India could play additional games in Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe as the team gears up for a packed international schedule over the next 12 months, Cricbuzz reported on Thursday (March 12).
The proposed matches would come alongside scheduled engagements in England, the UAE, Bangladesh, Japan and a full slate of matches at home.
According to the report, the BCCI is considering adding three T20Is to India's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The fixtures are likely to take place before the two Tests that are already part of the Future Tours Program (FTP) and could be scheduled in July-August.
The additional T20Is have reportedly been proposed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as part of a fundraising initiative to support flood relief efforts in the island nation. Sri Lanka was severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah last November, which caused widespread damage and displacement across several regions.
Before travelling to Sri Lanka, India are slated to tour England for a white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and five T20Is between July 1 and 19. However, the team could make a brief stop in Ireland en route.
Sources quoted in the report indicated that discussions between the BCCI and Cricket Ireland for a three-match T20I series are currently underway. If finalised, the matches could be staged in the final week of June in Dublin.
The proposed Ireland games would take place shortly after India’s home series against Afghanistan, including one Test and three ODIs, scheduled from June 6 to 20.
The BCCI faces a significantly packed schedule in late 2026, with multiple tours overlapping following the conclusion of the Sri Lanka tour. A three-match T20I series against Afghanistan is scheduled in the United Arab Emirates in September. There is also a white-ball tour of Bangladesh, consisting of three ODIs and as many T20Is. That series, however, is subject to clearance from the Government of India due to diplomatic tensions between two nations.
Furthermore, there are discussions regarding potential three-T20I series in Zimbabwe. The tour could take place in September, around the time the West Indies are due to visit India for three ODIs and five T20Is. The eight white-ball matches against the West Indies is likely to extend into October.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Asian Games in Japan will feature a T20 cricket tournament from September 25 to October 3, 2026, where India aims to defend their 2023 gold medals in both men's and women's categories. Due to scheduling conflicts with a potential West Indies tour, India may field separate squads for the Asian Games and the ODI series.
India are then expected to arrive in New Zealand on October 18 for an all-format tour, consisting of five ODIs, five T20Is and two Tests. The report suggests that BCCI and New Zealand Cricket recently agreed to increase the number of ODIs from three to five. The two Tests will follow the 10 white-ball fixtures, slated to get underway on October 22.
India's cricket schedule for late 2026 to early 2027 features a return from New Zealand in early December to host Sri Lanka for three ODIs and three T20Is. This follows the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India in January-February 2027, before the IPL 2027 season from March to May.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
