India to play four Tests against South Africa in January
India will play a full-fledged series against South Africa in January that includes 4 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is, a BCCI official confirmed. After India decided to host Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in a busy home season, reports emerged that India will cut short the South Africa tour.
India will host Sri Lanka for a full series later this year, with the BCCI adding nearly two dozen matches to the tail-end of a packed home schedule for Virat Kohli’s team. India will now host Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka back-to-back at venues across the country between September-December. The busy itinerary raised doubt about India’s tour of South Africa and many believed that India will trim down the trip to accommodate the home series. But a BCCI official made it clear that the series will go as planned and India will play a full series against the Proteas.
"Yes, the tour to South Africa is very much on. It will be a full-fledged series, involving 4 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20Is," an unnamed BCCI office bearer told TOI.
He further added, “The Indian team will be flying out to South Africa on December 28, just after Christmas. The first Test match is likely to begin from January 3.”
It is also reported that the BCCI wanted to have two practice matches before the start of the Test series. But with the Sri Lanka series ending on December 23, it will be difficult for India to play two warm up matches there.
The tour will be the first real test for Virat Kohli & Co on overseas soil as India haven’t played Tests outside the sub-continent in the last two and half years, apart from a series against West Indies last year. After the series, India will take on Sri Lanka in the Independence Cup - an ODI tournament involving Pakistan and South Africa, besides the hosts, which, in all probability, will begin on March 15.
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