Cricket at the international level never lacked in 2025, especially from the standpoint of India. The men's team won the ICC Champions Trophy in the UAE, while the women’s team made history by winning their first-ever ODI World Cup. South Africa was the main character in the Test scenario, as they not only defeated India and thus won a very tight series, but ended up victorious in the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Meanwhile, Australia took back the Ashes from England after defeating them at home, thus retaining the trophy.

In light of these events, the year 2026 is already seeing the glimmer of another entertaining chapter in the game. Cricket fans will witness a continuity of action through global ICC tournaments and high-stakes bilateral conflicts. Let us take a sneak peek at the five international cricketing events in 2026 that are going to be the most exciting to watch.

1 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup

Certainly, the year will be marked by the ICC Men's T20 World Cup as the prime attraction. The tournament is going to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8 and is going to feature the defending champions India who will be entering the World Cup exceptionally under pressure and with huge expectations especially because of the favorable home conditions.

A total of 20 teams are going to fight for the title, Organised in 4 groups of 5 each. India is drawn into Group A with Pakistan, Namibia, the United States, and the Netherlands, a group that assures thrilling matches and early controversies. The top two performing teams of each group will proceed to the Super Eight stage, then to the semifinals and finally to the championship match.

India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav and with Axar Patel as vice-captain, will be very much intent on retaining their title and once more proving their mettle in the shortest format.

2 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

The women's game is developing and growing more and more, and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup will be another landmark event. The tournament will take place in England from June 12 to July 5.

New Zealand will be the defending champions after getting their first title in 2024. India's squad will be full of hope to go really far this time after being runners-up in several earlier tournaments. The Indian women's side comprising both young and experienced will consider this championship as a golden chance to snatch their first T20 World Cup title. With full stadiums and a robust fan base in England, a very close cutoff and excellent tournament are what the fans can look forward to.

3 Cricket in the 2026 Asian Games

For the Asian Games, cricket has been scheduled again, and this time it will take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4. The Asian Cricket Council has announced that 10 men's and 8 women's teams will participate, and they were selected according to the continental rankings.

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This will be the fourth time cricket is played at the Asian Games. In 2010, 2014, and 2023, it was already on the agenda. India is entering as the reigning champion in both men's and women's categories, having taken home gold in Hangzhou.

The event not only grants awards but also acts as a battleground for the new Asian teams that want to test their skills against the big cricketing nations.

4 India Tour to New Zealand

India's journey to New Zealand will be one of the most difficult assignments of the year. The 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle includes India playing two Test matches, which will most probably take place in October–November 2026.

Usually, New Zealand has been a tough place for India in red-ball cricket. Out of the 25 Tests played at New Zealand, India has managed to win only five and has lost ten, while the rest have been drawn. The trip is also rumored to host three ODIs which will extend the competition even more.

Given the conditions that are friendly to the seamers and the constant swing, India's performance across all areas of batting, bowling, and fielding will surely be tested through this series.

5 Australia tour of South Africa 

The world cricket scene has very few rivalries that can match the one between Australia and South Africa, and the 2026 series is already expected to be an intense one. Australia will be traveling to South Africa, where they will play three Test matches as part of the WTC 2025–27 cycle and three ODIs, probably in September–October.

The two sides feature terrific pacers in their respective lineups, and games played in South African conditions are hardly ever boring. The presence of World Test Championship points will make it aggressive cricket, fiery spells, and tightly contested encounters all through the tour.

The race to gain qualification to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Global Qualifier has begun, with both Ireland and the Netherlands qualifying from the Europe region. The Netherlands qualified in style with a 65-run win over Germany, and they join Ireland as the two European countries that qualified for the next stage of the event. 

Ireland made their mark in the European Qualifier, having won their first five matches in a row, which ensured they finished top. The Dutch kept their focus in a must-win match against Germany, knowing that a win would finish them in the top two, regardless of what happened in Italy's final game against Ireland. The performance showed how the women's game is growing in the Netherlands, and it is encouraging to see it consistently progressing.

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European Teams Eye World Cup Berths After Qualifier Success

With these outcomes, Ireland and the Netherlands will now compete in the Global Qualifier, where a total of 10 teams will compete for 4 spots at the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in England in 2026. Hey, now join Scotland and Bangladesh, who have already secured direct qualification for the qualifier as a result of being there in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

Other areas have also contributed a number of teams to the whole. The USA qualified from the Americas in March 2025, and Bhutan and Thailand qualified from the Asia Qualifier in May.  The final three spots will come in upcoming regional tournaments in Africa and East Asia Pacific, and set the scene for a mix of teams for a competitive tournament. 

The Global Qualifier is going to be an incredible tournament, with some established teams, as well as countries aspiring for a chance on the world stage. For Ireland and the Netherlands, getting to this point signifies their regional prowess and gives them a great opportunity to challenge themselves against stronger international opponents.

As anticipation builds from all parts of Europe, I know that European cricket fans will be paying attention to their teams' preparations and wishing these two teams further historical achievements to qualify for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

The countdown has officially commenced for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, with the complete fixture for the milestone tournament revealed today. To be staged over seven iconic stadiums in England, the 10th installment of the Women's T20 World Cup will get underway on Friday, 12 June 2026, and end with the final of the grand affair at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday, 5 July.

The month-long extravaganza will begin with hosts England facing Sri Lanka under lights at Edgbaston, Birmingham, in what is set to be an enthralling curtain-raiser. The tournament has 12 countries, grouped into two pools of six, with 33 matches to be played across 24 days.

Venues Befitting Champions

The seven host venues are:

• Lord's Cricket Ground (London – Final)
• The Oval (London – Semi-finals)
• Edgbaston (Birmingham)
• Old Trafford Cricket Ground (Manchester)
• Headingley (Leeds)
• Hampshire Bowl (Southampton)
• Bristol County Ground (Bristol)

Tournament Format

Two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, both of which will be staged at The Oval, with Group 1 champion vs Group 2 runner-up and vice versa. The final confrontation will take place at the home of cricket, Lord's, guaranteeing a historic conclusion.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group Stage

Full Fixtures – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

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Blockbuster Clashes Await

Fans can look forward to high-voltage rivalries, including:

• India vs Pakistan – June 14 at Edgbaston
• Australia vs South Africa – June 13 at Old Trafford
• West Indies vs New Zealand – June 13 at Hampshire Bowl
• England vs New Zealand – June 27 at The Oval
• Australia vs India – June 28 at Lord’s

Growing Global Representation

Four places will be taken by the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2025, and eight teams are already qualified. The 2026 tournament is expected to bring women's cricket to unheard-of heights of expansion and prominence as cricket superpowers and emerging nations meet.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt called the upcoming World Cup "game-changing," and Beth Barrett-Wild, the tournament director, emphasized how it will revolutionize the image of women's sport.

Tickets and Fan Access

Overwhelming demand was evidenced by the first lot of priority tickets for the Lord's final selling out within one day. Supporters can now buy tickets for all matches and pre-register at womens.t20worldcup.com.