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Guwahati and Trivandrum Among Potential Hosts for India vs New Zealand 2026 White-Ball Series
BCCI Shortlists Eight Venues for India-New Zealand Series
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has provisionally shortlisted Jaipur, Mohali, Indore, Rajkot, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, and Nagpur as potential venues for the upcoming India vs New Zealand white-ball series, tentatively scheduled for January 2026.
This highly anticipated bilateral contest will mark the conclusion of India’s jam-packed home international season and serve as a key preparation phase ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Series Format: 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is to be Played Across India
White-Ball Climax to India’s 2025-26 Home Season
As per the provisional schedule, India will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) followed by five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against New Zealand. These matches are expected to attract massive interest from fans and will play a crucial role in finalizing India’s squad combinations ahead of the global tournament.
The final itinerary for the New Zealand tour will be confirmed during the Apex Council meeting of the BCCI, which is scheduled to take place online at 4 PM on Saturday. Along with venue approvals, the council will address additional administrative matters such as:
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Guidelines for IPL title celebrations
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Age-verification policies for age-group cricket
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The 2025-26 domestic cricket calendar
🔗 Related Reading: Full Schedule of India’s Home Season 2025-26 – Team India Fixtures
Guwahati to Host Multiple Matches This Season
The city of Guwahati, which has recently emerged as a reliable cricketing hub, is expected to play a significant role this season. Besides being a top contender to host a match in the New Zealand series, Guwahati is also slated to host one of the two Tests against South Africa, as per early BCCI planning.
Similarly, Trivandrum, which has witnessed increased cricketing activity in recent years, finds itself in the mix for hosting duties — reflecting the BCCI’s strategy of spreading international fixtures across Tier-2 cities to promote nationwide fan engagement.
Packed Calendar: South Africa and West Indies to Tour Before NZ Series
Before the New Zealand series, the Indian team is set to host West Indies for a two-Test series in October, with matches scheduled at Ahmedabad and New Delhi. This will be followed by a full series against South Africa, including:
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2 Tests: Kolkata and Guwahati
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3 ODIs: Ranchi, Raipur, Visakhapatnam
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4 T20Is: Cuttack, New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow
Between these two home assignments, India will travel to Australia for a white-ball series featuring 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is, set to run from October 19 to November 8.
This sequence of back-to-back tours ensures India remains competitively active leading into the T20 World Cup.
T20 World Cup and IPL 2026 to Follow NZ Series
Following the conclusion of the New Zealand series, the Indian team will immediately shift focus to the T20 World Cup, scheduled for February-March 2026. India, as the defending champion, will co-host the event with Sri Lanka. This will be followed by the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, making it one of the most intense cricketing windows in recent years.
🔗 More Details: ICC Confirms T20 World Cup 2026 Hosts – ESPNcricinfo
BCCI Balances National Schedule with Global Commitments
As the cricket calendar becomes increasingly dense, the BCCI is balancing national assignments with global tournaments, creating a year-round engagement for Indian cricket fans. With venues like Guwahati and Trivandrum gaining prominence and India hosting marquee bilateral and ICC events, the 2025–26 season promises a cricketing extravaganza of unmatched scale.
The official confirmation of fixtures and venues will provide fans with clarity and build excitement leading into a vital phase for Team India.
