpur (VCA Stadium)
2nd Test: January 29-February 2, Chennai (MA Chidambaram Stadium)
3rd Test: February 11-15, Guwahati (Barsapara Stadium)
4th Test: February 19-23, Ranchi (JSCA Stadium)
5th Test: February 27-March 3, Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)

Key Highlights: Bengaluru Returns, Guwahati Hosts Historic Test

Bengaluru's International Return

A significant highlight is the return of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the international circuit. The venue will host the 5th T20I against West Indies (October 17) and the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka (December 16) . This marks its first international matches since October 2024, following a suspension due to a tragic stampede during RCB's IPL victory celebrations in June 2024 .

Guwahati's Test Debut Against Australia

The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati is set to host its first-ever Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match (February 11-15, 2027). The venue only hosted its maiden red-ball game in November 2025 when South Africa toured India, making the upcoming Australia Test just its second Test match overall .

Multiple Matches Across 17 Cities

The BCCI has ensured a wide geographical spread, with matches scheduled in 17 cities . Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, and Ranchi are the only centers set to host two international matches each during the course of the season .

What This Means for Indian Cricket

This packed home season serves multiple purposes for the Indian team. The white-ball games against the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe provide valuable match practice and an opportunity to test bench strength. However, the five-Test series against Australia will be the ultimate test of skill and endurance.

Given that the series is part of the World Test Championship, every point will be crucial as India looks to secure a place in the final. Additionally, with the IPL also taking place during this period, workload management of key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli will be a key focus for the selectors and the BCCI.

The Bottom Line

The BCCI's announcement of 22 international matches sets the stage for a thrilling year of cricket in India. From the first ball against the West Indies in September to the final Test against Australia in March, fans across 17 cities will witness top-tier cricketing action. The return to Bengaluru and the historic Test in Guwahati add special narratives to what promises to be a memorable home season .

The full schedule is now available on the official BCCI website.

India Cricket Schedule 2026: Rohit, Kohli to Play 17 ODIs

Abhishek Joshi — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:59:32 +0530

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.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy - Dainik Jagran English