Rohit, Kohli could make India return in August despite Bangladesh trip getting rescheduled; here's how

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s plan of making their return to international cricket next month remains on track despite India’s tour of Bangladesh getting rescheduled for next year , with Sri Lanka reportedly offering to host the Men in Blue during this period.

Rohit and Kohli have not represented India since helping the Men in Blue win the ICC Champions Trophy in March, with the two stalwarts not part of the ongoing tour of England – having announced their retirement from Test cricket in May.

India were scheduled to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and many T20Is from 17 to 31 August, immediately after the conclusion of their ongoing tour of England, with matches taking place in Dhaka and Chattogram. It would have been their first visit to Bangladesh since December 2022.

The BCCI, however, had on Saturday announced the rescheduling of India’s white-ball tour to their neighbouring country to September 2026, with the exact dates yet to be announced.

Sri Lanka steps in after India reschedule Bangladesh visit

According to newswire.lk, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has offered the BCCI to host the Indian team for as many matches as they would have played in Bangladesh – three ODIs and as many T20Is. Discussions currently are underway between the two boards regarding logistics as well as the feasibility of a short tour.

What boosts the chances of the proposed tour going ahead is this year’s edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), which was to take place in the months of July and August, getting rescheduled.

The dates for the proposed Sri Lanka tour, however, might not be the same as it was for the original itinerary of the Bangladesh trip, with the Lankans set tour Zimbabwe for a white-ball tour that gets underway on 29 August.

India had toured the island nation last year, playing three T20Is and as many ODIs. While the Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue swept the T20I leg of the tour 3-0, they suffered a 0-2 loss in the 50-over leg of the tour, resulting in Sri Lanka beating India in a bilateral ODI series for the first time since 1997 .