The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken an unusual decision to provide a one-month break based on players’ request after a grueling 46-day tour of England.
Also, it is confirmed that India will not travel to Sri Lanka for the white ball series in August 2025, to compensate for the gap after their limited-overs series against Bangladesh got postponed to 2026.
Team India’s next international fixtures start on September 10, where they will face off against the UAE in the Asia Cup 2025 that will be played in a 20-over format.
So, this one-month break is good news for Indian cricketers. Whereas, fans would be heartbroken as they would need to wait till October to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in action sporting the national team’s blue jersey once again.
Why India’s Limited Overs Tour of Bangladesh in 2025 was Called Off?
Earlier, the two cricketing nations’ boards (India and Bangladesh) cited scheduling convenience and international commitments as the main reasons to postpone the white ball tour to 2026.
As per the original schedule, Team India was supposed to play six matches against Bangladesh in white ball cricket from the 17th to 31st of August 2025, which includes 3 contests in the ODIs and T20Is format each.
But, various sources claim that the strained political relationship between these two nations resulted in the Indian government avoiding sending their players to the neighboring nation, where safety and security have been a huge concern.
What About the Rumored White Ball Tour of Sri Lanka 2025?
As soon as the Bangladesh tour was called off, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) reached out to the BCCI by requesting to organize those six matches in the white ball series in August 2025.
As Sri Lanka had a free space in their cricket calendar, they wanted to make the best use of it by extending an offer to the Indian cricket board.
But, it seems that BCCI had other plans and didn’t plan any bilateral series before the Asia Cup 2025.
However, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have announced their retirements from T20 Internationals (T20Is) and Tests, are now active players only in the One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Had the BCCI confirmed the series with Sri Lanka, fans could have witnessed the return of Ro-Ko (Rohit and Kohli) to the national squad in August, playing three 50-over matches that were originally scheduled against Bangladesh.
Why BCCI Gave Complete Rest to the Indian Players in August 2025?
One of the closest sources to the BCCI revealed The Times of India (TOI) that the Indian cricket board gave full rest to Indian players after the England tour, as there is a busy schedule coming up from September 2025 onwards:
“YES! The players asked for a much-needed break after the test series against England. Also, India’s international schedule is fully busy from this year’s September onwards, which involves their tour to Australia for the limited-overs series in October,” the BCCI source conveyed to the TOI.
Perhaps, this long break in August 2025 will prevent the burnout of players caused due to excessive workload.
When Will Rohit and Kohli Return to the International Matches?
As India’s next assignment will be the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in T20 format, fans need to wait for the Australian tour in the same year to watch Rohit and Kohli return to action.
It was on 09th March 2025, the Ro-Ko lastly played for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, where they lifted the highly prestigious trophy by triumphing over New Zealand by 4 wickets.
With Team India’s 3-match ODI series scheduled in Australia on October 19th, 23rd, and 25th, it is confirmed that the duo of veterans will be part of India’s squad in the 50-overs set-up.
So, the entire cricket world has no option rather to extend their waiting period for another two months to watch the two heavyweights of the Indian cricket team donning the iconic blue jersey again.
One Month Break Necessary for BCCI Selectors Before Asia Cup 2025
It’s not just about the players, but also the BCCI selectors, who need a one-month gap to analyze the best performers before making an official announcement about the Asia Cup 2025 squads.
Moreover, the regular T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is currently undergoing rehabilitation after a sports hernia surgery. As there is one month left for the 17th edition of the Asia Cup to commence, SKY’s inclusion in the squad will be based on his progress in the rehab and the level of fitness he regains.
Meanwhile, the selectors need to make use of this long break to search for the best back-up captain if Suryakumar gets ruled out for the Asia Cup.
While Shubman Gill is officially the white ball vice-captain, he might be the frontrunner to replace SKY as captain. Also, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Shreyas Iyer emerge as the top contenders to take over the captaincy role, given their leadership experience in the past.
So, the national team selectors need this one month to come up with alternative plans and fit the best talents into the squad for the forthcoming high-profile tournament.