India to play 23 International matches from September 2017 to December 2017

What's the story?

After BCCI’s Tours and Fixtures Committee meeting in Kolkata earlier today, it has been revealed that India will be playing 23 International matches from September 2017 to December 2017. With this, India might not tour South Africa this year as the tour might begin in January 2018.

India vs Australia- five ODIs and three T20Is from September 17 to October 11

India vs New Zealand- three ODIs and three T20Is from October 22 to November 7

India vs Sri Lanka- three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is from November 15 to December 24

Adding to this, the fans will witness two new venues where matches will be played. Barsapara in Assam and Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum will host a T20I against Australia and Sri Lanka respectively.

In case you didn't know...

Indian team is currently in Sri Lanka to play three Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is. After the end of this series, Virat Kohli and co. will get a brief break and according to Future Tour Program, India will host Australia in October-November before touring South Africa early next.

It was revealed that Sri Lanka might have a full tour to India later this year that have an impact on India's tour to the rainbow nation.

Extra cover: Sri Lanka's tour of India pushed ahead; South Africa tour in doubt?

Details

The home season starts with Australia touring India for the limited-overs leg and will play in five ODIs and three T20 Internationals from September 17 to October 11. The five ODIs will be played in Chennai, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Indore, Kolkata while the three T20Is will be held in Hyderabad, Ranchi, Guwahati.

After the series against the Aussies, their trans-Tasmanian rivals New Zealand are expected tour India from October 22 to November 7 to take part in three ODIs and as many T20Is. Pune, Mumbai and Kanpur will host the three ODIs while Delhi, Cuttack and Rajkot will host the T20Is

The home season will end in December with India's South Asian rivals Sri Lanka flying across the Indian Ocean to play in three Tests (Kolkata, Delhi and Nagpur), three ODIs (Dharamsala, Mohali and Vizag) and three T20 Internationals (Thiruvanantpuram, Indore and Mumbai) from November 15 to December 24 before Kohli's men fly down to South Africa.

What's next?

After winning the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Kohli will look to seal the three-match Test series by winning the second Test that starts in SSC, Colombo on August 3.

Extra cover: Sri Lanka hints at major changes ahead of second Test against India

Author's Take

With India set to play 23 matches from September 2017 to December 2017, the Indian fans are set to have a treat. At the same time, playing these many matches in a short period of time will take a toll on the players.

With India scheduled to take on South Africa, it won't be a surprise if all the Test regulars are rested for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.