India is set to host Australia in a high-profile five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series scheduled for early next year. However, several of the country’s long-standing test cricket venues have been excluded from the list of host grounds for this fiercely contested rivalry.
The series will commence on January 21 in Nagpur, followed by matches in Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad, as announced by the Indian cricket board on Thursday. Notably, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru—cities known for their historic test grounds and passionate crowds—were not selected to host any fixtures in this series.
Guwahati will host its second test match at the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) Stadium in Barsapara. The city previously held its inaugural test in November 2025 when India faced South Africa. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad, which boasts the world’s largest cricket stadium by capacity, continues to emerge as a preferred venue for high-profile matches. It has recently hosted the finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Australia currently hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after securing a 3-1 series win on home soil earlier last year. India’s upcoming home season will kick off with eight limited-overs matches against the West Indies in September and October. This will be followed by three ODIs and an equal number of T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka. Additionally, Zimbabwe is scheduled to play three ODIs in India in January.
