India’s Cricket Schedule Till the 2026 T20 World Cup

India celebrated a major victory by winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the final. This was India’s third Champions Trophy title and their first in 12 years. But now, the attention is given to the future matches and tournaments.

India did not make it to the WTC 2023-25 final after losing to New Zealand and Australia. But they will now start their journey towards the next phase of the WTC with a Test series against England.

Key Highlights

• India will play 9 Test matches and 12 ODIs over the next year.

• The T20I team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will play 18 T20 matches in addition to the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.

• India aims to win the Pataudi Trophy against England after 18 years.

• With possible leadership changes, a new captain could take charge in red-ball cricket.

• India will defend its T20 World Cup title in February March 2026.

India’s Upcoming Series

ALSO SEE: Lucknow Super Giants Playing 11 vs Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 Match 16

Before the England series, Indian players will participate in the IPL 2025. The tournament starts on March 22 at Eden Gardens, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match. The final will also be held at Eden Gardens on May 25.

The next year promises exciting cricket for Indian fans, with key tournaments and series lined up before the big T20 World Cup

India will be welcoming its biggest cricket stadium, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given approval for a world-class stadium in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. The 1.32 lakh-seat stadium will be bigger than the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and is one of the largest cricket grounds in the world.

This stadium is not only a matter of expanding seating, this stadium is also a milestone achievement for India to push forward its sport infrastructure developments. It will be within a 200-acre Sports City, which will make Amaravati a world-class cricketing and sporting hub. The initiative is expected to raise the bar for cricket in India and attract both domestic and foreign competitions.

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Key Facilities of the Amaravati Cricket Stadium

The new Amaravati stadium will be constructed to deliver a world-class experience for players and viewers, include:

• Seating Capacity: 1.32 lakh, biggest in India.
• World-Class Pitches: Specifically built for Test, ODI, & T20 cricket games.
• Advanced Floodlights: Promising day-night matches with good visibility.
• Premium Spectator Experience: VIP areas, corporate suites, and lounge seating.
• Sustainable Design: Green building features and energy-conserving systems.

A Big Boost to Indian Cricket and Sports Tourism

This biggest cricket stadium in India will not just bring international cricket matches to Andhra Pradesh but also benefit the local economy. The project is likely to:

• Generate thousands of jobs during the construction phase and post-completion.
• Accommodate top cricket tournaments, such as IPL matches, ICC tournaments, and domestic matches.
• Increase sports tourism, with cricket enthusiasts from all over the country.
• Development of Local Talent: A committed cricket academy will develop young players.

India's Vision for Sports Infrastructure Development

This massive cricket stadium's approval is a step closer to India's goal of becoming a major global sporting force. The 200-acre Sports City, will have a number of athletic facilities that will encourage the growth of sports other than cricket.

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A Historic Addition to Indian Cricket

With ICC's approval, Amaravati cricket stadium is going to become a legendary ground in Indian cricket history. Upon completion, it will offer cricket enthusiasts a world-class match-day experience and enhance Andhra Pradesh's position in the international cricketing scene

Team India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has briefly taken a break and embarked on a vacation to France along with his wife Natasha and daughters Aazeen and Anaeza. This is following India's massive triumph in the Champions Trophy 2025.

With Gambhir as coach, India triumphed in the Champions Trophy after a span of 12 years. This was India's third title in the tournament, their earlier wins being in 2002 and 2013.

India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the final played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 9th March. There are no international matches scheduled for the next two months, so Gambhir will spend this time relaxing with his family before the IPL begins on 22nd March.

VACATION TIME FOR GAMBHIR...!!!

- Coach & his family left for France for Vacation. [Abhishek Tripathi] pic.twitter.com/OAFwNehceO

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 21, 2025

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India had a struggling time earlier this year in Australia, losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3. There was pressure on Gambhir, but the victory in the Champions Trophy has shut the critics up.

Gambhir has also tasted success in the IPL. In 2024, under his mentorship, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won their third IPL title. Following this, he was appointed as the head coach of the Indian team. He replaced Rahul Dravid, who ended his term with India’s T20 World Cup win in 2024.

India's new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is concerned with laying down a strong road map for Team India in all formats right through to the 2027 World Cup. His vision strategy is to develop the team, promoting consistency and depth within the squad.

Gambhir is part of this plan as he will accompany India 'A' to England. This is evidence of his desire to keep close tabs on future stars and provide a smooth in-take process for young players to the top team. With this approach, he hopes to establish a foundation that will serve Indian cricket in the future.

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🚨 ROADMAP OF ALL FORMATS FOR TEAM INDIA 🚨

- Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has been working on a Roadmap across formats till the 2027 World Cup. That's why Gautam to travel with India 'A' to England. (TOI). pic.twitter.com/6Y3hHZPwJa

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 12, 2025

The plan is set to concentrate on:

• Selection of influential players for every format.
• Rotating the seniors to balance workload.
• Developing young players for future battles.
• Building India's bench strength in all formats.

With this long-term plan, Gambhir wants to build a team that stays competitive in all formats and reaches its best at the 2027 World Cup.

