Overview:
India will kick off their 2026 season with a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, marking the first outing for the national team in the new year.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma proved their worth once again, steering India to a 2-1 series win over South Africa after a challenging Test campaign. Despite questions surrounding their future in the 2027 World Cup, the two former captains remain integral to India‘s ODI success.
Virat Kohli ended the three-match series with an outstanding 302 runs, including two centuries and a half-century. Rohit Sharma contributed 146 runs with two half-centuries. This was their final game for India in 2025.
As the T20 World Cup draws nearer, India’s focus shifts to the five-match T20I series against South Africa, beginning December 9. Rohit and Virat will make their comeback to the team after a month’s break.
India will kick off their 2026 season with a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, marking the first outing for the national team in the new year.
India vs New Zealand: ODI Series Fixture
| Date | Matches | Venue |
| 11th January, 2026 | 1st ODI | Baroda |
| 14th January, 2026 | 2nd ODI | Rajkot |
| 18th January, 2026 | 3rd ODI | Indore |
India’s ODI Calendar Leading Up to the 2027 World Cup
| Dates | Matches | Seires |
| 11-18 January 2026 | 3 | India vs New Zealand (in India) |
| June 2026 | 3 | India vs Afghanistan (in India} |
| 14th July 2026-19th July 2026 | 3 | India vs England (in England) |
| September 2026 | 3 | India vs Bangladesh (in Bangladesh) |
| September/October 2026 | 3 | India vs West Indies (in West Indies) |
| October/November 2026 | 3 | India vs New Zealand (In New Zealand) |
| January 2027 | 3 | India vs Sri Lanka (In India) |
| July 2027 | 2-6 | Asia Cup 2027 (in Bangladesh) |
| October-November 2027 | tbd | ODI World Cup 2027 (in South Africa |
The Future Tour Program (FTP) beyond March 2027 remains uncertain, but India are expected to play more bilateral series leading up to the Asia Cup and World Cup in that year.
Rohit and Virat are set to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai and Delhi, respectively, as part of their preparation before India’s ODI series against New Zealand. The tournament kicks off on December 24.