India and West Indies open their five-match T20I series in Lucknow on October 6, 2026, with the first match scheduled for 7:00 p.m. IST at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The fixture follows the ODI leg and gives both teams another chance to test combinations in the shortest format.
Key points
- India and West Indies play the first T20I of their five-match series in Lucknow on October 6.
- Official schedules list the match for a 7:00 p.m. IST start at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
- The remaining T20Is are scheduled in Ranchi, Indore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru through October 17.
Match details
The BCCI match centre lists the first T20I in Lucknow on October 6, while the Cricket West Indies schedule confirms the same venue and series calendar. ESPN’s match listing gives the local start time as 7:00 p.m.
The series continues in Ranchi on October 9, Indore on October 11, Hyderabad on October 14 and Bengaluru on October 17. That makes the opening match an early opportunity for both sides to establish combinations before the series moves quickly across four more venues.
Why it matters
For India, the series comes soon after a busy multi-format stretch and offers another chance to assess batting roles, bowling balance and bench depth. For West Indies, the T20 format remains a major strength historically, and the tour provides a demanding away test against one of the deepest squads in international cricket.
Conditions in Lucknow can make selection especially important because the surface has at times rewarded bowlers who vary pace and use spin effectively. Final playing elevens, however, should be treated as confirmed only when announced at the toss rather than inferred from pre-match speculation.
Follow the series in Taaza Khabar’s Sports section.
Cover illustration updated 16 October 2026: Original AI-assisted editorial illustration created exclusively for this article by Taaza Khabar with the built-in image generation tool. Conceptual cricket equipment illustration for a match preview; not a match photograph or result. Original publication date retained.
Published: October 6, 2026.
Editorial note: This report was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed against the cited sources for accuracy, timing and context.
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