The anticipated comeback of Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to the Indian squad is likely to be delayed, as the white-ball series between India and Bangladesh has been postponed. The series, originally scheduled for August 2025, has been pushed back to September 2026.
The series was to feature three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The ODI matches were slated for August 17th, 20th, and 23rd, followed by T20Is on August 26th, 29th, and 31st, with matches planned in Mirpur and Chattogram.
According to reports, the postponement stems from rising diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh, leading the Indian government to advise the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against proceeding with the tour. An unnamed source told India Today that the political situation in Bangladesh is unstable, resulting in the government's recommendation to the BCCI.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had earlier halted the sale of its media rights, which further indicated a possible cancellation or postponement of the series. The BCB's initial plan involved technical bidding on July 7th and financial bidding on July 10th. Despite the uncertainty, the BCB remains hopeful that the series can be rescheduled, recognizing it as a significant revenue source.
If the Bangladesh tour doesn't happen as planned, Kohli and Sharma are expected to return to the Indian team for the series against Australia in October, which includes three ODIs. The ODI series against Australia is scheduled for October 19th, 23rd, and 25th.
Both Kohli and Sharma have retired from T20Is and Test cricket. Therefore, their appearances will be limited to the ODI format.
The postponement of the Bangladesh series could be a setback for India's preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, as the team has not played a T20I match since the England series at home in January-February.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Bangladesh tour, the BCB remains optimistic and has had positive discussions with the BCCI. If the tour is canceled, efforts will be made to reschedule it in the next available window.
Rohit Sharma will continue to captain the ODI team. This indicates that the Indian national team will have three different captains for each format for the first time. Cricket Australia is also expected to celebrate Kohli and Sharma during the tour, acknowledging it as potentially their last tour to Australia as professional cricketers.
