The 2026 cricket calendar will keep all 12 full-member nations busy, with every team set to feature regularly across formats. England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland will play several bilateral series at home and away.
In 2025, India enjoyed major success on the global stage by winning the ICC Champions Trophy. Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma stepped away from Test cricket. Batter Shubman Gill took over leadership duties and delivered with the bat, but the team suffered a whitewash series defeat against South Africa.
2026 Cricket Season Opens with Australia vs England Ashes Finale at the SCGThe 2026 international cricket season will begin with a high-profile clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Australia and England meet in the final Test of the Ashes on January 4. India will take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting on January 11.
