The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided to swap the One Day International (ODI) matches with Twenty20 International (T20I) games in the upcoming bilateral series between the two nations. This is done as part of preparations for both teams for the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The initial series, the tour of Pakistan by Bangladesh in May 2025, had three ODIs in it originally but has now been changed to a series of five T20I matches by the boards. This will provide both the teams with great experience in the T20 format as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments.

The second series, the Pakistan tour of Bangladesh in July 2025, was also to be made up of three ODIs. But it will now include three T20I matches instead. This is done to provide the teams with more emphasis on T20 cricket, as both are gearing up for the challenges in the upcoming big T20 tournaments.

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This shift from ODIs to T20Is is happening when T20 cricket is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the world with the majority of the world's major cricket nations placing greater significance on this version due to its fast and short nature. It is being considered a major part of the run-up to the upcoming international tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.

This change places particular importance on the increasing importance of T20I cricket within today's game and offers Bangladesh and Pakistan a chance to iron out their plans and improve their T20I side in preparation for the much-awaited Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.

The Indian cricket team for men will tour South Africa to play a limited-overs series during November and December 2025. The three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) will be played across cities in India.

ODI Series Schedule

India will first play three ODIs against South Africa. Here is the complete schedule:

• 1st ODI: November 30 – Ranchi
• 2nd ODI: December 3 – Raipur
• 3rd ODI: December 6 – Visakhapatnam (Vizag)
• T20I Series Schedule

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After the ODI series, both teams will play five T20 matches at different venues.

• 1st T20I: December 9 – Cuttack
• 2nd T20I: December 11 – Nagpur
• 3rd T20I: December 14 – Dharamshala
• 4th T20I: December 17 – Lucknow
• 5th T20I: December 19 – Ahmedabad

The Schedule of India vs South Africa 2025: (Gaurav Gupta/TOI).

1st ODI - 30th Nov at Ranchi.
2nd ODI - 3rd Dec at Raipur.
3rd ODI - 6th Dec at Vizag.

1st T20I - 9th Dec at Cuttack.
2nd T20I - 11th Dec at Nagpur.
3rd T20I - 14th Dec at Dharmshala.
4th T20I - 17th Dec at… pic.twitter.com/A6MvIqQiZ6

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 22, 2025

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium will host an international game for the first time in 17 years. The city's old stadium will host May 2025 white-ball series between Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a great moment for Faisalabad because international cricket was not being organized there for several years.

The match will be One Day International - Wikipedia and T20 between Pakistan and Bangladesh and will be held in three cities, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. The competitions will feature the best of both teams with heart-stopping cricketing action for the spectators.

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium is famous for its cricket-loving supporters and will have an electric feel when it will host the eagerly awaited international game. The stadium has hosted various domestic games previously, but it had been nearly a decade since an international-grade game was planned there last in 2008. Now after nearly two decades, the stadium gates will once again open up for international cricketers and spectators.

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Lahore and Multan will be equally crucial centers in this series. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and Multan's Multan Cricket Stadium are among the best grounds of Pakistan, and they have hosted more than enough wonderful cricket matches already. The white-ball series will be a grand spectacle for all three cities, as the crowd will get to see their home teams play at home.

This Bangladesh-Pakistan tournament will be significant for both sides as they build momentum for the future international tournaments. It is also the perfect time for cricket fans in these cities to witness good cricket firsthand.

Overall, this is a big win for cricket fans in Multan, Lahore, and Faisalabad, and something to look forward to for the sport of cricket in Pakistan.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is not ready to take it easy yet. As per Cricbuzz reports, Rohit has a carefully planned strategy to maintain fitness levels and stay in competition for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

For ensuring that he stays at his prime, Rohit will have his trusted mentor and coach, Abhishek Nayar, regularly in touch. There will be focus on his fitness, shaping his batting talent, and forming his general outlook towards the sport.

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At 37, Rohit knows the harsh realities of playing top-level cricket but his love for the game remains undeterred. He has just led India in the 2023 World Cup, and even if there was disappointment at the end in the final, his leadership and batting were throughout greatly admired. Today, he intends to stay India's captain until the next World Cup cycle.

