Honestly, if you thought 2024 was a rollercoaster for Indian cricket fans, 2025 is basically the entire theme park. It’s a year of massive transitions. We’ve seen legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli step away from the T20I format, leaving a Suryakumar Yadav-led young brigade to figure things out, while the "big boys" save their energy for the long-form grind and the 50-over chase.
The Indian cricket schedule 2025 isn't just a list of matches. It’s a survival test.
We kicked things off in January with the final leg of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. That Sydney Test on January 3rd was a nervy way to start the year, wasn't it? But the real meat of the home season began when England landed on our shores for a white-ball blitz. Eight games in total—five T20Is and three ODIs. Kolkata, Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai saw some serious fireworks before the ODI series shifted the tempo in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad.
The Champions Trophy Chaos
Remember the drama surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy in February and March? It felt like every day there was a new headline about whether India would travel to Pakistan. Eventually, the "Hybrid Model" won out. India played all their group matches in Dubai.
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Facing Bangladesh on February 20th was a solid warmup, but the Pakistan clash on February 23rd? Pure madness. Dubai was a sea of blue and green. India managed to reclaim the title after 12 years by beating New Zealand in the final on March 9th. It was a massive statement, especially with Mohammed Shami hitting the 200-wicket milestone in ODIs during the tournament.
IPL 2025 and the Mid-Year Break
Once the international dust settled, the IPL took over. From March 22nd to early June, everything else stopped. We saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally—yes, finally—lift their first title on June 3rd at the Narendra Modi Stadium. But the season wasn't without hiccups. A brief suspension in May due to regional tensions meant the schedule had to be squeezed, leading to a frantic finish just a week before the red-ball season resumed.
If you're a fan of the women's game, you've had plenty to cheer for too. The WPL occupied the February-March window, and the Indian women's team has a massive target on their backs as they prep for the ODI World Cup starting September 30th.
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The Brutal Tour of England
The most grueling part of the Indian cricket schedule 2025 is undoubtedly the five-match Test series in England. This is the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.
- 1st Test: June 20-24 at Headingley, Leeds.
- 2nd Test: July 2-6 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
- 3rd Test: July 10-14 at Lord’s, London.
- 4th Test: July 23-27 at Old Trafford, Manchester.
- 5th Test: July 31 – August 4 at The Oval, London.
England’s "Bazball" against India’s disciplined bowling is a clash of philosophies. After a 2-2 draw in their previous encounter, the stakes couldn't be higher. We’ve seen Shubman Gill really step into that leadership role here, while the bowling attack has had to rotate heavily to stay fresh.
The Home Run: West Indies and South Africa
After the English clouds, India returns home. October sees a two-match Test series against the West Indies in Ahmedabad and Delhi. It's a bit of a breather, but you can't take them lightly in the longest format anymore.
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Then comes the big one to end the year. The South Africans are here for a marathon tour in November and December. We’re talking two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is.
South Africa has actually been a bit of a "bogey team" for India lately. They managed to clinch the Test series 2-0, winning in Kolkata and Guwahati. It was a tough pill to swallow, marking one of India’s rare home series defeats. However, India bounced back in the T20Is, with Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma showing exactly why the future of Indian T20 cricket is in safe hands.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with this madness, here is how to navigate the rest of the year:
- Watch the Workload: Keep an eye on the BCCI's "rest and rotation" policy. You won't see Jasprit Bumrah playing every single T20I. If you're buying tickets for a bilateral series, check the squad announcements 48 hours prior.
- The Transition is Real: Expect more "young" squads for the Asia Cup and T20 series. The days of seeing the same 11 players across all three formats are basically over.
- Ticket Strategy: For the high-profile series like the South Africa T20s or the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup prep matches, use official platforms like BookMyShow or Insider. Avoid the secondary market; the markups are insane and often unreliable.
The Indian cricket schedule 2025 proves that the game never sleeps. Between the Champions Trophy win and the Test struggles against South Africa, it's been a year of extreme highs and sobering lows.
Next Steps for You:
Check the official BCCI app for exact gate opening times if you are attending the late December matches. If you are watching from home, ensure your streaming subscriptions cover both the home broadcast rights (usually Sports18/JioCinema) and the ICC events (Disney+ Hotstar), as they are split this year.