After a long wait and a few postponements, Team India's tour of Bangladesh may finally see the light of day and if things do not hit another roadblock, it could happen as early as in the first week of January next year.
India tour of Bangladesh on, 3 ODIs-T20Is on cards
While the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have not made any
official confirmation, sources privy to the development, indicate that the tour could very much turn into a reality. However, the window for the tour, which would include three ODIs and three T20Is, will be a small one since Zimbabwe is scheduled to tour India for a three-match ODI series from January 3-9, followed by the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, beginning January 21.
Considering the break-down in the diplomatic relations between the two countries, the go-ahead will have to come
from the Indian Government. Now that the regime in Bangladesh has changed, following the landslide victory of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in this year's General Elections, the bilateral cricket relations between the two nations may also come back on track.
India's tour of Bangladesh was first postponed in July last year and Bangladesh's decision to not play their T20 World Cup
games in India this year only made things worse between the two boards.
While their has been a change in the Bangladesh Government, the BCB too has seen a massive switch with former
opener Tamim Iqbal replacing former captain Aminul Islam at the helm in BCB.
ALSO READ: CSK, SRH complete high-profile trade: Livingstone, Edwards for Khaleel, Ellis
Will India tour of Zimbabwe be rescheduled?
It is also reliably learnt that Tami Iqbal, as the chief of BCB, want to rebuild relations with the BCCI not just for
bilateral cricket, but also at the Asian Cricket Council and ICC levels. If India's tour of Bangladesh does go ahead, the question remains, what happens to India's three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe? Possibly, that series may then have to be rescheduled as the Indian team wish to hit their Test preparations for the series against Australia from January 16.
A leading Bangladesh daily 'Prohom Alo' has quoted BCB President Tamim Iqbal as saying:
"We are discussing a window. Given how our discussions with the BCCI are progressing, I am hopeful that the Indian team will come to Bangladesh for the series. Both Boards are working with a positive mindset."
When Team India last toured Bangladesh for a white-ball series in December 2022, the three-match One Day International (ODI) leg delivered high-voltage drama, ending in a surprise 2–1 series triumph for the hosts. While India eventually swept the subsequent two-match Test series 2–0, their white-ball campaign was defined by nail-biting finishes, extraordinary individual records, and a second consecutive bilateral ODI series defeat on Bangladeshi soil.
Opening Thriller (1st ODI, Mirpur): The series opened in Mirpur, where India’s batting unit collapsed to a modest 186 all out against Shakib Al Hasan’s five-wicket haul. India's bowlers staged a fierce fightback, reducing Bangladesh to 136/9. However, Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a miraculous innings under pressure, forging a heroical 51-run last-wicket partnership with Mustafizur Rahman. Mehidy scored 38* to guide Bangladesh home by just 1 wicket, handing the hosts a 1–0 lead.
Series-sealing heartbreaker (2nd ODI, Mirpur): The second match produced another instant classic. Bangladesh posted 271/7, driven by a sensational maiden ODI century from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (100*) and a 148-run partnership with Mahmudullah. Early in Bangladesh’s innings, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma suffered a dislocation to his left thumb while fielding and was taken for medical scans. India struggled in their 272-run chase until a heroic, heavily bandaged Rohit walked out at No. 9. Smashing a fierce 51* off just 28 balls, Rohit nearly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. India needed 20 runs off the final over and 6 off the final ball, but Rohit was unable to hit the last ball for a boundary, leaving India 5 runs short (266/9). Bangladesh clinched the series 2–0 with a game to spare.
Record-breaking consolation win (3rd ODI, Chattogram): With the series lost and Rohit sidelined due to his thumb injury, India unleashed a batting storm in Chattogram to avoid a whitewash. Young opener Ishan Kishan produced a historic masterclass, blasting his maiden ODI double-century. Kishan smashed the fastest double-hundred in ODI history off just 126 balls, eventually reaching 210 off 131 deliveries. At the other end, Virat Kohli broke his three-year ODI century drought by registering his 72nd international hundred (113 off 91 balls). Together, their onslaught lifted India to a massive total of 409/8. Bangladesh was bowled out for 182 in 34 overs, handing India a massive 227-run victory—their largest ODI win by runs against Bangladesh.
If the Bangladesh tour happens, it will grant Indian batting juggernauts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli vital game time to fine-tune their craft ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup, set to get underway from October 2. The subcontinental fixtures offer a prime opportunity for both veterans to lock in their rhythm as India builds toward the flagship tournament later in the year.
Meanwhile, the national ODI setup is actively engaged in an away assignment against New Zealand. Team India drew first blood in the series opener, pulling off a five-wicket DLS victory. The triumph was anchored by Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Kamboj's bowling heroics which was well coupled with a blistering 51-ball 74 from Kohli, setting a dominant tone for the tour.
The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played on November 7 in Hamilton.