The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule of Team India for the 2018-19 season. They will play as many as 63 international games during the period, which consist 12 Tests apart from 30 ODIs and 21 T20Is.
This season will commence after the Indian Premier League 2018 and will last to the ICC World Cup 2019 in England.
The season will start with a historic Test match against Afghanistan, who will make their Test debut against India. Afterwards, India will travel to Britain for next three months, where India will first play two T20Is against Ireland before the most awaited series against England. They will first host three T20Is and as many ODIs before a mouthwatering five-match Test series at the end.
Also Read: BCCI will shift their home base to BengaluruIt will be followed by the Asia Cup and a full home series against West Indies. This series will have two Tests, 5 ODIs and three T20Is.
Australia and New Zealand are two respective countries where India will play overseas at the end of 2018. The season will cape off with a home limited-over series against Kangaroos and Zimbabwe respectively.
Keeping the upcoming World Cup in mind, BCCI scheduled as many One-Day Internationals as possible. India will head into the tournament as one of the favourites, as the 2011 champions boast a side filled with serial winners.
Also Read: India become number one ODI side after series win in SA
Talking about the schedule, a BCCI official told to TOI “There is a lot of risk of losing money in a five-day game starting at 3 am India time (in New Zealand). Anyway, it will be a World Cup year. By the time India travel to New Zealand, India will be playing just white-ball cricket after the Tests in Australia get over. India will host Australia after they come back from New Zealand and will travel to Zimbabwe for three T20Is before the 2019 IPL.”
After a gruelling IPL season, team India will head off to England to play the World Cup, as Virat Kohli looks to lift his first major trophy as captain of India.
INDIA’S FULL SCHEDULE :
June 2018: vs Ireland (2 T20I) (Away)
June 2018: vs Afghanistan (1 Test) (Home)
July-September 2018: vs England (5 Tests, 3 ODI, 3 T20I) (Away)
September 2018: Asia Cup (Approx 9 ODIs) (Venue and Date yet to be finalised)
October-November 2018: vs West Indies (2 Tests, 5 ODIs, 3 T20I) (Home)
November-December 2018: vs Australia (4 Tests, 3 ODIs, 3 T20I) (Away)
January-February 2019: vs New Zealand (5 ODIs, 5 T20I) (Away)
February-March 2019: vs Australia (5 ODI, 2 T20I) (Home)
March 2019: vs Zimbabwe (3 T20I) (Home).
