The Apex Cricket Council released the Future Tours Program (FTP) on Wednesday as per which Team India will participate in 141 games across formats in the 2024-27 FTP. This includes 61 T20Is, 42 ODIs, and 38 Tests. The most ODI bilateral series are expected to be three-match series. However, as is the unwritten rule, the Men in Blue will not participate in any game against Pakistan.
The 12 members in the FTP 2024-27 will account for a total of 777 games as compared to the 694 in the current one. The breakup notes 173 Tests, 281 ODIs, and 323 T20Is. This also includes crucial games of the ongoing WTC 2023-25 Cycle and the next one. Moreover, crucial tri-series action and a host of Apex Cricket Council events are jam-packed into this.
The Indian Premier League gets an extended window
Over the following four years, more room will be provided for the Indian Premier League (IPL). The new FTP cycle gives the independently managed IPL, the biggest and wealthiest T20 league in the world, a prolonged window in April and May with little international cricket planned during this time.
In 2025, the PSL, Pakistan's top domestic T20 league, will compete against the IPL. That's because Pakistan has a tonne of international obligations, starting in late 2024 with tours of Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and New Zealand before hosting the tri-series in February. The Champions Trophy will also be played in Pakistan, and it will end in March 2025.
The customary India vs. Australia Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which for a long time consisted of four matches, will now consist of five Test matches due to India's scheduling. India will play five-match Test series against both England and Australia, and there are several five-match T20 series as well. The Men in Blue would be visiting the West Indies (July–August 2023) for a full tri-format series that would include 2 Tests, ODIs, and 3 T20Is which marks the first tour for the team in the FTP.
Here's how fans reacted:
only 42 Odis in span of 4 years is a shame
— Krish Pandey (@krishipandey) July 1, 2023
Itni advance planning JEE/NEET aspirant ki bhi nahi hothi.
— Bryan Dsouza (@bryan_dsza17) June 30, 2023
NCA toh injured players se hi bhar jayega
— Akshat (@kumar09akshat) July 1, 2023
Rishabh pant to be the GOAT WK in tests by End of this cycle
— Gaurav (@Gauravklkarni) June 30, 2023
Atleast 20+ centuries loading for king 👑
— YoKu (@YOKU_19) June 30, 2023
The selectors have to make smart choices in picking players according to the format.
— The Voice of Cricket (@balltracking) July 1, 2023
Agar yahi 42 Odis 60 hota toh kohli 10 💯 mar deta ab bs 5 6 hi mar payega 😅😂
— Shivam 🍂 (@shivammm_) June 30, 2023
@ShreyasIyer15 Captaincy please 😹
— Girish Reddy (@girishreddyt12) June 30, 2023