With experience, consistency, and a hunger for success, Rohit's journey to 2027 would be one to watch. Does he lead India to glory? Only time will say.

India has produced cricket with some of the best ODI batsmen ever, and the team currently playing is nothing short of legendary. With class, consistency, and power-hitting, the batting order has overwhelmed world cricket.

Shubman Gill - Number 1.
Rohit Sharma - Number 3.
Virat Kohli - Number 5.
Shreyas Iyer - Number 8.
KL Rahul - Number 16.

ONE OF THE GREATEST ODI BATTING UNIT EVER 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/5XGxtMB9fp

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2025

1. Shubman Gill – The Rising Star
Shubman Gill is now one of the finest young openers of international cricket. His elegant stroke play, attacking mindset, and unbelievable consistency make him a star player for India.

2. Rohit Sharma – The Hitman
At No. 3, Rohit Sharma is among the greatest ODI destroyers in history. With several double-hundreds in his credit, his capacity to accelerate innings and support the top order is unparalleled.

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3. Virat Kohli – The Chase Master
Virat Kohli, the No. 5, is the mainstay of India's ODI batting. His impeccable technique, hunger to run, and ability to chase down any target make him among the all-time great batsmen in cricketing history.

4. Shreyas Iyer – The Middle-Order Maestro
Sporting No. 8, Shreyas Iyer has brought stability and aggression to India's middle order. His strike rotation ability and acceleration at the appropriate time give huge value to the batting lineup. 

5. KL Rahul – The Trusty Finisher
Sporting No. 16, KL Rahul is India's utility batter who can adapt to any situation. If he opens or shuts shop, his calm demeanor and repertoire of shots make him a vital cog.

A Legendary ODI Batting Line-up
This line-up has the mix of youth and experience, aggression and composure, which makes it the all-time greatest ODI line-up. With their talent and sheer will, they have written themselves into the annals of cricketing history

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has kept the door ajar for his inclusion in the 2027 ODI World Cup, insisting that it will be based on his form and fitness in the next few years.

Talking about his future in ODI cricket, Rohit stated, "It's very difficult to say that at the moment about the 2027 ODI World Cup. But I'm leaving all my doors open. I want to see how well I'm performing. At the moment, I'm performing well. And I'm enjoying everything I'm doing with this team, and the team is enjoying my presence as well, which is good."

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Rohit's remark is a reflection of his present confidence and love of the game, coupled with the indication that he will evaluate his performance before making a final decision on his future. At 36, the dashing opener has been in golden form, steering the Indian team with consistency and experience.

With the 2027 World Cup three years off, cricket supporters will be interested in observing if Rohit can continue to lord over the format and is an integral player for India in the future. Until then, he continues to think about his current form and the team's contributions, leaving all options available to the future.

India's team is warming up for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the event poised to be staged in South Africa in October. Ahead of the World Cup, India will prepare by hosting 24 ODIs in different series against powerful nations.

Why This Schedule Matters

• Experimenting With Different Combinations: Having many young players involved, the team management will find sufficient time to experiment with different combinations and find the right combination.
• Different Conditions: Playing against countries like Australia, South Africa, and England will give India good exposure to differing conditions of play.
• Picking Up Momentum: Performing well in these bilateral series will raise the team morale prior to the World Cup.
• Identifying Key Players: These periods will be defining for veterans to find their place and for the young guns to find a place in the 50-over game.

India's Future ODI Series:

• 3 ODIs vs Bangladesh
• 3 ODIs vs Australia
• 3 ODIs vs South Africa
• 3 ODIs vs Afghanistan
• 3 ODIs vs England
• 3 ODIs vs West Indies
• 3 ODIs vs New Zealand
• 3 ODIs vs Sri Lanka

These fixtures will enable India to experiment with different combinations, strengthen their team, and build momentum before the World Cup. With stiff competition from the world's best teams, India will seek to refine their strategies and form a winning team for the tournament.

