BCCI Considers Additional ODI Fixtures To Give Kohli, Rohit More Game Time

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning to increase the number of One Day International (ODI) matches this year, potentially giving veteran players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma additional game time ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The move comes as the board aims to provide its senior players with more experience in 50-over cricket and fine-tune the team for the marquee tournament.

Following the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup and the two-month Indian Premier League (IPL), India will shift focus to ODIs in June, beginning with a series against Afghanistan and followed by matches against England. Afghanistan’s tour will include a one-off Test and three ODIs, marking the first bilateral series between the two nations since January 2024. The Test is scheduled to take place from June 6 to June 10 at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, while the ODI matches are set for June 14 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, June 17 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, and June 20 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

In addition to the June fixtures, India is scheduled to tour New Zealand in October for an all-format series featuring five T20Is, two ODIs, and two Tests. According to reports from CricHub, the BCCI is considering expanding the ODI segment of the tour by adding two more matches while reducing the T20I series to three games. If confirmed, this adjustment would provide fans with the opportunity to see Kohli and Rohit in action in two additional ODIs this year.

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The proposal to increase ODI fixtures is said to have originated from New Zealand Cricket (NZC), although neither board has issued an official statement. A revised tour schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Both Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from other formats in recent years. After India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2024, they retired from T20Is, and in 2025, both announced their retirements from Test cricket shortly before India’s tour of England. The potential increase in ODIs offers them a chance to continue contributing to the national side in 50-over cricket ahead of the World Cup.

With the IPL concluding in May, the upcoming ODI series and the proposed New Zealand tour adjustments signal a strategic push by the BCCI to ensure India’s senior players remain match-ready while building depth and experience in the 50-over format.

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