Team India’s schedule in 2018: All you need to know

Team India, under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, were near invincible in the year 2017 winning as many 37 matches out of 53 across formats. They absolutely brushed aside each and every team who challenged during their home season. They even won away series against Sri Lanka and Windies before reaching the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy in June. However, stern challenges await them in 2018 with more away tours as they will look to reign supreme in next 12 months.

The Men in Blue are in the middle of a dream run as they won every bilateral series this year and are on the cusp of the history. They have so far won 16 bilateral series on the trot and have defeated the world-class teams like Australia, England and New Zealand this year. They literally blanked Sri Lanka 9-0 across formats in their own den and also became the first team to win all the games in an away tour. Though they would love to continue in the same vein as they travel away from home for the most part of the year.

What next after SA tour?

Virat Kohli and Co. recently embarked on their tour to South Africa where they are scheduled to play three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is starting on January 5. The 50-day tour will conclude on February 24 after which they will again travel to Sri Lanka for the T20I tri-series involving Bangladesh from March 8. Soon, the most awaited event of the year, Indian Premier League (IPL), will be played from April 4 to May 31. All the prominent cricketers from India and the world apart from Pakistan take part in this T20 extravaganza.

Post-IPL, the Indian team will face another stern challenge as they will be touring England. The tour comprises of 3 T20 Internationals and 3 ODIs and as many as five Test matches. They will be in the country for more than two months after which Asia Cup will be held. Soon Windies will arrive India for a whole series across all the three formats. India will finally travel Down Under in November and December to cap off the year as the itinerary of the tour is yet to be announced.

Here’s the schedule of Team India:

India tour of South Africa (3 Tests, 6 ODIs and 3 T20Is)

• 1st Test between January 5-9 in Cape Town
• 2nd Test between January 13-17 in Centurion
• 3rd Test between January 24-28 in Johannesburg
• 1st ODI on February 1 in Durban
• 2nd ODI on February 4 in Centurion
• 3rd ODI on February 7 in Cape Town
• 4th ODI on February 10 in Johannesburg
• 5th ODI on February 13 in Port Elizabeth
• 6th ODI on February 16 in Centurion
• 1st T20I on February 18 in Johannesburg
• 2nd T20I on February 21 in Centurion
• 3rd T20I on February 24 in Cape Town

T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka (involving Bangladesh) – From March 8 to March 20

Indian Premier League (IPL) 11 – From April 4 to May 31

India tour of England (3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 5 Tests)

• 1st T20I on July 3 at Old Trafford, Manchester
• 2nd T20I on July 6 at Sophia Gardens Cardiff
• 3rd T20I on July 8 at County Ground, Bristol
• 1st ODI on July 12 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
• 2nd ODI on July 14 at Lord’s London
• 3rd ODI on July 17 at Headingley, Leeds
• 1st Test between August 1 and 5 at Edgbaston, Birmingham
• 2nd Test between August 9 and 13 at Lord’s, London
• 3rd Test between August 18 and 22 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
• 4th Test between August 30 and September 3 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton
• 5th Test between September 7 and 11 at Kennington Oval, London

Asia Cup 2018 in September (involving Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Qualifier)

West Indies tour of India – Between October and November (3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 1 T20I)

India tour of Australia – Between November and December (4 Tests)

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