India women to host Zimbabwe in maiden white-ball series, October 2026
Synopsis
The BCCI's new home season blueprint tilts heavily toward women's and junior cricket, with India women hosting Zimbabwe in a maiden bilateral white-ball series in October 2026. The expanded calendar — spanning senior, A, and U19 levels across both formats — signals a strategic shift toward deepening competitive pathways ahead of the next T20 World Cup cycle.
Key Takeaways
India women's cricket team to host Zimbabwe women in October 2026, featuring three T20Is in Raipur and three ODIs in Baroda .
India A men to face Australia A in Puducherry across two multi-day matches and three ODIs between September and October 2026 .
India U19 men to host Australia U19 for a five-match tour in Rajkot , Ahmedabad , and Rajkot .
Australia women to tour India A in September 2026 with matches in Mohali and Dharamshala .
India U19 women to play England U19 women in a five-match T20 series in November-December 2026 .
India U19 women to face Sri Lanka U19 women in a six-match white-ball series in June-July 2026 across Chennai and Puducherry .
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday, 6 May, unveiled an expansive home season schedule anchored by the India women's cricket team hosting Zimbabwe women for a white-ball series in October 2026 — a maiden bilateral assignment between the two nations at the senior level. The series comprises three T20 Internationals in Raipur and three ODIs in Baroda, marking a significant expansion of India's international women's cricket calendar.
Multi-format domestic season slate
Beyond the Zimbabwe assignment, the BCCI's schedule spans multiple formats and age groups. India A men will face Australia A in Puducherry across two multi-day matches and three one-day games between September and October 2026. The India U19 men's cricket team will host Australia U19 for a five-match tour, with three ODIs in Rajkot followed by two multi-day matches in Rajkot and Ahmedabad.
Women's and junior assignments
Australia's women's cricket team will undertake an India A tour in September 2026, featuring three T20s, three ODIs, and a multi-day match across Mohali and Dharamshala. The squad will then transition to a multi-format contest against England A women in Pune and Navi Mumbai. The India U19 women's cricket team will host England U19 women for a five-match T20 series in Baroda and Surat in November and December 2026.
Youth cricket expansion
In June and July 2026, the India U19 women's cricket team will play a six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka's under-19 women's cricket team across Chennai and Puducherry. This marks a concerted push by the BCCI to deepen bilateral ties at the junior level while simultaneously strengthening the senior women's programme.
Strategic significance
The Zimbabwe series represents India's commitment to expanding women's cricket's footprint across the African continent. With the T20 World Cup cycle approaching, these assignments serve as crucial preparation windows for the national team. The multi-format nature of the schedule — spanning T20s, ODIs, and multi-day matches — provides varied competitive conditions ahead of major ICC tournaments.
Point of View
England, and Sri Lanka assignments across age groups, the board is building competitive depth at a critical juncture — just ahead of the next T20 World Cup cycle. The real test will be whether these fixtures translate into tangible skill gains and, crucially, whether the board backs these teams with adequate infrastructure and support staff. Past BCCI schedules have announced ambitious fixtures only to see them cancelled or truncated due to logistical or financial constraints.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will India women host Zimbabwe for their white-ball series?
India women will host Zimbabwe in October 2026. The series comprises three T20 Internationals in Raipur and three ODIs in Baroda.
What other women's teams will India host during the 2026 domestic season?
India will host Australia A women (September 2026 in Mohali and Dharamshala), England A women (in Pune and Navi Mumbai), England U19 women (November-December 2026 in Baroda and Surat), and Sri Lanka U19 women (June-July 2026 in Chennai and Puducherry).
Which men's teams will India A and U19 face during the season?
India A men will face Australia A in Puducherry (September-October 2026) across two multi-day matches and three ODIs. India U19 men will host Australia U19 for a five-match tour in Rajkot and Ahmedabad.
Why is the Zimbabwe series significant for Indian women's cricket?
The Zimbabwe series marks a maiden bilateral white-ball assignment between India and Zimbabwe at the senior women's level, expanding India's international women's cricket footprint across the African continent and providing crucial preparation ahead of the next T20 World Cup cycle.
