List of matches, series in lead-up to global showpiece
NEW DELHI: 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
Agencies