Key Highlights:
New Delhi, April 3, 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday released the full schedule for the 2025-26 India cricket home season, confirming bilateral series against West Indies and South Africa, alongside hosting duties for the Women’s ODI World Cup.
The season promises intense cricketing action with World Test Championship fixtures, ODIs, and T20Is, spread across iconic venues and new additions. Most notably, Guwahati will become the 30th venue in India to host a Test match, marking a major milestone for cricket in the Northeast.
Test Series Fixtures: World Test Championship in Focus
The home season opens with a two-match Test series against West Indies:
- 1st Test: Ahmedabad, October 2–6
- 2nd Test: Kolkata, October 10–14
This will be followed by a high-profile two-match Test series against South Africa, part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle:
- 1st Test: Delhi, November 14–18
- 2nd Test: Guwahati, November 22–26
The Guwahati Test marks a historic moment as the city becomes only the 30th Indian venue to host a red-ball international.
ODI & T20I Series Against South Africa
After the Test leg, India and South Africa will square off in three ODIs and five T20Is:
ODI Schedule (All matches start at 1:30 PM IST):
- 1st ODI: Ranchi – November 30
- 2nd ODI: Raipur – December 3
- 3rd ODI: Visakhapatnam – December 6
T20I Schedule (All matches start at 7:00 PM IST):
- 1st T20I: Cuttack – December 9
- 2nd T20I: Mullanpur – December 11
- 3rd T20I: Dharamsala – December 14
- 4th T20I: Lucknow – December 17
- 5th T20I: Ahmedabad – December 19
These white-ball fixtures provide both teams with preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Guwahati’s Test Debut: A Landmark for India Cricket
Hosting a Test match is a landmark achievement for Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, already familiar with ODIs and T20Is. The decision reflects the BCCI’s continued efforts to expand the game to newer regions, especially the Northeast.
This inclusion not only boosts local cricket infrastructure and fandom but also marks a step towards inclusive national representation in major international fixtures.
Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: India Ready to Host
Apart from the men’s bilateral series, India will also host the Women’s ODI World Cup during this home season. The exact dates and fixtures for the tournament are expected to be announced shortly, but the BCCI has confirmed that preparations are underway across multiple cities.
This will be the second time India hosts the Women’s World Cup, the previous edition being in 2013. With rising popularity and support for women’s cricket in India, the event is expected to draw large crowds and global viewership.
Strategic Importance of the 2025-26 Season
This season holds particular weight for India cricket due to:
- World Test Championship points at stake against two strong opponents
- Preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, especially for India’s bench strength
- Exposure to venues across diverse geographies, improving domestic engagement
- Boosting women’s cricket viewership through the global Women’s World Cup
The inclusion of Tier-II cities like Raipur, Ranchi, and Mullanpur also emphasizes BCCI’s strategic decentralization of the sport.
The BCCI’s 2025-26 home season announcement reflects a historic and expansive outlook for India cricket. With Guwahati’s Test debut, multiple bilateral series, and a global women’s tournament, fans across the country have much to look forward to.
As the Indian team gears up to dominate across all formats, Hindustan Herald will continue to provide comprehensive coverage, match previews, venue insights, and post-match analysis.
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