5 Cricketing tournaments and series to watch out for in 2026

Cricket’s 2026 calendar is stacked. Between two T20 World Cups, a high-stakes IPL season and heavyweight tours, next year will shape selection, form and narratives heading into the 2027 season. Below are five tournaments and series to mark in your diary and what makes each must-watch.

Advertisment

1. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup - India & Sri Lanka (Feb–Mar 2026)

This is the headline event: the T20 World Cup returns to the subcontinent, where spin, short boundaries and home crowds will tilt match-ups. India and Sri Lanka co-host, with the tournament kicking off in early February and the final scheduled for Ahmedabad in March. 

Expect powerhouses like India and Australia to bring stacked XIs. India’s depth of finishers, top-order aggressors and specialist death-bowlers and Australia’s bench of explosive hitters make both obvious title threats. Teams that master match-ups, picking bowlers who can bowl at pace under lights or spinners who vary pace and flight, will go deep.

2. ICC Women’s T20 World Cup - England (June–July 2026)

Women’s cricket takes centre stage in England next summer, with an expanded 12-team event and the final at Lord’s, which is a huge moment for the women’s game. England and Australia remain the benchmark sides, but India, South Africa and New Zealand carry serious challengers thanks to improved depth and white-ball tempering. 

Watch bowlers who control the middle overs (left-arm spinners, disciplined off-spinners) and batters who can switch between anchor and accelerator roles. Those skill sets will decide knockout matches. The staging at iconic English venues also makes seam and swing management a key tactical focus.

3. Indian Premier League 2026 - (Mar 26–May 31, 2026)

The IPL is the busiest, loudest audition for international selection. IPL 2026 runs in its usual March–May window and will be central to T20 World Cup form lines. Franchises that balance impact overseas signings with strong Indian core players will likely dominate. 

Watch teams with smart auction strategy, those that bought finishers and genuine death-bowl options, since matches are often won in the last five overs. The IPL also shapes player workloads, as big performances here can vault uncapped players into national reckoning and reshape bowling plans for the international season.

Advertisment

4. India tour of England - July 2026

India’s summer tour of England is always a tactical chess match with seam and swing in the morning, spin and short-ball counterattacks later. The 2026 visit includes T20Is and ODIs through July, offering the full battery of white-ball challenges. 

For India, the test will be how their top order handles the new ball and English conditions; for England, it’s about exploiting home conditions with quick bowlers and tight, consistent lines. Expect pitched battles between India’s young batting core and England’s pace battery, and keep an eye on swing bowlers and counter-attacking middle-order batters.

5. New Zealand tour of England - June 2026

New Zealand’s June Tests in England are a must-watch for fans of classical Test cricket. Lord’s and the other host grounds set up contests where seamers and patient batters dominate. The Kiwis bring disciplined fast bowling and fielding that convert half-chances. England will test them with aggressive pace and tactical field placements. 

These Tests matter for the World Test Championship table and give a preview of which sides can manage long, attritional cricket away from home. Expect tight finishes and sessions where bowlers’ plans of reverse-swing and back-of-a-length probing determine outcomes.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!