Team India to play additional T20I series after England tour

After a strong showing in the T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe are getting ready for a big home season, with top teams India and Australia expected to tour for a white-ball series.

Zimbabwe to host India for white-ball series

Cricket Financial Journal reported that India, the current two-time T20 World Cup champions, are likely to play three T20 matches in Zimbabwe, possibly in late July. The two teams last met in the T20 World Cup, where India secured an important 72-run win that helped kickstart their campaign.

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Even though this series will be in a different format, it will still be useful preparation for India ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.

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India's packed schedule after IPL 2026

India’s schedule is already packed after the IPL. They are set to host Afghanistan for a one-off Test and three ODIs in June, followed by a white-ball tour of England and Ireland.

This will be India’s third tour of Zimbabwe in the last four years. They played three ODIs there in 2022 and a five-match T20 series in 2024. However, the two teams haven’t played a Test match against each other since 2005, and it seems there were no talks about including Tests in this upcoming tour.

When will India play vs Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe are also expected to travel to India in January for three ODIs. This will be their first bilateral series in India since 2002.

For Zimbabwe, this home season is a big opportunity financially as well. Australia are also expected to visit for three ODIs in September. It will be Australia’s first ODI series in Zimbabwe in eight years. They last played ODIs there in 2014, though they did take part in a T20 tri-series in 2018.

Zimbabwe Cricket had reportedly requested a one-off Test against Australia, but that idea was turned down. Australia already have a very busy Test schedule, with around 20 matches planned over the next year starting in August.

Zimbabwe and Australia have only played three Test matches against each other so far, with the last two taking place in 2003. The only Test between them in Zimbabwe was back in 1999.

Australia are likely to travel to Zimbabwe before heading to South Africa for a longer tour. In recent years, Zimbabwe Cricket has been trying to convince bigger teams to include a stop in Zimbabwe when they tour nearby South Africa.

There is also hope that England might play a one-off Test in Zimbabwe during their tour of South Africa in late 2026 or early 2027. Zimbabwe officials are keen to host more major teams, especially in Test cricket, during the next World Test Championship cycle from 2027 to 2029.

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani said it is always a big moment for the country to host teams like India, Australia and England. He added that playing against top sides, especially in Test cricket, helps their players improve and also supports their efforts to continue competing in the longest format of the game.