Honestly, if you're a fan of the Men in Blue, your calendar is about to get very crowded. India is currently in the middle of a massive home season, and the schedule is relentless. The big focus right now? The final stretch of the New Zealand tour of India. We've seen some high-octane ODI action already, but the series is far from over.
The india next cricket match is the 3rd ODI against New Zealand, scheduled for January 18, 2026. This one is happening at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. If you follow Indian cricket, you know Indore is basically a paradise for batters. The boundaries are short, the pitch usually plays like a dream, and we’ve seen some monstrous scores there in the past.
The Indore Showdown: January 18
The match starts at 1:30 PM IST.
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Shubman Gill is leading the side for this ODI leg. It’s been an interesting choice by the selectors. They are clearly looking at the future, giving Gill the captaincy while resting some of the senior-most pillars. You've got Shreyas Iyer back in the mix as vice-captain, and he’s been looking sharp.
But here’s the kicker. No Jasprit Bumrah. No Hardik Pandya.
The BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) has been really protective of their workloads, especially with the T20 World Cup lurking right around the corner in February. Hardik hasn't been cleared to bowl his full quota of 10 overs yet, so they’re playing it safe. It’s a bit of a bummer for the fans in Indore who wanted to see those yorkers, but it makes sense for the long game.
What the Squad Looks Like
- Captain: Shubman Gill
- The Veterans: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are both there, providing the much-needed "spine" to the batting order.
- The Keeper Situation: It’s a toss-up between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, though both are in the squad.
- The Young Blood: Keep an eye on Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana. These guys are the "new gen" the selectors are obsessed with right now.
Transitioning to the T20 Blitz
Once the 50-over stuff wraps up in Indore, the team shifts gears immediately. No rest for the weary. The T20I series against the Kiwis kicks off on January 21.
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- January 21: 1st T20I at Nagpur (Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium).
- January 23: 2nd T20I at Raipur.
- January 25: 3rd T20I at Guwahati.
- January 28: 4th T20I at Visakhapatnam.
- January 31: 5th T20I at Thiruvananthapuram.
It’s a grueling five-match sprint across the country. Suryakumar Yadav takes over the captaincy for this format. He’s got a completely different squad to work with, featuring explosive names like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma. This is basically the dress rehearsal for the World Cup.
The Big One: T20 World Cup 2026
Everything in January is just a warmup for February 7. That's when the ICC Men's T20 World Cup starts. India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting, which means the pressure is going to be astronomical.
India’s first World Cup match is against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Yeah, the same USA team that pulled off that massive upset in the last edition. India isn't taking them lightly this time. After that, they play Namibia on Feb 12 in Delhi, and then the "Mother of all Matches"—India vs Pakistan—on February 15 in Colombo.
What about the U19 Boys?
While the seniors are battling New Zealand, the India U19 team is actually playing right now in Zimbabwe for the U19 World Cup. They just faced the USA today (January 15) in Bulawayo. The standout name there is 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Imagine being 14 and playing a World Cup. It’s wild. They play Bangladesh next on January 17.
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How to Watch
If you're looking to catch the india next cricket match on the 18th, it's the usual suspects. Star Sports has the TV rights. For the streamers, the new JioStar app is where all the action is happening.
Quick Action Plan for Fans
- Set your alarm: The Indore ODI on Jan 18 starts at 1:30 PM.
- Check the weather: Indore in January is usually clear, but a bit of evening dew might make the second innings tricky for bowlers.
- Watch the U19s: If you want a glimpse of the next decade of cricket, the U19 match against Bangladesh on Jan 17 is a must-watch.
- Ticket Check: If you're planning for the T20Is later this month, the BCCI portal usually releases remaining tickets 48-72 hours before the match.
The roadmap for 2026 is already looking packed. After the World Cup in February and March, there's the IPL, a tour of England in July, and a trip to Sri Lanka in August. It's a great time to be a cricket fan, but maybe a tough time to be a player's hamstrings.
Keep an eye on the Indore pitch report on the morning of the 18th. If it's as flat as usual, expect a score well north of 300.