India Test Schedule: Kolkata, Delhi Swap Matches ahead of West Indies, South Africa Series

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India's cricket season will see a change in venues for two Test matches. The BCCI announced that Kolkata's Eden Gardens and Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium will switch their scheduled Tests against West Indies and South Africa. Initially, Delhi was to host the first Test against South Africa from November 14-18. Now, it will host the second Test against West Indies starting October 10.

The decision to swap venues is believed to be due to air pollution concerns in Delhi during mid-November. In previous years, high pollution levels have posed health risks, as seen during a Test match against Sri Lanka when players wore masks due to poor air quality. The BCCI's Cricket Operations team reviewed AQI data from past years and deemed the venue swap necessary.

India's Home Season Schedule

India's home season kicks off with two World Test Championship matches against West Indies, beginning on October 2 in Ahmedabad, followed by the Delhi Test. Afterward, India will engage in a full series against South Africa, featuring two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20 Internationals across various locations in India.

Kolkata will now host the opening Test against South Africa. Meanwhile, Guwahati's Barsapara Stadium will debut as a Test venue with the second match scheduled from November 22-26. The ODIs are set for Ranchi on November 30, Raipur on December 3, and Visakhapatnam on December 6.

Upcoming T20 Internationals

The five T20 Internationals will take place at Cuttack on December 9, New Chandigarh on December 11, Dharamsala on December 14, Lucknow on December 17, and Ahmedabad on December 19. These matches form part of India's comprehensive cricket schedule for the season.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has informed its inability to host the women's ODI series against Australia starting September 14. This series was intended as preparation for the 50-over World Cup commencing September 30. The first two matches will now occur in Mullanpur New Chandigarh and the third in New Delhi.

Men's A Series vs Australia and South Africa

The Indian men's team fringe players will have ample opportunities with BCCI hosting both Australia A and South Africa A for four unofficial Tests and six List A games. Each touring side will play two Tests and three List A games. The Australia A series is scheduled in Lucknow and Kanpur while Bengaluru's COE will host the Proteas A team for unofficial Tests.

Rajkot is set to host three ODIs. The Australia A Tests are planned for Lucknow from September 16-19 and September 23-26, providing Test specialists a chance to prepare for the West Indies games. Similarly, the SA A series serves as a precursor to the main event.

This reshuffling of venues ensures that health concerns are addressed while maintaining a robust cricketing schedule for fans and players alike.

With inputs from PTI