India's team is warming up for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the event poised to be staged in South Africa in October. Ahead of the World Cup, India will prepare by hosting 24 ODIs in different series against powerful nations.

Why This Schedule Matters

• Experimenting With Different Combinations: Having many young players involved, the team management will find sufficient time to experiment with different combinations and find the right combination.
• Different Conditions: Playing against countries like Australia, South Africa, and England will give India good exposure to differing conditions of play.
• Picking Up Momentum: Performing well in these bilateral series will raise the team morale prior to the World Cup.
• Identifying Key Players: These periods will be defining for veterans to find their place and for the young guns to find a place in the 50-over game.

India's Future ODI Series:

• 3 ODIs vs Bangladesh
• 3 ODIs vs Australia
• 3 ODIs vs South Africa
• 3 ODIs vs Afghanistan
• 3 ODIs vs England
• 3 ODIs vs West Indies
• 3 ODIs vs New Zealand
• 3 ODIs vs Sri Lanka

These fixtures will enable India to experiment with different combinations, strengthen their team, and build momentum before the World Cup. With stiff competition from the world's best teams, India will seek to refine their strategies and form a winning team for the tournament.

ALSO SEE: The Impact of Indian Cricket: Lord’s Faces 4 Million Loss as India Misses WTC 2025 Final

The Road Ahead

Since South Africa is hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup, India will have to adapt to the conditions. Seam-friendly tracks, bouncy pitches, and unpredictable weather are going to be the tasks that India will have to acclimatize to. The series ahead will give players the experience and form patterns to thrive in those conditions.

As the World Cup 2027 countdown begins, everyone's eyes are going to fall on Team India's preparation. Are they going to form a team strong enough to take the trophy home here? The journey has begun, and every single match is going to play a deciding role in the destiny of Indian cricket

Gautam Gambhir has never been short of courage in his cricketing style, be it as a player or as a coach today. His recent choices have gone a long way in determining India's strategy for the Champions Trophy 2025. Some of the daring steps he took and left an impact are listed below.

Axar Patel at Number 5

Axar Patel is primarily viewed as an all-rounder, but Gambhir made a big call in advancing him to number five. It provided India with additional batting depth and allowed Axar to deliver game-changing middle-order performances. His pressure-holding skills and ability to rotate the strike have brought stability to the batting lineup.

Supporting KL Rahul Instead of Rishabh Pant

The KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant debate had been going on, but Gambhir decided to stand by Rahul. His experience under pressure and the calmness during critical moments presented him as the go-to person. Though Pant is an explosive hitter, Gambhir's decision to rely on Rahul meant steady hands in the middle order.

ALSO SEE: Is This Indian team is truly an all time great ?

Choosing Varun Chakravarthy in the Squad

Varun Chakravarthy's mystery spin is a weapon against top teams, and Gambhir understood its worth. Having him in the team provided India with an unpredictable advantage in the bowling unit, making the attack more varied and deadly.

Gambhir's moves speak volumes about his cricketing brain and his capability to take calculated risks. As India prepares for the Champions Trophy 2025, these moves could be a massive contributor to their success.

The Indian cricket team has always been a force to be reckoned with, but their recent showings hint at a level of control we've never seen before. A key stat from the 2020s sheds light on how Indian batsmen are setting new standards in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Batting Exallence Since 2020
An interesting pattern has shown up in ODIs: five batsmen worldwide have hit 2000+ runs while keeping an average above 45 and a strike rate above 90. , all five are Indian.

Dominance Since 2022: A Well-Rounded Batting Order
A closer look at how Indian batsmen have performed since 2022 shows why this might be one of the most complete batting lineups India has ever fielded. A mix of smart run-taking big hitting, and understanding of the game makes them a tough challenge for any bowling team.

What Makes This Indian Team Special? 

• Well-Rounded Batting Order – India boasts an ideal combination of aggressive batsmen steady players, and those who finish games .  
• High-Scoring and Steady – Scoring quickly while keeping high averages is uncommon in today's cricket. 
• Adaptability – Team members adjust their playing style to suit different game situations providing both stability and aggression when necessary. 
• Smart Play – Few dot balls and clever boundary-hitting strategies make them an effective and unpredictable batting group. 

Also Read: India’s Champions Trophy Triumph: Twitter Explodes with Reactions

Are They Among the All-Time Greats?  
India's control of ODI batting in recent years can't be disputed. Several players maintain outstanding averages and scoring rates setting a high bar in today's limited-overs cricket. The only thing missing to cement their place in history? More ICC trophies.  

As the team keeps setting new records, it's reasonable to say we're watching one of the best ODI teams ever.

India won their third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket win over New Zealand in the final at Dubai International Stadium. This victory made India the leading team in the history of the tournament.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 251/7, headed by Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53)*. India's spin duo Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav claimed two wickets each, dominating the middle overs.

In reply, Rohit Sharma (76) gave a good beginning, but wickets were lost at the right time. Shreyas Iyer (48) and Axar Patel (29) steadied the innings before KL Rahul (34)* and Ravindra Jadeja completed the chase with an over to spare.

