India’s tour to Australia for a dynamic eight-game, eight-city white-ball series in October and November this year promises cricket fans a spectacle of high-octane cricket. The series comprises three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five T20 Internationals (T20Is), confirming a hefty dose of limited-overs cricket between the two cricketing giants.
Cricket Australia announced the schedule for this engaging series on Sunday, which will be part of a packed cricket calendar that also includes fixtures against South Africa earlier in the season. The series will make history by being the first to feature men’s international cricket in all eight Australian states and territories.
The ODIs, a repeat fixture from the 2023 ODI World Cup finalists, will be hosted in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney. Following these, the five-match T20 series will light up venues in Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, the Gold Coast, and Brisbane, marking a return of international cricket to some of these locations after several years.
This tour comes on the heels of a gripping five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in the 2024-25 season, showcasing the competitive spirit between India and Australia. Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s outgoing chief executive, expressed confidence in the series’ appeal, highlighting record-breaking attendance and engagement from the previous summer. ‘We smashed many records for attendance, viewing audiences and digital engagement last summer, and we’re confident that this incredible momentum will continue throughout what promises to be an engrossing season,’ he stated.
The series against India follows a three-ODI and three-T20I encounter with South Africa in August. This will be the first time in 17 years that Darwin will host international cricket, with Cairns and Mackay also joining the roster. Interestingly, Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena will see international action again, reminiscing its last men’s international during a 1992 World Cup match that was abandoned after just two balls due to rain.
The schedule for this eagerly awaited India vs Australia series is as follows:
Australia vs India ODI Series
October 19: Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N)
October 23: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)
October 25: SCG, Sydney (D/N)
Australia vs India T20 Series
October 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra (N)
October 31: MCG, Melbourne (N)
November 2: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)
November 6: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast (N)
November 8: The Gabba, Brisbane (N)
In preparation for the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026, set to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the Australian squad’s participation in this T20I series will be crucial for assessing their team composition and strategies.
The full series promises to reignite the fierce rivalry between India and Australia while providing fans around the globe an opportunity to witness top-quality cricket in some of Australia’s most iconic venues.