India vs Sri Lanka series cancelled: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma comeback gets delayed
In a recent turn of events, India’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which was initially expected to be held in August 2025, has reportedly been called off. Sri Lanka Cricket had aimed to take advantage of a short window in the teams’ busy calendars to host the bilateral series. However, logistical challenges and scheduling conflicts have led to the cancellation of the tour. The development has further delayed the much-anticipated return of senior Indian players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket, as they were expected to feature in this series.
Meanwhile, India’s scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh has also been postponed. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) mutually agreed to push the series to September 2026. Originally planned for August 2025, the series was to include three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The decision came in the wake of rising security concerns and growing regional tensions. Reports suggest that anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh played a role in the postponement.
With both tours now off the calendar, the Indian team’s limited-overs schedule faces a temporary lull, and questions remain over when key players will next return to action. Sri Lanka Cricket has reportedly denied claims about hosting a white-ball series against India in the last week of August. Speculation around the series had intensified after the BCCI postponed its white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which was originally set to begin on August 17.
India recently wrapped up a five-match Test series against England, which ended in a 2-2 draw, marking an intense red-ball campaign. With both the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka tours now off the calendar, Indian fans have been left disappointed, especially as this development delays the return of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international action. Both players, who have retired from Test and T20I formats, now only participate in ODIs. The canceled series would have marked their comeback to the national team after a break, but with no fixtures lined up, fans will now have to wait longer to see the iconic duo back in blue.
With no bilateral series scheduled before the Asia Cup, India’s next major assignment will be the 2025 edition of the tournament, starting September 9 in the UAE in the T20 format. Fans will have to wait until October to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma back in action, as both are now active only in ODIs. Their last international appearance was in the Champions Trophy final on March 9, 2025. The duo is confirmed to play in the India vs Australia ODI series starting on October 19 (Perth), 23 (Adelaide), and 25 (Sydney), followed by a five-match T20I series starting October 29. On their last tour to Australia, the hosts won the ODIs 2-1, while India clinched the T20Is by the same margin.
