India is set for a grand return to English shores in the summer of 2026, with both the men’s and women’s teams embarking on significant tours. The itinerary, jointly announced by the BCCI and ECB, features a comprehensive white-ball series for the men and a landmark Test match for the women, alongside a T20I series. The announcement marks a continued strengthening of cricketing ties between the two nations and a historic leap forward for women’s cricket.
The men’s tour will include five T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, running through July 2026. Matches will be hosted at iconic venues including Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, and Lord’s. This series is anticipated to draw massive crowds, with expectations high for possible final appearances of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in England.
Equally significant is the women’s tour, which kicks off earlier in the summer. It features three T20Is followed by a one-off Test match at Lord’s scheduled for July 10–13. This will be the first time in history that Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, will host a women’s Test match. The event is symbolic of the strides being made in promoting women’s red-ball cricket globally, with England and India at the forefront.
The timing of the women’s Test—immediately following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June 2026—provides a unique transition from white-ball to red-ball formats, further elevating the match’s profile. It is expected to feature many of the game’s biggest names and offer fans a rare opportunity to witness multi-day women’s cricket on such a grand stage.
The ECB has framed this tour as part of its broader summer hosting duties, which also include men’s Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan. The packed calendar reinforces England’s role as a central hub for international cricket in 2026, providing high-quality contests across genders and formats.
For India, the tour represents more than just fixtures. It signifies the nation’s growing influence in shaping the global cricket calendar, while also emphasizing the commitment to elevating women’s cricket through major international opportunities. The scheduling of the women’s Test at Lord’s is a result of coordinated governance efforts following the recommendations of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, and it sets a precedent for future women’s red-ball tours.
This announcement is a landmark moment, not just for the India-England cricketing relationship, but for the sport’s evolution. Fans can expect thrilling contests, farewell performances, and history-making appearances when the two nations collide in a summer that promises to be both competitive and transformative.