Unlike in 2018, India to play majority of matches at home in 2019

Winning the World Cup should be the main aim of the team.

Published - 02 Jan 2019, 14:55 IST | Updated - 02 Jan 2019, 14:55 IST

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India were mostly out of the country in 2018, playing as many as three major series — in South Africa, England and Australia. The results were mixed on these tours and there were not much of home assignments except a full-fledged series against the Windies. The year 2019 will, however, see them playing most of their cricket matches at home and that bolsters captain Virat Kohli’s chances of enriching his captaincy record even faster.

India will be hosting teams like Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Bangladesh and Windies at home throughout the year and the only away assignments for the national side will be the ICC World Cup to be played in England and Wales in May-July and a tour of the Caribbean in July-August.

The World Cup will certainly be the biggest mission for Virat Kohli’s troops in the year while home series against Australia (ODIs and T20Is only) and South Africa (Tests only) will be among other big challenges for the team.

India are currently touring Australia where they drew the T20I series 1-1 and are leading the four-Test series 2-1 with the final one to start in Sydney on Thursday. India will play a three-match ODI series after the Tests before flying to New Zealand where they will play five ODIs and three T20Is in January and February.

India to host Australia, Zimbabwe, SA and Bangladesh this year

India will then take on Australia in a five-ODI and two-T20I series in February-March and then Zimbabwe in a one-off Test and three ODIs in March at home. The team then has its stint overseas with the ICC World Cup followed by a series of the Windies featuring two Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is in July and August.

India’s next series is against South Africa in October-November when they play the Proteas in three Test matches and then Bangladesh for two Tests and three T20Is. The final series of the year will be against the Windies who will play three ODIs and as many T20Is.