Tri-Series To Return: BCCI’s Big Plan For India's Future Tour Programme Revealed

Devajit Saikia and Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma - (Source: AFP)

Indian cricket is going through an interesting time. Frequent injuries and shambolic white-ball performance during the UK tour has turned into a headache for the BCCI. Recently, Devajit Saikia opened up on the same and blamed the packed cricket schedule as a major challenge

“The only challenge which we are facing is that there are too many matches in the year and that is why in the next FTP we will do certain things; we will take certain measures,” Saikia told reporters after a review meeting at the BCCI headquarters.

BCCI Promises Better Planned Future Tour Programme

Devajit Saikia mentioned the lack of proper rest between two series is resulting in injuries and disappointing results like defeat against Ireland and England.

“We have instructed our FTP persons who will be meeting very soon in various international forums that our FTP should be such that it is scheduled in a way that there is proper rest for the players as well as some kind of acclimatisation or some kind of friendly matches before any major series in SENA countries (South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand),” he added.

BCCI’s Plans For Next FTP Revealed

In the latest events, a report from Cricbuzz mentioned that the ICC is hosting a workshop on the Future Tour Programme in Dubai from September 22 to 23. The BCCI too will send its team to the workshop to plan India's next phase from 2027 to 2031.

The workshop will feature members from full-member nations, and also top eight associate nations have been invited as well. The Cricbuzz report mentioned that the BCCI is pushing for more multilateral tours rather than bilateral events.

Notably, India have not played a tri-series since the 2018 Nidahas Trophy involving Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, the board feels that multilateral events are more exciting and financially viable as well.

Therefore, here are some of BCCI’s key agendas for the FTP workshop.

• More acclimatisation & rest before major overseas series
• More multilateral cricket (tri-series and quadrangular series) could be on the horizon

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Why Will Planning Next FTP Be A Challenge For BCCI?

Having a relaxed cricketing calendar for next four years is easier said than done. India already have several top bilateral commitments. Plus ICC events will make it difficult for BCCI to create enough gap for the Indian team to rest and have practise matches before SENA tours.

India will host England for five Tests at the beginning of 2028 and travel to Australia at the end of that year. There will then be return tours, with India touring England tentatively in 2029 and hosting Australia in 2031.

In the next four years, there is IPL every year for around 2 months, then you have T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia, Champions Trophy in 2029,  T20 World Cup against in 2030 and ODI World Cup in 2031.

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