Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Return Postponed! Check Out New Schedule for Bangladesh Tour

In their last match against Bangladesh at the 2025 Champions Trophy, India won by six wickets, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma among the runs.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s Return Postponed! Check Out New Schedule for Bangladesh Tour

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's return to India colours has been delayed, after India-Bangladesh white-ball series called off. (via India Today)

The Board of Control for Cricket and India (BCCI) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have mutually decided to call off India’s upcoming white-ball tour to Bangladesh, postponing it by a year. It means fans will have to wait longer to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, back in action for India.

India was supposed to tour Bangladesh in August, to play three ODIs and as many T20Is. Starting August 17, two ODIs and T20Is were to played at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, while the remaining two matches at the Bir Shreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chittagong. The Indian team last toured Bangladesh in December 2022, during which they won the Test series 2-0, but famously lost the ODI series 1-2.

Ending the uncertainties, the BCCI and BCB jointly announced its decision to defer the series from August 2025 to September 2026. While the official statement cites international cricketing commitments as the primary reason for postponement, reports indicate that the Indian government’s advice regarding travel to Bangladesh played a significant role in the BCCI’s reconsideration of the tour. A revised schedule for the series will be announced in due course as well.

The postponement of India’s tour to Bangladesh seemed inevitable, given the ongoing diplomatic and geopolitical tensions between the two nations. Security concerns and the Indian government’s strained relationship with the current Bangladeshi leadership are reasons for the cancellation. Furthermore, a trade embargo, initiated by India to restrict the entry of Bangladeshi goods, is another major factor.

Unfortunately, the deferral of India’s tour to Bangladesh means that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma‘s return to India colors, has been delayed. Kohli and Sharma had most recently announced their retirement from Test cricket, meaning that they would only feature in ODIs for India, having previously retired from T20Is as well. The last time these two players represented India was during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where the Men in Blue defeated New Zealand in the final to lift the trophy.

Fans might however, get to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play for India soon, once the schedule and the venues for the 2025 Asia Cup are finalized, at an upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting. All of these developments have been largely influenced by a prevailing sentiment among Indians which opposes future sporting engagements with Pakistan and Bangladesh, given the strained relations.

Should the 2025 Asia Cup be postponed as well, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s return to white-ball cricket would be delayed until the away series against Australia in October. The series Down Under is expected be followed by a home series versus South Africa in November-December.

Virat Kohli Applauds Shubman Gill For the First Time After Prolific Edgbaston Display

For the first time after having announced his retirement from Test cricket, Virat Kohli shared a social media post to shower praise on Indian red-ball skipper Shubman Gill. The 36-year-old labeled Gill as a ‘star-boy’ following his Egdbaston heroics. 

Virat Kohli social media Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli praised and congratulated Shubman Gill on social media, following Edgbaston record. (via NDTV Sports)

Shubman Gill stunned the world with a 269-run knock in the first innings of India’s second Test against England at Edgbaston, and followed it up with another 161-run innings. The 25-year-old’s mesmerizing performance prompted Virat Kohli to share a social media message, congratulating the young Indian captain for breaking records and rewriting history, while expressing his hope for Gill’s continued success.

Interestingly, Gill surpassed several of Virat Kohli’s Test records during his performance at Edgbaston. With 430 runs in the match, the 25-year-old twice broke Kohli’s record for the highest individual score by an Indian in red-ball cricket at that venue. Furthermore, his double century also eclipsed the Kohli’s record for the highest score by an Indian Test captain.