India return to international cricket in New Delhi on September 13, 2026, with T20Is against Afghanistan

The Indian men's cricket team will next play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, beginning on September 13, 2026, with subsequent fixtures on September 15 and 17 at the same venue.

India arrives at this limited-overs block after completing a Test assignment in Sri Lanka, a series the article says provided crucial moments for a side undergoing transition and kept India in contention for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 final. The focus now moves from red-ball cricket to a packed white-ball schedule and the team will need to balance established internationals with younger players who form the backup ahead of marquee events later next year.

The Afghanistan series is officially hosted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board but is scheduled to be played in India due to security concerns in Afghanistan following the administrative takeover by the Taliban. The three T20Is at Arun Jaitley Stadium are being viewed as a chance to fine-tune India’s T20I combination before subsequent assignments.

The report notes that the World T20 champions lost two T20I series against Ireland and England following their triumph in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, and describes the Afghanistan fixtures as a golden chance for Shreyas Iyer and the men to bounce back and take control on home soil. Managing playing time between senior players and youngsters is highlighted as a priority during this preparatory phase.

After the Afghanistan series, the Indian contingent will travel to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games, entering the men's competition directly at the quarter-final stage with their first match scheduled for September 28. The Afghanistan T20Is therefore also serve as preparation for the multi-sport event in Japan.

Around the same period, the West Indies will tour India for a three-match ODI series starting on September 27, with matches set for September 27, September 30 and October 3, as India begins preparations for the ICC World Cup 2027. That tour is scheduled to be followed by a five-match T20I series beginning on October 6, with further matches on October 9, 11, 14 and 17.

India’s next men's Test match is scheduled to begin on November 19, 2026, against New Zealand.

India’s immediate confirmed fixture remains the first T20I against Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Stadium on September 13, 2026.