India's three major assignments before the T20 World Cup 2025

Overview

• From October 2025 to January 2026, right before the T20 World Cup 2026, India is set to have three major series against top teams in the world.
• The Indian team has an away assignment in Australia comprising of 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is in October 2025
• The defending T20 World Champions will face South Africa and New Zealand at home in different formats before the T20 World Cup 2026

From October 2025 to January 2026, right before the T20 World Cup 2026, India is set to have three major series against top teams in the world. All of India's upcoming series will be highly important in the context of the T20 World Cup 2026 and the ODI World Cup 2027. Not to forget, one of the series will be important in the context of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

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India's home schedule of 2025-26 started and concluded with the Test series against the West Indies, which was a part of the World Test Championship. India won the series 2-0 and claimed crucial 120 points for the WTC. The focus will now totally shifts towards the preparation for defending the T20 World Cup.

The ODI World Cup isn't too far either and hence there needs to be a focus on the same. As a result, three series are scheduled for the Indian team featuring both ODIs and T20Is in each of them against a majority of the best teams in the world.

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India's three major assignments before the T20 World Cup 2025

Away tour of Australia

India will tour Australia in October 2025 for a Limited Overs series challenge. From October 19 to November 8, India will play 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is respectively in the tour. It's India's only away tour in the period, whose playing conditions will be closer to that of South Africa, where the ODI World Cup 2027 will be hosted.

For India, it's an opportunity to further test some of its players in the T20 setup ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Additionally, the ODI series will mark the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the team, which is highly anticipated.

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Home Challenge against South Africa

After the away tour of Australia, India will return for a long home season. It will start with an all-format series against South Africa. India will play the defending WTC mace holders in a Test series of two matches. Later on, India will play an ODI series of 3 matches and a T20I series of 5 matches, respectively.

South Africa is one of the best teams in the world across formats. Playing against some of their best players would certainly help India in its preparation for both the T20 World Cup 2026 and the ODI World Cup 2027. South Africa's tour of India will take place from November 14 to December 19.

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Final hurdle against New Zealand

India's final hurdle ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 is against New Zealand. The tour is scheduled for January 11 to 31 right before the T20 World Cup. India will face New Zealand in an ODI series of 3 matches and a T20I series of 5 matches.

The Kiwis have been one of the biggest nemesis for the Indian team across formats in the last decade. Getting past their challenge should bring the best out of the players ahead of the T20 World Cup defense.