The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled the national team's itinerary for the 2024-25 season, finally answering the burning question on every fan's mind: when will legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma next don the India jersey? This announcement comes hot on the heels of their emotional retirement from T20 Internationals following India's triumphant 2025 T20 World Cup campaign in Bangladesh.
The Long Wait for Fan Favorites
According to the freshly released schedule, Indian cricket enthusiasts will have to be patient. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are officially slated to return to international action only in January 2025. Their comeback will be during a high-profile, all-format home series against a top-tier opponent. This means there is a significant gap of nearly seven months before fans can see their beloved stars play for India again.
The period following the T20 World Cup victory is packed with cricket, but none featuring the two modern greats. The Indian team will embark on a red-ball tour to Australia for a five-match Test series later in 2024. Following that, they will host New Zealand and Bangladesh for white-ball series. However, the senior duo will be absent from all these engagements, marking a clear transitional phase for the team in the shorter formats.
BCCI's Strategy and Future Focus
The extended break for Kohli and Sharma is a strategic decision by the BCCI and the national selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar. With their T20I careers concluded, the focus for the two veterans now shifts entirely to the ODI and Test formats. The board's plan is to manage their workload meticulously, ensuring they are fresh and fully prepared for the demanding challenges ahead, particularly the crucial World Test Championship cycle and the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
This planned absence opens the door for the next generation of Indian cricketers. Young players who have been performing in the IPL and domestic circuit will get an extended run in the T20 and ODI squads against Australia, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. This period is being viewed as a critical audition phase for spots in the team's future core.
What's Next for Team India?
The immediate roadmap for the Indian cricket team involves major series without its two biggest stars. The five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia from November 2024 to January 2025 will be the first major challenge. This will be followed by limited-overs series at home. The return of Kohli and Sharma in January will likely be for a marquee series, potentially against England or South Africa, which will include Tests, ODIs, and possibly a few T20 matches, though the latter will feature new captains and players.
This scheduling clearly indicates that the BCCI is viewing the 2024-25 season as a blend of transition and experience. While the team builds a new identity in T20 cricket under a new captain, the experience of Kohli and Sharma remains indispensable for the stability and success of the Test and ODI teams. Their return in 2025 will be a major event, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their illustrious careers, focused solely on the longer formats of the game.
