India to play 9 T20Is before 2026 World Cup; some teams play none

• The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026, across eight venues.
• India will play 10 T20Is before the tournament: five against South Africa in December 2025 and five against New Zealand in January 2026.
• Australia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Ireland will not play any T20I matches prior to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
• England, West Indies, and Pakistan are scheduled for three-match T20I series each before the tournament.
• Former India captain Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 cricket after the 2024 World Cup win, has been appointed as the ambassador for the 2026 edition.

Why It Matters: India's extensive T20I schedule shows varying team readiness for the 2026 World Cup.