Indian Cricket Team’s ODI Schedule for 2026: How Many Matches Will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Play?
Remarkably, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli claimed the top two spots in the ICC ODI Batting rankings, with Sharma on top and Kohli second.
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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will return to play for India in the ODI series against New Zealand. (via India Today)
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For Indian cricket fans, 2026 is expected to be a busy year, with the Men in Blue expected to be in action across all three formats of the game around the world. Furthermore, the iconic pair of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will feature for the Indian ODI side, several times.
2025 was a roller-coaster ride for Indian cricket fans, starting with a Champions Trophy victory. Midway through the 2025 IPL season, veteran Indian icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli shocked fans by announcing their retirement from the longest format of the game. Under new Test captain, Shubman Gill, the Indian Test team went on to play a five-match series in England, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Sharma and Kohli rejoined the Indian ODI team for a white-ball tour of Australia in October. Sharma, who was replaced by Gill as ODI skipper, still performed strongly in 2025, scoring 650 runs with two centuries and four half-centuries. Kohli, on the other hand, struggled in Australia, but concluded the year on a high note by scoring over 300 runs in the three home ODIs against South Africa.
Although the number of 50-over matches appears to have decreased, the Men in Blue have a defined schedule for 2026. Throughout the year, the team is slated to play 18 ODIs, and Sharma and Kohli are expected to feature in most of those matches for Team India.
New Zealand tour of India (January)
The Indian ODI team’s first assignment in the new year will be a three-match series against New Zealand at home, starting January 11. It marks the Blackcaps’ first visit to India since 2024, when they previously embarrassed the Men in Blue by securing a 3-0 whitewash in a three-match Test series.
While the squad for the three ODIs against the Kiwis is yet to be announced, it is clear that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be key members. The first ODI will be played at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on January 11, followed by the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14. The third and final ODI will be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, on January 18.
Afghanistan tour of India (June)
The dates for the Afghanistan national team’s ODI series against India are yet to be announced, though it is anticipated to be held in the month of June, immediately after the end of the 2026 IPL season. The schedule includes a Test match, followed by three ODIs against the same opponents.
India tour of England (July)
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are anticipated to be included in the Indian ODI squad for the white-ball tour of England, which will be their first such tour since 2022. The first One-Day will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, with the second one taking place at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. India’s tour will conclude on July 19, at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
West Indies tour of India (September-October)
India’s late-monsoon window includes another set of ODIs, scheduled to be played at home. The current proposal features a five-match T20I series followed by three ODIs, although both cricket boards have yet to finalize the specific dates or venues for the matches.
India tour of New Zealand (October-November)
An all-format tour of New Zealand is also lined up for the back end of the year, with the full schedule yet to be announced. For the second time in a year, the Men in Blue will take on the Kiwis in three ODIs and five T20Is, this time away from home, with the addition of two Test matches.
Sri Lanka tour of India (December)
India is set to conclude its calendar year with a highly anticipated home white-ball series against Sri Lanka in December. This three-match ODI series carries extra significance as it will be the final international appearance of the year for veteran icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
| Opposition | Date | Venue |
| New Zealand | January 11 | Vadodara |
| New Zealand | January 14 | Rajkot |
| New Zealand | January 18 | Indore |
| Afghanistan | June | TBD |
| Afghanistan | June | TBD |
| Afghanistan | June | TBD |
| England | July 14 | Birmingham |
| England | July 16 | Cardiff |
| England | July 19 | London |
| West Indies | September-October | TBD |
| West Indies | September-October | TBD |
| West Indies | September-October | TBD |
| New Zealand | November | TBD |
| New Zealand | November | TBD |
| New Zealand | November | TBD |
| Sri Lanka | December | TBD |
| Sri Lanka | December | TBD |
| Sri Lanka | December | TBD |
Notably, the BCCI might also be attempting to reschedule a white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which was originally set for August-September 2025. This series was deferred for an entire year amid strained bilateral relations between the nations. However, current indications suggest that the proposed series might have been put on hold indefinitely.
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