India team lifting the trophy 🥹💗🇮🇳

Captain ROHIT SHARMA 💓
VIRAT KOHLI 😭🎀#ViratKohli #ChampionsTrophy2025 #RohitSharma #ChampionsTrophyFinal pic.twitter.com/fsVRyf8JAR

— VIRAT ARMY 💫❤️ (@VIRAT_FANPAGE_1) March 9, 2025

THE MOMENTS TEAM INDIA WON CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025...!!!! 🇮🇳

- VIDEO OF THE DAY. 🏆pic.twitter.com/bDwSHWRDiO

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

ALSO SEE: Watch: Team India's Historic Winning Moment Champions Trophy 2025 Final

We got an upgrade over gangnam dance pic.twitter.com/Gx9wExFFrd

— flick (@onlykohly) March 9, 2025

My Goat 🐐 ROHIT SHARMA LIFTING THE ICONIC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 🥺💖💖pic.twitter.com/wHS7MSi5vP

— Radha Dubey (@Rkc1511165) March 9, 2025

INDIAN TEAM GROUP PIC WITH ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/tXMkERWWcr

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 9, 2025

This win was a moment of redemption for India following their 2023 World Cup final heartbreak, and it was Rohit Sharma's second straight ICC trophy as captain. India's tournament unbeaten record showed their dominance on the world stage again.

India won the Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand by four wickets at the Dubai International Stadium. India became the first team to have three Champions Trophy titles and Rohit Sharma's second ICC trophy as captain in a row.

New Zealand batted first and scored 251 runs, with Daryl Mitchell (50) and Michael Bracewell (53*) contributing the most. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav each took two wickets for India.

In reply, Rohit Sharma stabilized the chase with a masterly 76 from 83 deliveries. Losing wickets at critical junctures, India remained on course courtesy of crucial runs from Shreyas Iyer (48) and KL Rahul (34*). Ravindra Jadeja finished the victory with the winning runs, sending the Indian camp into celebrations.

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Celebrate India’s Champions Trophy Win with Dandiya

THE CELEBRATIONS OF RAVINDRA JADEJA AFTER FINISHING THE MATCH. pic.twitter.com/p0AYKmuTEY

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

THE MOMENTS TEAM INDIA WON CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2025...!!!! 🇮🇳

- VIDEO OF THE DAY. 🏆pic.twitter.com/bDwSHWRDiO

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

Gautam Gambhir hugging KL Rahul.

- KL played a vital knock in the CT Final for India. ❤️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/MDbgy962Pf

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025

🚨TEAM INDIA HAVE WON THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY AFTER 12 YEARS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/R0tU9UDzxz

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing Dandiya with the stumps. 🤣❤️ pic.twitter.com/I1utuReQp2

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025

Jadeja, Arshdeep and Harshit doing the Gangnam Style. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MfTun6h6dh

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025

It was a moment of redemption for India following their 2023 World Cup final despair, a historic Indian cricket night.

Rohit Sharma has made his mark in cricket history as one of the greatest captains of all time. Since becoming India's permanent captain, he has led the team to the final of every ICC tournament—an achievement no other captain in contemporary cricket has matched. His ability to take India to the biggest stages of world cricket reflects his tactical acumen, composure, and exceptional leadership skills.

Rohit Sharma's Historic ICC Record

Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, India has always dominated global cricket, making it to the final of:

• T20 World Cup
• ODI World Cup
• World Test Championship

No other captain has ever been so consistent at the ICC level. This achievement alone makes Rohit a legendary cricket captain who performs under pressure.

Also See : Suryakumar Yadav Speaks on His Game-Changing Catch in T20 World Cup 2024 Final

Why Rohit Sharma is an Excellent Leader?

1. Composure Under Pressure :

Rohit's capacity to stay calm in pressure situations makes him different.

2. Tactical Brilliance :

He sharp bowling changes, strategic field placements, and quick adaptability to match situations, making him one of the smartest minds in cricket.

3. Trust in Players :

Unlike many captains who hesitate to rely on young talent, Rohit supports emerging stars while maintaining the performance of senior players. He has instilled confidence in Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Arshdeep Singh, ensuring they shine on the biggest stage.

4. Balanced Aggression :

India, under his leadership, plays dashing yet pragmatic cricket, attacking and defending perfectly. His attack-first approach as a batsman is evident in the manner India tackles important games, always starting on the front foot.

5. Leading from the Front :

Many captains struggle with personal form due to leadership pressure, but Rohit continues to deliver match-winning performances. His ability to play impactful innings in crucial games is a testament to his leadership by example.

Beyond Trophies: Rohit Sharma's Lasting Impact

While trophies define success, leadership is all about consistent excellence. Rohit Sharma has made Team India a title contender every time, so the team consistently stays at the top of world cricket.

Win or lose today, Rohit Sharma’s captaincy legacy is already cemented. He is not just a captain; he is a leader who has revolutionized Indian cricket for generations to come.

Also See : Suryakumar Yadav Speaks on His Game-Changing Catch in T20 World Cup 2024 Final