Indian Men's Volleyball Regains Momentum with Busy 2026 Calendar After Years of Uncertainty
Indian men's volleyball is steadily rebuilding its international presence after enduring one of the most turbulent phases in its history. Following administrative instability that completely halted the team's international participation in 2024, the national side has made significant strides over the past two seasons and is now preparing for an even busier schedule in the second half of 2026.
The numbers themselves tell the story of India's resurgence.
2023: 10 international matches
2024: 0 international matches
2025: 6 international matches
2026: 7 international matches (with more to come)
Source Zafaron on X
With both the Asian Men's Volleyball Championship and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games still to be played later this year, India's tally of international fixtures is set to rise further, providing valuable exposure against Asia's strongest volleyball nations.
The rebuilding process effectively began in 2023 when India returned to regular continental competition. The team played 10 international matches, featuring at the Asian Men's Volleyball Championship and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Although India finished 11th at the Asian Championship, the Asian Games proved far more encouraging. One of the highlights of the campaign was a memorable 3-2 victory over South Korea, one of Asia's traditional volleyball powerhouses. India also defeated Cambodia and Chinese Taipei to reach the classification rounds before eventually finishing sixth after losses to Japan and Pakistan.
Those performances suggested Indian volleyball was moving in the right direction.
Administrative Crisis Brings Progress to a Halt
However, the momentum disappeared in 2024. India did not play a single international match throughout the calendar year as governance issues within the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) led to prolonged administrative uncertainty. Training camps were disrupted, international entries were frozen, and the senior men's team remained inactive throughout the season. The absence of competitive matches not only affected player development but also impacted India's standing in the international rankings.
For a team attempting to close the gap on Asia's elite, losing an entire year of international competition represented a significant setback.
The national team's return in 2025 marked the beginning of a fresh chapter. India participated in the CAVA Men's Volleyball Nations League, playing six international matches and producing one of its best performances in recent years. Victories over Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and Kazakhstan helped India reach the final, where they eventually settled for the silver medal after losing to Iran.
The campaign demonstrated the team's improved resilience and tactical discipline under Serbian head coach Dragan Mihailović. Perhaps more importantly, consistent performances helped India climb to World No. 47, signalling that the rebuilding process was beginning to bear fruit.
India has continued that upward trajectory in 2026. The team has already played seven international matches, all coming during the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup held in Ahmedabad.
Playing in front of home supporters, India produced an impressive run through the group stage.
The team defeated New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Bahrain & Australia to finish unbeaten in Pool A.
Although India narrowly lost a thrilling five-set semi-final against eventual champions Indonesia, they bounced back strongly to defeat Bahrain in the bronze medal match. That victory secured India's first-ever senior podium finish at an AVC Men's Cup, a landmark achievement for the programme. The successful campaign also saw India climb to a historic World No. 42, their highest ranking in recent years.
The seven matches played so far in 2026 are unlikely to be the final count. India is scheduled to compete in two major continental competitions over the coming months. The first is the Asian Men's Volleyball Championship, where the continent's top teams will battle not only for medals but also crucial qualification opportunities for future global events.
Soon after, India will participate in the Asian Games, returning to a competition where they produced encouraging performances in Hangzhou three years ago. Those tournaments will significantly increase India's number of international matches this year while providing valuable experience against higher-ranked opponents.
A key factor behind India's recent progress has been the work of Serbian head coach Dragan Mihailović. Since returning to the programme, Mihailović has introduced modern training methods focused on improving serve reception, transition play, defensive organisation and physical conditioning. The coaching setup now includes specialised performance analysts and strength and conditioning experts, bringing a far more scientific approach to national team preparation.
The results have become increasingly visible on court. India now appears tactically more disciplined, physically stronger and mentally more resilient in pressure situations than during previous international campaigns.
The steady increase in international fixtures is perhaps the most encouraging development for Indian volleyball. Regular competition allows players to adapt to different playing styles, gain valuable ranking points and improve consistency against elite opposition.
Combined with the growing influence of the Prime Volleyball League and improved administrative stability under the current governance structure, the national programme appears to be moving in a positive direction.
While India still faces a considerable challenge in closing the gap with Asia's traditional powerhouses such as Japan, Iran and China, recent performances suggest that progress is being made.
The upcoming Asian Championship and Asian Games will provide another important opportunity to measure that progress.
After playing no international matches in 2024, India has already returned to a competitive schedule and is set to further expand its calendar in the coming months. If the current momentum continues, 2026 could prove to be one of the most significant years in the modern history of Indian men's volleyball, laying a stronger foundation for future success on the continental and global stage.
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