Having retired from the Test and T20 formats, Kohli has a minimal number of international games in 2026
The new year, 2026, is here, but Indian cricket
action is yet to resume. The first game of the year is scheduled to go live on January 11, featuring an ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara. In the Indian outfit, Virat Kohli, as always, will be the man for whom thousands will flock to the stadium, hoping he keeps his form intact and adds more centuries. After all, all the ODI matches in 2026 are preparations for the 2027 World Cup, and the Men in Blue will need Kohli at the top of the game.
And despite the fact that Kohli has retired from Test and T20 formats, he is expected to appear in at least 18 ODI matches, which is indeed a limited number, but for hardcore Kohli fans, these are the 18 matches fans should keep their eyes on.
India vs. New Zealand
(Credit- HT)
At the beginning of the year, India has three ODI matches at home against New Zealand, starting with the game in Vadodara. The second match of the series will be played on January 14 in Rajkot, followed by the third game in Indore on January 18.
India vs. England
Virat Kohli will be expected to return after a long gap in July for the away series in England. India has three ODI line-ups against the Brits between July 14 and 19 in Birmingham, Cardiff, and London. The London match will be a special one given he spends most of his family time there, so the Indian diaspora in the city will give him a warm welcome.
Four series to be announced
While the dates and venues of the above two series are confirmed, India is scheduled to play four more series, but their dates and venues aren’t confirmed at the moment.
In June, India will play three ODI matches against Afghanistan at home, followed by another three-match ODI series against the West Indies, possibly in September & October.
Towards the end of October, the Men in Blue will fly to New Zealand for a three-match series and stay there throughout November. The team will end its year with a three-match home series against Sri Lanka, but the dates and venues of this series also remain unconfirmed at present.
Nonetheless, Kohli definitely has 18 appearances marked in the 2026 calendar, but he will have to prove himself in every game for a continuous place in the team, leading to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Last but not least, in terms of personal milestones, Kohli is only 16 centuries away from hitting 100 across all formats, and therefore, this year will be extremely crucial for him.
