Before the start of the India-New Zealand T20Is, the five matches of the series were expected to be the final preparation stretch for both sides before T20 World Cup 2026 starts from February 7. However, India may well have an extra game to practise before their campaign kicks-off in Mumbai.
As per latest reports, India are scheduled to play South Africa for a warm-up game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. This fixture is tentatively scheduled to be held on February 4. The last few days have been a nightmare for the International Cricket Council (ICC) with the prevalent India-Bangladesh tensions and the Bangladesh Cricket Board's stance of not travelling to India.
That chapter has ended with the ICC replacing Bangladesh with Scotland. This change fortunately doesn't create any logistical issues as Scotland will merely take the place of Bangladesh in the same group. However, the cancellations of Bangladesh's tickets and other logistics need to now be replaced with Scotland's inclusion.
Therefore, the ICC is taking its time to announce the warm-up fixtures for the tournament but schedule is expected to be out on Monday (January 26). Cricket South Africa (CSA) have also not issued any statement about this fixture, nor has the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as the protocol is for ICC to make the announcement.
The Indian team is expected to take a two-day break after the final T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31 and are expected to link up in Mumbai on February 3. While India's first match of T20 World Cup 2026 will be on February 7 against USA, South Africa's campaign begins on February 9 in Ahmedabad against Canada.
