India vs West Indies 2026: Full Schedule, Likely Squads and Player Battles to Watch

West Indies tour India from September 27 to October 17, 2026, for a white-ball-only series: three ODIs followed by five T20Is. There's no Test leg on this trip. For India, the series sits firmly in the build-up window for the 2027 ODI World Cup, giving the selectors a chance to settle on a core middle order well ahead of the tournament.

The timing is awkward for the BCCI, though. The series overlaps with the Asian Games in Japan (September 24–October 3), which has pulled several first-choice white-ball players away from ODI contention, forcing a hybrid squad of returning seniors and fresh faces.

The schedule: nine matches, nine cities

ODIs

1st ODI — Thiruvananthapuram, September 27 2nd ODI — Guwahati, September 30 3rd ODI — New Chandigarh, October 3

T20Is

1st T20I — Lucknow, October 6 2nd T20I — Ranchi, October 9 3rd T20I — Indore, October 11 4th T20I — Hyderabad, October 14 5th T20I — Bengaluru, October 17

ODIs are set for a 2:00 PM IST start, with the T20Is moving to a 7:00 PM IST slot.

India's selection puzzle

India's ODI and T20I squads were due for announcement on September 16, with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee meeting in Delhi. A few things look settled, several others are still being fought over:

Shubman Gill continues as ODI captain. With regular vice-captain Shreyas Iyer unavailable — he's leading India's Asian Games squad — KL Rahul is the frontrunner to be named his deputy. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to return to the ODI fold, having stepped away from Tests and T20Is to focus solely on the 50-over format. Rohit's recent century against England at Lord's has strengthened his case. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant are being tipped for recalls, while Ruturaj Gaikwad — fresh off a century in his last ODI outing — is in line for a middle-order opportunity. Rajat Patidar is in contention as a reserve batter, and Mohammed Siraj could return to lead the pace attack. The Asian Games clash means Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah are all set to miss the ODI leg. West Indies: the likely line-up

West Indies' touring squad hasn't been formally confirmed at the time of writing, but Shai Hope is expected to continue as ODI captain, with the batting built around Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase and Sherfane Rutherford. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie are likely to anchor the spin attack on Indian surfaces, while Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Matthew Forde carry the pace-bowling responsibilities.

Key player battles to watch Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli vs a young West Indies attack — a chance for India's two most experienced ODI batters to build World Cup momentum against bowlers with limited experience in Indian conditions. Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein vs India's middle order — India's batters have historically struggled early against quality left-arm spin on turning tracks, making this a genuine contest. Mohammed Siraj vs Brandon King and Shai Hope at the top — early wickets in helpful conditions could shape how West Indies approach the middle overs. What's at stake

For India, this series is less about the result and more about answering personnel questions before 2027: who partners Gill at the top, who keeps wicket, and how the seam-bowling depth looks without several first-choice options. For West Indies, it's an opportunity to test their new-look core against a top side away from home, ahead of their own World Cup cycle.