Following the grueling England tour in August 2025, Team India will get a short holiday before getting immersed in a hectic cricketing schedule. The next task for the Indian cricket team is in September, and then there are a number of significant bilateral series and big tournaments.
The schedule here is well-ordered with an eye on balancing player rest, transition of teams, and tactical preparation for future global events.
When will Team India play next following the England tour 2025?
Team India’s next match after the England tour will be in the Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 10, 2025. The United Arab Emirates will host the Asia Cup in the T20 format. India’s first game in the tournament will be against the UAE in Dubai. Then they will play Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19 in the group stage. There is some hope of revival with this tournament for some of the younger players since top stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have retired from T20 internationals after the 2024 World Cup.
Why such a gap and strategy?
The gap of close to five weeks between the England tour and the Asia Cup is considerable, though it was a planned step. The time difference provides the players with the necessary rest and recovery period, especially after the taxing tour of England that comprised a five-Test series, accompanied by a lot of workloads and a few injuries. Additionally, the upcoming series schedule of Team India is free with the postponement of the England white-ball series and the originally scheduled Bangladesh series, and workload management and recovery could become possible.
Complete list of tournaments and series from September 2025 onward
1. Asia Cup 2025 (September 10–28, 2025, UAE)
Format: T20 internationals
Venues: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Matches: Group stage games against UAE, Pakistan, Oman; Super Four stage and final
Leadership: Suryakumar Yadav will lead a young Indian team with senior stars being rested.
2. West Indies Tour of India (October 2–14, 2025)
Format: Test series
Matches: Two Tests
Venues: Ahmedabad and Delhi
Significance: These games signal the beginning of India’s new World Test Championship cycle campaign (2025-27).
3. India Tour of Australia (October 19–November 8, 2025)
Formats: 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is
Key points: This series will witness the return of old horses Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who will continue to play in the 50-over format.
Grounds: Perth and other Australian grounds.
4. South Africa Tour of India (November 14–December 19, 2025)
Formats: 2 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 5 T20Is
Venues: Different Indian stadiums, such as Eden Gardens (Kolkata) and Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)
Note: South Africa will tour as the World Test champions, thus ensuring an eagerly awaited series.
6. New Zealand Tour of India (January 11–31, 2026)
Formats: 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs
India will proceed with its home games with a limited-overs series.
7. ICC T20 World Cup 2026 (February–March 2026)
Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka
India will play in the world’s best T20 tournament during the Asia Cup build-up period.
8. Afghanistan Tour of India (June 2026)
Formats: 1 Test and 3 ODIs
The calendar is a continuation of bilateral matches and attempts at developing cricketing relationships in the subcontinent.
Analysis and reasons behind this calendar
- Player workload management: After a gruelling England tour, BCCI and team management have made the decision to rest and recover.
- Transition and team building: The Asia Cup provides a platform for emerging players to get international exposure, with senior T20 stars being rested. This combination of practice and youth enables it to be competitive in the long term.
- Strategic build-up: The West Indies series comes in after the Asia Cup, and India gets into the groove of Test cricket before going to Australia with a limited-overs series.
- High-profile home series: The South Africa series (at the end of the year) is an important test of big home crowds and is scheduled to get India used to ICC events ahead.
Summary
Following the completion of the England tour by early August 2025, Team India gets a rare and intentional break of around five weeks. Their next cricket action will be on September 10, 2025, at the Asia Cup in UAE, and then it is a crammed schedule with a home Test series against West Indies, a tour of Australia for ODIs and T20Is, and a full-fledged South Africa tour at home with all three formats. This balanced, well-planned schedule reflects the BCCI’s emphasis on player fitness and gradual team building for future ICC tournaments in 2025–26.
