BCCI to adjust schedule for more of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

In a major update for fans, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning on increasing the number of One-Day Internationals (ODIs) India will play in 2026. This will allow experienced stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma more gametime ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will be played across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The board is keen on their players to get more exposure to 50-over cricket ahead of the marquee tournament in a year and a half’s time. A majority of Indian players are currently focused on the shortest format of the game due to the ongoing T20 World Cup and the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), which will be followed by a lot of white-ball cricket.

The focus on ODI cricket will commence from the month of June with a three-match series against Afghanistan on home soil before travelling to England for a white-ball tour where they compete in yet another three 50-over internationals.

Reports, however, also suggest that the BCCI are considering increasing the number of ODIs India play during their all-format tour to New Zealand in October 2026 based on the New Zealand Cricket (NZC)’s request.

The Men in Blue are initially scheduled to play two Test matches, three ODIs and five T20Is. However, the idea suggests reducing the T20Is to three and increasing the number of ODIs to five. This will not only allow for better preparations ahead of the 2027 World Cup but will also allow fans across the globe to see more of Rohit and Virat.

The duo retired from T20I back in 2024 after helping India secure their second T20 World Cup title by beating South Africa in the final. Months later, they decided to hang up their boots from Test cricket after losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. ODI cricket, thus, remains the only format where the world can see these legends on an international stage.

Both Kohli and Rohit, however, will return to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, respectively, to compete in IPL 2026, following which they will return to international action at home against a touring Afghanistan side. 

Afghanistan tour of India 2026 Schedule