Here’s the detailed schedule of Team India for 2018

With Virat Kohli-led Team India landing in South Africa to feature in the bilateral series, the visitors had enjoyed the stellar year of 2017 as a formidable unit in which the ranked number-one Test side registered quality success while thoroughly challenging the top-notch teams.

Soon after the widely-acclaimed Indian Premier League, India is scheduled to fly to England for the all-important series.

In the limited-overs series, the stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma-led India to the scoreline of 5-1 which was comprised of three One-day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals respectively.

(Read Also: Watch: Virat Kohli Delivers Pep-Talk to India’s Under-19 Team Ahead of World Cup)

Owing to the burgeoning home success, India also qualified for the grand finale of the ICC’s Champions Trophy in England and Wales which further led to the significant moments on the field.

As of now, India is facing the team which is led by Faf du Plessis and Kohli’s side is yet to register their Test series win on South African soil with the challenges awaiting the visiting side on the bouncy surfaces yet again, but the team is confident to give their best.

Earlier, Kohli already made it clear by saying they are supposed to play quality cricket in a bid to set their eyes on away Test wins.

However, India’s tour to South Africa is scheduled between January 5 and February 24.

The much-awaited series is comprised of three Tests, six One-day Internationals, and three Twenty20 Internationals.

Before the first Test match begins on Friday, the second Test is scheduled in Centurion between January 13-17 and the third Test will be held in Johannesburg between January 24-28.

In March, India is scheduled to feature in the tri-nation T20I series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh between March 8 and March 20 before the players are supposed to feature in the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which will run through April 4 and May 31.

India is setting the horizon on the decent run in 2018, after remarkable 2017 season which further saw them routing Sri Lanka by 9-0 on the away tour. However, the similar home conditions further forced hosts remarking they are giving their best.

Following the upcoming IPL, India will play five Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, as the bilateral series will kick off on July 3 in Manchester.

The gruelling series in England will conclude with the fifth Test at Kennington Oval in London which will be played between September 7 and 11.

Before the completion of the calendar year with four Tests scheduled in November and December against Australia, India will host Windies for three Tests, five ODIs and a solitary T20I between October and November.

Interestingly, in September 2018, India will be participating in the Asia Cup 2018 which includes arch-rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Moreover, across 53 games, India collected 37 wins under the dynamic leadership of Kohli for gelling the unit well while capping off 2017 in style.

(Read Further: Lucky To Have MS Dhoni In The Team: Ajinkya Rahane)

The 11th edition of IPL will run through April 4 and May 31 which will witness most of the international players featuring in all eight teams.

Here’s India’s schedule for 2018 as the itinerary for India’s Australia tour is yet to be announced:

India’s tour of South Africa:

Three Tests:

Cape Town: 1st Test – January 5-9
Centurion: 2nd Test – January 13-17
Johannesburg: 3rd Test – 13-17

Six ODIs:

Durban: 1st ODI – February 1
Centurion: 2nd ODI – February 4
Cape Town: 3rd ODI – February 7
Johannesburg: 4th ODI – February 10
Port Elizabeth: 5th ODI – February 13
Centurion: 6th ODI – February 16

Three T20Is:

Johannesburg: 1st T20I – February 18
Centurion: 2nd T20I – February 21
Cape Town: 3rd T20I – February 24

Tri-Nation Twenty20 International series between hosts Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh (March 8 to March 20)

India in England:

Three T20Is:

1st T20I is scheduled at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 3
2nd T20I is scheduled at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on July 6
3rd T20I is scheduled at County Ground in Bristol on July 8

Three ODIs:

1st ODI at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on July 12
2nd ODI at Lord’s in London on July 14
3rd ODI at Headingley in Leeds on July 17

Five Tests:

1st Test (August 1 and 5) at Edgbaston in Birmingham
2nd Test (August 9 and 13) at Lord’s in London
3rd Test (August 18 and 22) at Trent Bridge in Nottingham
4th Test (August 30 and September 3) at the Rose Bowl in Southampton
5th Test (September 7 and 11) at Kennington Oval in London.

2018 Asia Cup is scheduled in September which includes as many as five teams

West Indies tour of India – Between October and November (3 Tests, 5 ODIs, and 1 T20I)

India to host Windies in October and November for the bilateral series which is comprised of five ODIs, three Tests and one-off T20I

India will travel Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Test series (4) in November-December (subjected to itinerary).