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The Road Ahead

Since South Africa is hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup, India will have to adapt to the conditions. Seam-friendly tracks, bouncy pitches, and unpredictable weather are going to be the tasks that India will have to acclimatize to. The series ahead will give players the experience and form patterns to thrive in those conditions.

As the World Cup 2027 countdown begins, everyone's eyes are going to fall on Team India's preparation. Are they going to form a team strong enough to take the trophy home here? The journey has begun, and every single match is going to play a deciding role in the destiny of Indian cricket

The moment that shocked Indian fans came in the 20th over of India’s innings. Virat Kohli had just walked in after Shubman Gill’s dismissal when New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner introduced Michael Bracewell into the attack. The move paid off immediately, as the off-spinner claimed Kohli’s crucial wicket.

Bowling from over the wicket, Bracewell tossed the ball up, tempting Kohli to play a flick. However, the ball turned sharply and struck him on the front pad. The New Zealand players went up in a loud appeal, and the umpire raised his finger.

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Kohli opted for a review, but HawkEye showed three reds, confirming the LBW decision. The Indian star had to walk back, leaving fans disappointed.

pic.twitter.com/UIcYlXt7QQ

— kuchnahi123@12345678 (@kuchnahi1269083) March 9, 2025

India Loses 2 Wickets As Iyer Joins Captain Rohit

Following Kohli’s departure, Shreyas Iyer came to the crease, looking to steady the innings alongside Rohit Sharma, who had already crossed his fifty. At the time of writing, India was 122 for two, with Rohit unbeaten on 76* and Iyer on 9*.

Rohit Sharma's early coach, Dinesh Lad, recently made comments on the Indian captain and his illustrious career. Appreciating Rohit's success, Lad wished the star batsman to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup.

"I want Rohit to play the 2027 ODI World Cup and then retire," Lad said to ANI.

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Rohit Sharma's Childhood coach Dinesh Lad talking about Rohit & his greatness. 🌟

- He said "I want Rohit will play 2027 ODI World Cup & then retire". (ANI).pic.twitter.com/700FF2y47E

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 9, 2025

Rohit, famous for his classy stroke play and captaincy, has been the pillar of Indian cricket. With his experience and match-winning skills, viewers would love him to play for a couple of more years before leaving the game.

Ben Stokes, who last played an ODI in England's underwhelming 2023 World Cup bid, is still a top contender for the white-ball captaincy and Managing Director Rob Key commended Stokes' leadership, adding, "Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen, so it'd be stupid not to look at him." Yet he conceded that Stokes had problems juggling Test and ODI captaincy.

England are also mulling over having different captains for the ODI and T20I sides. Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook are the ones who have been touted as possible candidates. Key stressed the need to make the right choice instead of a hasty one. "We're searching for the best individual who can drive this forward," he said.

A Wake-Up Call for England

England's premature exit from the Champions Trophy laid bare critical problems in the squad. Heavy losses against Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa hinted at defects in team balance and selection. England had opted for an all-pacing approach to subcontinental surfaces, which paid disastrous dividends. Brydon Carse and Mark Wood's injuries reduced the squad further. Adil Rashid was the lone specialist spinner from the start, and Rehan Ahmed was introduced later as an alternative.

ECB Director confirms England not ruling out the option to appoint Ben Stokes as the ODI captain. pic.twitter.com/TDTezdNzNJ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 6, 2025

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Looking back at the team's travails, Key conceded, "We were very poor. We haven't been particularly good in white-ball cricket since Eoin Morgan's time. The batting, in particular, has fallen off a cliff."

Addressing the Decline

England's white-ball woes had been evident well before the Champions Trophy, with heavy losses in India in ODIs and T20Is. It was reported that only Joe Root trained in the nets during the ODI series, but Key refuted these reports. "That story wasn't true," he explained. "I saw the team in Pakistan, and they practiced hard. It wasn't a lack of preparation that caused poor performances."

With England seeking to rebuild, the choice for their new white-ball captain either Stokes or someone new will be important in deciding the direction of the team