India started the 2023 ODI World Cup as one of the frontrunners of the tournament, where it performed extraordinarily well during the tournament. The team maintained its unbeaten streak in the league matches and afterward continued winning during the knockout matches. However, the campaign ended in heartbreak as Australia defeated India in the final to win the trophy.
The defeat is fresh in the minds of the Indian team players as they look forward to the 2027 ODI World Cup. With the next global event on the horizon, India has many more opportunities to strengthen their ODI team, test combinations, and prepare players for the conditions of the upcoming tournament. There are plenty of bilateral series and multi-nation tournaments scheduled before the World Cup event. Here is a look at India’s reported ODI commitments leading up to the tournament.
India’s ODI Schedule Leading Up to the 2027 World Cup
| Period | Opponent/Event | Venue | ODIs |
|---|
| Nov-Dec 2025 | South Africa | India | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | New Zealand | India | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Afghanistan | India | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | England | England | 3 |
| Sep-Oct 2026 | West Indies | India | 3 |
| Oct-Nov 2026 | New Zealand | New Zealand | 3 |
| Dec 2026 | Sri Lanka | India | 3 |
| Sep 2027 | Asia Cup | Away | 4–5 |
India vs South Africa – November-December 2025
India’s preparations include a three-match ODI series against South Africa at home. The series is an opportunity for the Indian side to assess its players against a strong international opponent while playing in familiar conditions.
The ODI matches are scheduled for Ranchi, Raipur, and Visakhapatnam, giving India experience across different home venues.
India vs New Zealand – January 2026
New Zealand will travel to India at the beginning of 2026 for a limited-overs assignment that includes three ODIs.
The one-day series is scheduled to begin in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot and Indore. Facing New Zealand should provide another useful test for India’s middle order, bowling attack, and bench strength.
India vs Afghanistan – June 2026
Also, there is going to be an ODI series between India and Afghanistan in June 2026. This series is interesting as well because it is going to give India’s new players the chance to earn international experience.
With the World Cup still coming, this series will be useful for the selectors to see the players who are able to play under pressure.
England vs India – July 2026
After that, there is going to be a series between India and England in July 2026. It is particularly valuable since the conditions in England may be quite different from the conditions in India.
These matches will take place in Birmingham, Cardiff, and Lord’s.
India vs West Indies – September-October 2026
India is expected to return home later in 2026 to host the West Indies in a white-ball series. The ODI leg will provide another chance to fine-tune the squad before the World Cup year approaches.
New Zealand vs India – October-November 2026
India will travel to New Zealand later in the year for another multi-format tour. Three ODIs are expected to form part of the tour.
These matches should be particularly useful for testing India’s ability to perform consistently in overseas conditions.
India vs Sri Lanka – December 2026
India is scheduled to finish 2026 with a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka at home. At this point, the team management must know the preferred combination for the 2027 World Cup.
Asia Cup – September 2027
The Asia Cup can be considered as one of the last significant events for India ahead of the 2027 World Cup. It will involve several strong sides from Asia and will provide India with good competition in cricket just before the World Cup.
Why These Series Are Important
India’s schedule of ODIs before the 2027 World Cup includes games both at home and abroad. This is important because winning the World Cup will not depend only on their performance at home.
In ODIs, India will get an opportunity to experiment with different combinations, manage the workload of their players, develop young talents, and field a formidable team. With proper utilization of such opportunities, the road to the 2027 Cricket World Cup will turn out to be one of the critical phases for the revival of their ODI glory.
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