Senior Indian players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, could soon be in action for the national team before Asia Cup 2025. The Sri Lanka Cricket board has stepped up to offer the Board of Control for Cricket in India a request to host a short white-ball series in both formats in August 2025. This is the same window where the India tour of Bangladesh was scheduled.
Earlier, the initial plans were for India to tour Bangladesh for a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series, which was scheduled to be held between the 17th and the 31st of August. The series has, however, been postponed to next year, as both the BCCI and the BCB have cited international commitments as the main reason.
The proposal from the Sri Lanka Board came later after the call for the cancellation was made. The BCCI is, however, yet to make a formal response. If the BCCI gives the green signal to this series, which replaces the Bangladesh series, it would likely mark the return of Indian veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the Men in Blue.
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BCCI secretary to discuss with Players and Coaches before a decision
Much like the cancelled Bangladesh tour, Sri Lanka Cricket has also proposed a six-match white-ball contest, which will include three T20I games and three ODI games.
“There is a request pending from the SLC, but we have not decided on it yet. We will have to see the situation with the Asia Cup. Everything is interlinked,” reported by a Cricbuzz source.
This implies not that the series cannot be played sideways alongside the Asia Cup; it simply means that the BCCI wants to prioritize the opinion of their players and coaches and hence would reach a conclusion only after discussing the proposal with their players and coaches currently in England.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is expected to travel to London this week for the Lord’s test, and hence it can be cited that the decisions regarding the Sri Lanka Board’s proposal will be taken after a discussion with Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, either during or after the match.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s return is eagerly awaited
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the superstars of Indian cricket, have now drawn curtains on their Test and T20 careers and are expected to play only in the ODI format.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from India were last seen in the Men in Blue shirts back in March 2025, when the duo featured in the final of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy against New Zealand.
India won the ICC tournament, and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma was the player of the match, as the batter delivered on this big occasion with a crucial 76-run inning. Virat Kohli ended the tournament with 218 runs, and Rohit, on the other hand, scored 180 runs in 5 games played, respectively.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were supposed to return to India to star in the ODI series against Bangladesh; however, now with the SLC approach under consideration, they can make a comeback in that series if the BCCI considers moving further with the proposition.
BCCI to take a call on Asia Cup this week
The Asia Cup, which is expected to be held from the 17th to the 27th of September, is still waiting for its approval from the organising hosts, BCCI and the government of India.
As hosts of the tournament, the decision needs to be taken by the BCCI, this time overseen by the Indian government, as this tournament would include neighbouring nation Pakistan, the country with whom India recently engaged in a war-like situation.
However, a decision on the future of the Asia Cup is expected to be made within the next couple of days, which will depend on the BCCI’s position on the continental championship.
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