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The Indian women’s cricket team faced setbacks in the T20 World Cup 2026. The reigning ODI world champions failed to even reach the semifinals of the shortest format World Cup. Currently, the Indian team is out of action and will return to action in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. However, Team India, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, has its sights set on a major tournament in February 2027. This is why three T20 matches have been added to Team India’s South Africa tour just before the tournament.

In December 2026, Team India will depart for a historic tour of South Africa. This tour will be historic because it will be the first time Team India will play a Test match on South African soil. This tour will include not only Tests but also an ODI series, the schedule of which had already been released. However, Cricket South Africa (CSA), in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has made a major change to this schedule.

The South African board announced on Thursday, August 6, that the Indian team’s tour will include a three-match T20I series, in addition to Tests and ODIs. The tour schedule has also been slightly altered. The tour was originally scheduled to begin with an ODI series on December 9th, followed by a single Test match on December 20th. The tour will now begin with a Test match in Port Elizabeth, followed by a three-match ODI series starting on December 16th and running until December 22nd. The T20I series will then be played from December 26th to 30th.

Now let’s explain why a T20 series was suddenly added to this tour’s schedule. This T20 series will serve as preparation for both teams. Preparations for the Women’s Champions Trophy 2027, which will be held in February. Following the men’s Champions Trophy, the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy is being launched for the first time, with its first edition being played in Sri Lanka. However, unlike the men’s tournament, the Women’s Champions Trophy will be played in the T20 format.