With India’s tour of Bangladesh postponed by a year, the India Cricket Team was staring at a long break. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have begun talks to replace IND vs BAN series with IND vs SL series. As the Lanka Premier League has been postponed as well, it has opened up a space in Sri Lanka’s calendar. That could help India play Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI and T20I series.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to visit Zimbabwe late August. Before that, the two boards are in talks to play a six-match white-ball series. However, nothing has been made official yet, as per the Sri Lankan news outlet Newswire.
India last toured Sri Lanka in 2023. But there was no official fixture this year against Sri Lanka. However, it is good news for fans as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be able to return to ODI cricket. The two last played in the ICC Champions Trophy and with both retiring from Test and T20Is, ODI is the only format they would be seen in. As India’s next official ODI series is against Australia in October, it would have delayed Rohit-Kohli’s return. But if the IND vs SL series takes place, fans could see the two stalwarts play as soon as next month.
IND vs SL Series in August?
Team India will conclude their Test series against England on August 4. The entire Test squad is expected to be on a two-week break. India’s tour of Bangladesh was supposed to start on August 31, giving India a month-long break. However, BCCI postponed the tour after the government of India’s advice. Hence, India’s next official assignment is only in Asia Cup T20. However, BCCI is still waiting for the government’s advice on the Asia Cup as India vs Pakistan match will be the biggest event during the tournament.
Now, the BCCI can utilise the window for a short white-ball series to replace IND vs BAN. Even if the IND vs SL series goes ahead, it is likely that the BCCI will send a young team for the T20Is. Apart from Rohit-Kohli, ODIs could also sport a young team as Shubman Gill and the Test players will be on a break.
The last time India toured Sri Lanka, they suffered a 1-2 series defeat in ODIs, even though both Rohit and Kohli played the series. If the tour goes on in August, it will be a chance for India to avenge that loss.
