From Afghanistan to Australia: India’s ODI Fixtures Until 2027 ICC World Cup
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
India Prepare For Tour of Bangladesh - August/ September 2025
Over the next couple of months, international cricket will take a back seat with the 2025 Indian Premier League set to take centre stage. Once the IPL is completed, Rohit Sharma’s side will reconvene and head off to England for a five-match Test series that gets underway on June 20 at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds.
The Men in Blue’s next ODI assignment will see them travel to Bangladesh in August 2025 to face the Tigers in a three-match series. Bangladesh is never an easy side to face on their home patch and India will see this as a crucial series to help them rebuild momentum after a fairly lengthy layoff on franchise duty.
Don't forget to check out our Indian Premier League predictions & betting tips ahead of the upcoming 2025 IPL!
Trip to the Southern Hemisphere - November/ December 2025
Later this year, India will embark on arguably the most anticipated clashes of 2025, as they are set to travel Down Under to face Australia in a three-match ODI series in November. This rivalry has grown to become one of the most heated globally between two giants of the modern game, and the Aussies will certainly be out for revenge, having struggled to beat the Blue Shirts in the sub-continent in recent times.
India will wrap up 2025 on their home soil, playing host to South Africa in a three-match ODI series in December. The Proteas, along with Zimbabwe and Namibia are co-hosts of the 2027 ODI World Cup, and this series will allow Sharma and co to test out a few strategies and take a closer look at the South African setup leading up to the World Cup.
NZ, Afghanistan and England in the New Year - January to July 2026
Kicking off 2026, we will be treated to a rematch of the recently concluded Champions Trophy final, with India taking on New Zealand at home in a three-match ODI series. The Black Caps will be out for revenge in this series, but beating the Men in Blue on home soil is perhaps one of the toughest asks of any team in the world right now.
India will then wait five months before returning to the 50-over format, with their next three-match ODI series scheduled for June 2026 when Afghanistan arrive on their doorstep. The Blue Tigers have been one of the most improved teams over the last couple of years, and many of the best online betting sites view them the dark horses heading into the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The Blue Shirts’ first ODI away assignment of 2026 will take them to England for a three-match series in July. Given that by this point it will be almost a year since India have played an ODI match outside the sub-continent, this series will be crucial to their World Cup preparations as the pitches in England, which are typically swing and pace-friendly, often resemble those in the Southern Hemisphere.
WI, NZ and SL: The Final Stretch - September to December 2026
In September 2026, India welcomes the West Indies for a three-match ODI series. The Windies missed out on the Champions Trophy this year and will be desperate to make amends at the ODI World Cup, where the participants for the next Champions Trophy could be decided. This will also represent a nice variation for India having last faced the men from the Caribbean in August 2023.
November brings us a second meeting of the year between India and New Zealand, again on home soil for the Men in Blue. This series will allow both sides to have one last look at their opponents, which will enable them to refine their squads and strategies leading up to the World Cup set for October and November 2027.
India’s final preparations for the ODI World Cup come in the form of a familiar foe in Sri Lanka. The Lions, like the West Indies, were left out of the 2025 Champions Trophy and will be desperate to make their mark at the World Cup. This is a particularly important series for Sharma’s side as Sri Lanka was the only team to beat them in a series in 2024.
Our in-depth cricket predictions will be available throughout the build-up to the 2027 World Cup, so be sure to have a look at them for added insights!
