India will play its final T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026. This 5-match home series serves as the ultimate dress rehearsal before the World Cup begins in February.
The series against New Zealand kicks off on January 21 in Nagpur, followed by matches in Raipur (Jan 23), Guwahati (Jan 25), Visakhapatnam (Jan 28), and concludes in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31.
India's T20 World Cup campaign begins exactly one week after the New Zealand series. Their opening match is against the USA on February 7, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The BCCI officially announced the squad on December 20, 2025. In a major surprise, Shubman Gill has been dropped from the team due to form and tactical combinations. Axar Patel has been named the new vice-captain.
Suryakumar Yadav has been officially named captain for both the New Zealand series and the World Cup.
The high-voltage match against Pakistan is scheduled for February 15, 2026, in Colombo.