Indian Cricket Team 2018 Schedule at a Glance
In 2018, the Indian cricket team played an extensive mix of home and away fixtures across all three formats. This overview lists major series, dates, venues, and outcomes, serving as a durable reference for the team’s annual calendar. India balanced bilateral ODI and T20I tours with high-profile Tests, including a successful Australia tour and a closely fought home series against England. The schedule reflected both continuation of established rivalries and preparation for emerging tournaments.
2018 Calendar Structure and Planning Context
Understanding the 2018 schedule requires separating intensively packed months from lighter windows, and recognizing how venues shaped series feasibility. Planning began well in advance, with tours confirmed typically 6–12 months ahead, subject to bilateral agreements, ICC events, and ground availability. The year included marquee ICC commitments alongside bilateral series, creating overlapping windows where workload management became important for player availability.
Home and Away Series Breakdown
The team alternated between hosting and traveling, with home advantage in India providing familiarity in conditions, while overseas tours tested adaptability across climates and formats. Each block was framed by clear objectives: winning series, developing younger players, and accumulating ranking points where relevant. The following sections organize fixtures by format and geography to highlight patterns in venue choice and sequence.
Key Definitions
- Home season: India as host nation across major stadiums
- Away season: Tours outside India with venue climate and pitch context
- ICC events: Global tournaments affecting annual timelines
January to March 2018
The early part of 2018 featured a triangular ODI series in India followed by a short T20I leg, with an emphasis on rhythm and selection clarity. Limited head-to-heads allowed focused preparation without long travel blocks. No Tests were scheduled in this window, giving players recovery between long-form campaigns later in the year.
January 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 4–11 Jan |
India vs Sri Lanka ODI series (3 matches) |
Various, India |
India 3–0 |
| 14–18 Jan |
India vs Sri Lanka T20I series (2 matches) |
Various, India |
India 2–0 |
| 29 Jan–4 Feb |
Australia tour of India (3 ODIs) |
Various, India |
Australia 2–1 |
February 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 9–18 Feb |
Afghanistan tour of India (2 T20Is) |
Various, India |
India 2–0 |
March 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 23 Mar–1 Apr |
India tour of South Africa (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, 1 T20I) |
South Africa |
Tests 1–1; ODIs 3–2; T20I 1–0 |
April to June 2018
Mid-2018 included Tests in England, comparisons in performance across home conditions, and preparations for wet-season venues in Asia. The sequence emphasized endurance in long-form cricket, with series blocks planned to minimize fatigue and allow contingent rotation where feasible.
April 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 5–8 Apr |
India tour of West Indies (3 ODIs) |
West Indies |
India 3–0 |
| 11–14 Apr |
India tour of West Indies (1 T20I) |
West Indies |
India won by 7 wickets |
May 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 18–28 May |
India tour of Ireland & England (1 Test, 3 ODIs) |
England |
Test drawn; ODI series 2–1 |
June 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 1–4 Jun |
England tour of Ireland (1 T20I) |
Ireland (neutral context for India planning) |
Not a direct India fixture, part of broader context |
| 8–18 Jun |
India tour of England (4 Tests) |
England |
England 1–0, 2 Tests drawn |
July to September 2018
The summer in England tested squad depth across formats, with the India cricket team 2018 schedule heavily centered on the Ashes and bilateral follow-ups. Post-England, the team returned to subcontinental conditions, where humidity and pitch behavior demanded adjustments in strategy. The sequence included high-stakes Tests as well as opportunity-driven ODIs and T20Is.
July 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 6–8 Jul |
India tour of England (3rd Test) |
England |
England won by an innings and 73 runs |
| 31 Jul–5 Aug |
India tour of England (4th Test) |
England |
Match drawn |
August 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 18–22 Aug |
England tour of India (1st Test) |
Ahmedabad |
Match drawn |
| 26–29 Aug |
Australia tour of India (1 T20I) |
Kolkata |
Australia won by 7 wickets |
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| 31 Aug–2 Sep |
England tour of India (2nd Test) |
Mumbai |
India won by 75 runs |
September 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 12–16 Sep |
England tour of India (3rd Test) |
Delhi |
India won by 266 runs |
| 20–23 Sep |
New Zealand tour of India (1st ODI) |
Kolkata |
No result (rain) |
| 27–30 Sep |
New Zealand tour of India (2nd ODI) |
Visakhapatnam |
India won by 8 wickets |
October to December 2018
Late 2018 combined regular bilateral contests with India’s preparations and participation in global events. October brought high-pressure Tests in Australia, where conditions historically challenge subcontinental teams. November and December focused on consolidation at home, with a deliberate mix of formats to maintain momentum. The schedule ensured adequate recovery between major series while preserving competitive sharpness.
October 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 19–23 Oct |
India tour of Australia (1st Test) |
Australia |
Match drawn |
November 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 30 Nov–4 Dec |
India tour of Australia (2nd Test) |
Australia |
India won by 31 runs |
December 2018
| Date |
Event |
Venue |
Result |
| 25–29 Dec |
India vs Sri Lanka Test (1st Test) |
Kolkata |
India won by an innings and 137 runs |
Annual Pattern Insights and Venue Trends
Across 2018, the India cricket team 2018 schedule balanced rotational principles and rivalry commitments. Key observations help explain the sequencing and choices:
- Heavy Test blocks in England and Australia early and mid-year, avoiding collision with ICC events.
- ODI/T20I clusters in neutral or subcontinental venues when subcontinent pitches favored spin-friendly conditions.
- Home Tests against traditional rivals (England, Australia, Sri Lanka) spaced to allow recovery and focused preparation.
2018 served as a transition year, blending experienced campaign routines with emerging squad talents. Performance outcomes aligned broadly with historical patterns at certain venues while marking turning points at others.
| Format |
Matches Played |
Wins |
Losses |
Draws/No Results |
| Tests |
24 |
8 |
6 |
10 |
| ODIs |
26 |
18 |
7 |
1 |
| T20Is |
11 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
How to Use This Schedule Reference
Use this overview to understand the rhythm of the team’s year, identify gaps between major series, and contextualize performance within specific venues and conditions. It is structured as a durable guide rather than a time-sensitive news report, supporting analysis and planning across formats and opponent profiles.