Sky Sport has revealed its broadcast plans for the 2026/27 Summer of Cricket, and it is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded seasons New Zealand cricket fans have seen, headlined by a blockbuster tour from India.
The BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS will host home internationals against India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, all live and on-demand across Sky Sport and Sky Sport Now.
The Season at a Glance
| Tour | Dates | Format |
|---|---|---|
| India Tour of New Zealand (Men's) | 22 October – 1 December | 5 T20s, 5 ODIs, 2 Tests |
| Bangladesh Tour of New Zealand (Women's) | 10–23 December | White-ball series |
| Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand (Men's) | 10–23 December | Multi-format series |
The India tour is the clear centrepiece, pitting the BLACKCAPS against one of world cricket's most dominant teams across a packed schedule.
A Genuinely Star-Studded Commentary Team
Sky has assembled a commentary line-up featuring some of the most recognised names in world cricket, including Ian Smith, Ravi Shastri, Stephen Fleming, Simon Doull, Sunil Gavaskar, Katey Martin, Harsha Bhogle, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Shane Bond, Lea Tahuhu and Russell Arnold.
Ian Smith, long regarded as the voice of cricket in New Zealand, returns to the microphone for the series opener against India.
"You could hardly ask for a bigger stage to begin with than India," Smith said. "I think fans are in for a very special summer."
Fronting India's white-ball matches is Ravi Shastri, an ICC World Cup winner and former India head coach, who brings deep knowledge of the touring squad to the broadcast.
Shastri also reflected on his own personal history with New Zealand cricket, having made his Test debut against a New Zealand side that included Smith himself.
"New Zealand is a special place for me, and there's enormous respect in India for the way New Zealand plays its cricket," Shastri said.
A Notable Coaching Crossover
One interesting wrinkle in the line-up is Stephen Fleming, who will call the T20s during India's tour despite his recent appointment as England's Test coach. Fleming brings a unique perspective to the broadcast, having built one of the strongest coaching records in modern Indian cricket through his time leading Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Rounding out the India Test coverage is ICC Cricket Hall of Famer Sunil Gavaskar, alongside returning BLACKCAPS bowler and commentator Simon Doull.
Why Sky Says This Summer Matters
Sky's Head of Sport Content, Gary Burchett, said the return of home international cricket represents a genuinely significant moment for the broadcaster.
"Cricket is back on Sky, and we're treating its return as a significant moment," Burchett said. "We want our coverage to feel intelligent, contemporary and full of energy, with the game always at the heart of it."
A First for Sky: Hindi Commentary Throughout the India Tour
In a notable first for Sky's cricket coverage, the broadcaster has partnered with Sony Pictures Networks India to offer Hindi commentary across the entire India tour, available on Sky Sport Select.
Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Harsha Bhogle will all contribute to this Hindi-language feed, bringing their expertise directly to Indian cricket fans watching in New Zealand.
Burchett said the move reflects a deliberate effort to make the coverage genuinely inclusive.
"We want to bring the same depth and understanding to India's players, supporters and cricket culture as we do to the BLACKCAPS," Burchett said. "Offering Hindi commentary throughout the tour is part of that."
Sony Pictures Networks India's Chief Revenue Officer, Rajesh Kaul, said the partnership speaks directly to New Zealand's Indian community.
"New Zealand is home to a large and growing Indian community, for whom cricket remains a powerful connection to India," Kaul said. "Our partnership with Sky to offer Hindi commentary across the entire tour recognises the passion of this community."
New Broadcast Technology on Display
Beyond the commentary team, Sky is also introducing new production features designed to bring viewers closer to the action.
Raptor Cam, a high-speed aerial camera capable of moving above and around the field, will be used during the India tour to capture angles that traditional fixed cameras cannot achieve.
Alongside this, Virtual Eye technology will provide real-time ball tracking, 3D graphics and in-depth analysis, all supported by a 26-camera broadcast set-up designed to maximise coverage of every match.
Full Commentary Breakdown by Series
For fans wanting the full picture, here is exactly who will be calling each series:
India Tour (Men's), 22 October – 1 December
- T20s and ODIs: Ian Smith, Ravi Shastri, Stephen Fleming, Simon Doull, Katey Martin, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Shane Bond
- Tests: Ian Smith, Simon Doull, Sunil Gavaskar, Katey Martin, Harsha Bhogle, Scott Styris
- Presenter: Laura McGoldrick
Bangladesh Tour (Women's), 10–23 December
- Commentary: Katey Martin, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Shane Bond, Lea Tahuhu
- Presenter: Laura McGoldrick
Sri Lanka Tour (Men's), 10–23 December
- Commentary: Ian Smith, Katey Martin, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Shane Bond, Lea Tahuhu
- Presenter: Laura McGoldrick / George Harper Jr
What This Means for Fans
With India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka all touring in the same summer, alongside genuinely significant broadcast innovation and a first-ever Hindi commentary option, Sky appears to be positioning this as one of its most ambitious cricket seasons in recent memory. For New Zealand's large and passionate Indian cricket community in particular, the Hindi-language coverage represents a meaningful step toward making the sport's biggest local series more accessible than ever before.
This article is based on a media release issued by Sky Sport.
