ICC T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma’s start to life as Indian captain will see the Men in Blue go through a gruelling schedule up until the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. India faced off against West Indies in three ODIs and three T20Is this month and are already in preparation to face Sri Lanka on Friday. Following the tour of the Lankans, the BCCI have planned 3 more series with the additional Asia Cup participation right before the marquee ICC event. Follow Insidesport.in for all T20 World Cup 2023 live updates.
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ICC T20 World Cup: BCCI planning ‘INSANE SCHEDULE’ for Rohit Sharma’s team ahead of T20 WC, 3 more series & Asia Cup participation in pipeline
The BCCI are reportedly planning to squeeze three more limited-overs overseas tours before Rohit Sharma and Co. head to the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. As per the Times of India, India will tour England, playing the 5th Test and the ODIs. The tour also comprises a one-off T20 against Ireland, which will suffice for the Irish board’s expenses for a year.
As per the report, following India’s tour of England, Rohit Sharma and Co will travel to the West Indies for a limited-overs series, which will then be followed by a tour of Zimbabwe. The Men in Blue are also expected to take part in the Asia Cup set to be held in the UAE, as preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is due to start on October 16.
TOI has learnt the Indian cricket board (BCCI) is planning to squeeze in three more limited-overs overseas tours after the tour of England in July and before the T20 World Cup. India are scheduled to play a one-off T20I against Ireland while in the UK.
Once Sri Lanka’s tour of India ends on March 16, the Indian players will be busy with the IPL which will run till the third week of May. Following that India will play a five-match T20I series at home against South Africa till June 19 with the team expected to fly out to the UK a week later.
India schedule 2022
- Sri Lanka tour of India (February-March)
- IPL 2022 (March-May)
- India vs South Africa (June)
- India tour of Ireland and England (July)
- India tour of West Indies
- India tour of Zimbabwe
- Asia Cup 2022
- T20 World Cup (October- November)
ICC T20 World Cup: BCCI planning ‘INSANE SCHEDULE’ for Rohit Sharma’s team ahead of T20 WC, 3 more series & Asia Cup participation in pipeline
With such a gruelling calendar, the Indian team management are contemplating a mega pool of 35 players to counter bio-bubble fatigue and manage game time for the regulars and the fringe players. There’s a chance that India could feature two separate teams at the same time, especially with the Ireland T20I set to overlap with the one-off Test in England. India are no stranger to having different teams, having done so last year with the limited-overs team playing in Sri Lanka and the regulars playing Test cricket vs England.
“The discussions on bio-bubble breaks have already started. Every player has been communicated about the busy itinerary. They have been given time to think about when they would like to take a break. It’s likely a depleted side will travel to Zimbabwe. Ideally, the Asia Cup will be the right tournament to play the first team, in order to get combinations right before the T20 World Cup,” a BCCI official said.
The Indian team will be mostly playing T20Is on these tours. It will be a time for the final round of auditions for players to stake their claim for the mega event in Australia. However, India coach Rahul Dravid has said that the team management has more or less identified the core of the team which is likely to play in the World Cup. After the last T20I against West Indies, Dravid had said that he didn’t want to spread his net too wide. But with such a busy schedule, he will have to play with a big pool of players.
ICC T20 World Cup: BCCI planning ‘INSANE SCHEDULE’ for Rohit Sharma’s team ahead of T20 WC, 3 more series & Asia Cup participation in pipeline
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