In what has come as a major announcement, the timeline for the India tour of Sri Lanka has been revealed. As per Cricbuzz, the Indian team will play their two Tests, part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, in the second half of August.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn’t have to take care about too many Tests this year. After hosting Afghanistan for a non-WTC Test right after the IPL 2026, India have just two Test tours lined up this year. In August, the Shubman Gill-led side will travel to Sri Lanka for a couple of Tests. Afterwards, in November, there’ll be two away Tests against New Zealand.
IND vs SL Tests finalised; no clarity on T20Is
While the exact dates are yet to be formally announced, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the BCCI have reportedly identified a two-week window between August 15 and August 27 for the two-match Test series. The Tests will take place immediately after the Lanka Premier League, which ends on August 9. The LPL schedule is also out, with final on August 8 and a reserve day set for the following day.
As per Cricbuzz, all stakeholders, including the Indian team management, have already been informed about the tentative timeline. What remains uncertain, however, is the fate of the three T20Is that were originally supposed to be part of the tour. Those T20Is were proposed as fundraiser fixtures for victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah last year. But fitting them into India’s chaotic white-ball calendar is turning into a serious challenge for the BCCI.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is currently in Sri Lanka as part of an ICC delegation after the Sri Lankan government dissolved the existing SLC administration and appointed an interim Transformation Committee. During the visit, discussions around the additional T20Is could take place, although no final decision has been reached yet.
Events leading to India vs Sri Lanka timeline
| Event | Details | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Lanka Premier League Ends | The Test series will begin after the completion of the LPL | Final on Aug 8 (August 9 Reserve Day) |
| India’s Sri Lanka Tour Window Finalised | SLC and BCCI sources confirmed the series window for India’s tour of Sri Lanka | August 15–27 |
| Proposed Test Series | Two Test matches are scheduled during the tour | Between August 15–27 |
| T20I Series Status | No confirmation yet on the three proposed T20Is | Awaited |
India’s packed September calendar creating scheduling mess
The real issue is what follows immediately after the Sri Lanka tour. India are tentatively scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series in September. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has already kept the window open after postponing its Ireland tour, which strongly suggests the series is back on track despite political tensions between the two countries in recent times.
And it does not stop there.
India are also expected to play three T20Is against Afghanistan in the UAE during September. Add the Asian Games window from September 25 to October 3 and a home white-ball series against West Indies after that.
India vs Bangladesh white-ball series schedule (tentative)
| Match No. | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | September 1 | Mirpur |
| 2nd ODI | September 3 | Mirpur |
| 3rd ODI | September 6 | Chattogram |
| 1st T20I | September 9 | Chattogram |
| 2nd T20I | September 12 | Mirpur |
| 3rd T20I | September 13 | Mirpur |
Cricket
Sanju Samson dropped as BCCI announces squad for India vs Zimbabwe T20I series
