India to play 141 bilateral matches in 2023-27 FTP cycle

The busy schedule for team India will continue as the Men in Blue are set to play 141 bilateral matches in the next five years. Even though it is 22 games fewer than the current cycle, the increase in the number of matches in IPL and increase in multi-nation tournaments means it will be hectic for the all-format players.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), despite being given the green light to play the 2023 Asia Cup in Pakistan, is still reluctant to play bilateral series against their arch-rivals as the political relations between the two nations are yet to improve and only the respective governments can take charge and conduct the much-awaited series.

However, as things stand, the Indian team will play a total of 38 Tests (20 home matches, 18 away), 42 ODIs (21 each home and away) and 61 T20Is (31 home matches and 30 away) in the next five years. BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirmed the details and updated everyone about the same.

“The number of home Test matches has gone up along with an optimum mix of quality opponents across all three international formats. A regular IPL season along with a fixed home season also allows for ideal preparation against quality opponents in the right format going into ICC events,” he said in a statement.

BCCI’s plan of action for the next FTP cycle

The Indian team will regularly play England and Australia - two of the powerhouses of the cricketing world. The new FTP cycle will also see the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar trophy being played as a five-match series instead of a four-match series.

BCCI in a statement confirmed the things that the management kept in mind while designing the new calendar. “Content, including balance across international format; Quality of opponents across formats, both home and away; Regular Home Season and Fixed annual IPL windows,” the BCCI statement read.