India are about to play nine T20 internationals in 25 days. The India cricket team October 2026 match schedule starts today in Lucknow and ends in Auckland.
As of October 6, 2026, the West Indies series is about to begin. India have already won the ODI series 2-1 and the Asian Games gold medal, so the squad arrives in good spirits.
India Cricket Team October 2026 Match Schedule at a Glance
October has two parts. The first is a five-match T20I series at home against the West Indies, from October 6 to October 17. The second is the start of a long tour of New Zealand.
India play four of the five New Zealand T20Is before the month ends. The fifth is on November 1.
Nine matches fall inside October, all in the T20I format. The home games all start at 7:00 PM IST.
Men’s team fixtures only are covered here. The schedule is current as of the date above.
West Indies T20I Series: Five Matches in Twelve Days
This is the first men’s bilateral T20I series between the two sides in India since February 2022. India won that series 3-0.
India are the reigning T20 World Cup champions. They beat New Zealand in the 2026 final.
The five games are played in five different cities. The gaps between them are short, with only two or three days to travel and rest.
Match 1: Lucknow, October 6
The series opens on Tuesday, October 6, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The start is 7:00 PM IST.
This is the first match in the shortest format after the ODI series. India won that series 2-1, which ended on October 3.
The West Indies come in with a changed squad for the T20Is. Shimron Hetmyer was not in the ODI group, and he joins for the five T20Is.
Matches 2 and 3: Ranchi and Indore
The second T20I is on Friday, October 9, at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. The third is on Sunday, October 11, at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Both start at 7:00 PM IST. Two days separate the games, so the squad has time to move and train.
A good result in Ranchi would put India in control early. A split would keep the series alive for the final three games.
Matches 4 and 5: Hyderabad and Bengaluru
The fourth T20I is on Wednesday, October 14, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The fifth and last is on Saturday, October 17, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Both are at 7:00 PM IST. The series finale is on October 17, just five days before India open in Christchurch.
That leaves almost no time at home. Only five days separate the Bengaluru game from the first match in Christchurch.
The Trip to New Zealand: T20Is in Late October
India’s tour of New Zealand runs from October 22 to December 1 and covers 12 matches. The T20I leg comes first, and four of the five games fall in October.
All four are night matches, with an 8:00 PM local start. That works out at 12:30 PM IST, according to Cricinfo. Some listings show 1:30 PM IST, so check the official page.
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct 22 | 1st T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Oct 24 | 2nd T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Oct 27 | 3rd T20I | Hnry Stadium, Wellington |
| Oct 30 | 4th T20I | Eden Park, Auckland |
The fifth T20I is on November 1 in Hamilton, and it is covered in the November schedule.
New Zealand have named Mitchell Santner as captain. Rachin Ravindra is out of the T20Is with a dislocated shoulder.
India Squad and Team News
India named Shreyas Iyer as captain for the West Indies T20Is, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. The full squad is below.
Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Mayank Yadav.
Jasprit Bumrah will sit out because of workload management. The squad is bolstered by the three Yadavs, Kuldeep, Mayank, and Prince, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy.
India’s squad for the New Zealand tour had not been named in the sources I checked. Expect it before the Christchurch opener.
West Indies Squad and Team News
Shai Hope captains the visitors, and he keeps the wicketkeeping gloves. The batting depth is real, with Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shimron Hetmyer all in the squad.
Shamar Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, and Romario Shepherd handle the bowling. Jason Holder was rested for the T20Is.
The full squad is Shai Hope, Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd, and Shamar Springer.
Start Times and Where to Watch
All five home T20Is start at 7:00 PM IST. The New Zealand games start at 8:00 PM local time, which is early afternoon in India.
The Cricinfo schedule lists 12:30 PM IST for the Christchurch opener. Other websites show 1:30 PM IST, probably because of New Zealand daylight saving.
Broadcast details for these tours were not in the sources I checked. Look at the official BCCI and New Zealand Cricket pages for the channel and streaming rights.
October Schedule Table
| Date | Opponent | Format | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Oct 6 | West Indies | 1st T20I | Ekana Stadium, Lucknow | 7:00 PM |
| Oct 9 | West Indies | 2nd T20I | JSCA Stadium, Ranchi | 7:00 PM |
| Oct 11 | West Indies | 3rd T20I | Holkar Stadium, Indore | 7:00 PM |
| Oct 14 | West Indies | 4th T20I | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad | 7:00 PM |
| Oct 17 | West Indies | 5th T20I | Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | 7:00 PM |
| Oct 22 | New Zealand | 1st T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
| Oct 24 | New Zealand | 2nd T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 12:30 PM |
| Oct 27 | New Zealand | 3rd T20I | Hnry Stadium, Wellington | 12:30 PM |
| Oct 30 | New Zealand | 4th T20I | Eden Park, Auckland | 12:30 PM |
Latest News Note
As of October 6, 2026, the first West Indies T20I is set to begin in Lucknow. India completed a 2-1 ODI series win over the West Indies and beat Pakistan to clinch Asian Games gold.
New Zealand’s squad for the T20Is has been named. Rachin Ravindra and Ben Sears are not in it.
Key Takeaways
- Matches in October: Nine T20Is, five at home and four in New Zealand.
- Series opener: Tuesday, October 6, at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow.
- Home series finale: Saturday, October 17, in Bengaluru.
- New Zealand tour opener: Thursday, October 22, at Hagley Oval.
- India captain: Shreyas Iyer leads the T20I squad against the West Indies.
FAQs
When does the India cricket team October 2026 match schedule begin?
India play the first T20I against the West Indies on October 6, 2026, in Lucknow.
How many matches does India play in October 2026?
India play nine T20 internationals in October.
What time do the home T20Is start?
All five home T20Is against the West Indies start at 7:00 PM IST.
Who captains India in the West Indies series?
Shreyas Iyer is captain, and Tilak Varma is vice-captain.
When does India’s New Zealand tour start?
The first T20I in Christchurch is on October 22, 2026.
Conclusion
The India cricket team October 2026 match schedule is short on rest and long on cricket. As of October 6, 2026, nine T20Is lie ahead, and the first is tonight in Lucknow.
The West Indies series decides the mood. The New Zealand games decide the tour.