The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the schedule for the 2026-27 India-Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This edition of the historic five-Test series will begin on January 21 in Nagpur. It will be followed by matches in Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad.
Strangely, most of the country’s traditional Test centres were given a miss for this marquee series with Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata not considered. Australia last won a Test series in India in 2004-05. They will arrive with high hopes of defeating their hosts. Yet, that will be a huge challenge given Shubman Gill’s men’s dominance in their own conditions.
Still, Australia, led by Pat Cummins, can take great heart from the fact that India were roundly thrashed by New Zealand and South Africa in home Test series not too long ago. Also, the fact that India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir does not have an excellent red-ball record goes in Australia’s favour. But travelling to India for this iconic series will not be easy for Cummins’ men, since they will have just finished a Test against New Zealand in Sydney on January 8.
The Kangaroos will be pleased by the fact that the final Test will be played in Ahmedabad, where they have fond memories of defeating India in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. India have held the upper hand in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy recently, but Australia beat the Men in Blue 3-1 Down Under to reclaim the title for the first time in a decade. This will act as a huge boost in confidence for the Kangaroos. The last time Australia toured India for the BGT in 2023, they were defeated 1-2.
- First Test: January 21-25, VCA Stadium, Nagpur
- Second Test: January 29-February 2, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Third Test: February 11-15, ACA Stadium, Guwahati
- Fourth Test: February 19-23, JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi
- Fifth Test: February 27-March 3, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
