Full international T20I schedule ahead of T20 World Cup 2026: List of matches, series in lead-up to showpiece

With the T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, a host of teams will look to finalise their plans and lineups, as well as acclimate to the subcontinental conditions.

As many as 12 of the 20 teams participating in the global showpiece will be in action over the next few weeks as their preparations enter the home stretch.

While defending champion India hosts the Kiwis for five T20Is, co-host Sri Lanka will also host England for three T20 matches ahead of the World Cup. Other teams that will enjoy some valuable game time in the lead-up to the tournament include Afghanistan, Australia, Pakistan, Ireland, West Indies, South Africa, the UAE and Italy.

Here is the full schedule of the T20I bilateral series that will take place ahead of T20 World Cup 2026:

New Zealand tour of India

• 1st T20I: January 21 – Nagpur – 7 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: January 23 – Raipur – 7 PM IST
• 3rd T20I: January 25 – Guwahati – 7 PM IST
• 4th T20I: January 28 – Visakhapatnam – 7 PM IST
• 5th T20I: January 31 – Thiruvananthapuram – 7 PM IST

Afghanistan vs West Indies in UAE

• 1st T20I: January 19 – Dubai – 8 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: January 21 – Dubai – 8 PM IST
• 3rd T20I: January 22 – Dubai – 8 PM IST

England tour of Sri Lanka

• 1st T20I: January 30 – Pallekele – 7 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: February 1 – Pallekele – 7 PM IST
• 3rd T20I: February 3 – Pallekele – 7 PM IST

Ireland vs Italy in Dubai

• 1st T20I: January 23 – Dubai – 7:30 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: January 25 – Dubai – 7:30 PM IST
• 3rd T20I: January 26 – Dubai – 7:30 PM IST

West Indies tour of South Africa

• 1st T20I: January 27 – Paarl – 9:30 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: January 29 – Centurion – 9:30 PM IST
• 3rd T20I: January 31 – Johannesburg – 6 PM IST

Ireland tour of UAE

• 1st T20I: January 29 – Dubai – 7:30 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: January 31 – Dubai – 11:30 AM IST

Australia tour of Pakistan

• 1st T20I: January 29 – Lahore – 6:30 PM IST
• 2nd T20I: January 31 – Lahore – 6:30 PM IST
• 3rd T20I: February 1 – Lahore – 6:30 PM IST

Published on Jan 15, 2026