India's tour of Bangladesh may be revived in January 2027 with first week eyed

India's tour of Bangladesh could be revived in January 2027, with the first week of the month emerging as a possible window for a six-match white-ball assignment. The proposed series would comprise three One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals.

The tour has been delayed twice and was initially postponed in July last year. Tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were exacerbated after Bangladesh opted not to play its T20 World Cup matches in India this year. This year's general election brought a change in Bangladesh's leadership, and the BCB has undergone a leadership change with former opener Tamim Iqbal replacing Aminul Islam as president. Those developments have raised hopes of a possible reset in relations between the two cricket boards.

Neither the BCB nor the BCCI has officially confirmed the revival, but sources indicate discussions between the two boards are progressing positively and the tour could become a reality. A final go-ahead would have to come from the Indian government, and the BCCI is understood to be awaiting the necessary clearance before the proposed tour can be finalised.

Finding a suitable window could prove challenging because Zimbabwe is scheduled to tour India for a three-match ODI series from January 3 to 9, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia is scheduled to begin on January 21. Those fixtures significantly limit mid-January availability for a separate six-match white-ball tour in Bangladesh.

Sources suggest the three-match ODI assignment against Zimbabwe could be rescheduled to accommodate a Bangladesh tour, although no official decision has been announced. India's preparations for the Australia series would also have to be factored into any revised schedule, with the team expected to begin Test preparations ahead of the January 21 assignment.

A leading Bangladesh daily, Prothom Alo, quoted BCB president Tamim Iqbal as expressing optimism about India's visit and saying: "We are discussing a window. Given how our discussions with the BCCI are progressing, I am hopeful that the Indian team will come to Bangladesh for the series. Both Boards are working with a positive mindset," Tamim was quoted as saying. Tamim is understood to be keen to rebuild relations with the BCCI not only through bilateral cricket but also at the Asian Cricket Council and International Cricket Council levels.

If the January assignment receives formal approval, it would mark India's return to Bangladesh for bilateral cricket after more than four years. The immediate next step is receipt of government clearance and a confirmed schedule between the BCCI and BCB.