Team India to play 101 matches at home till 2018

Bangalore, Nov 5: The country that believes that cricket is another religion, would be thrilled about the number of home matches that are scheduled in the next few years, as Team India is expected to play 101 matches against various countries in the next six years, according to reports.

According to a report on Daily Mail, Team India is all set to play 101 matches at home in the next six years.

STAR network holding the broadcast rights for the next six years (2012-2014) and (2014-2018) was earlier expected to host 96 matches to be played against Australia, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies.

Now, with the inclusion of Pakistan series, the tally has gone up to 101, as India is scheduled to play three ODIs and two T20Is against Pakistan in the month of December 2012-January 2013 which also marks the revival of cricketing ties between the rivals after 5 years.

While BCCI has also sold the media rights for a few more matches against Pakistan, they would be added to the list later.

"When the BCCI allotted the media rights to STAR in April, the government approval for bilateral series against Pakistan had not come. It came only on October 30. So, more home matches against Pakistan would surely be included, provided the political scenario remains conducive," a top source told Mail Today.

Interestingly, Australia will be touring the country 4 times in the next 6 years while New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka are expected to tour twice.

Australia will be visiting India in February-March 2013 to play four Test matches in Delhi, Mohali, Kanpur and Chennai while they are expected to tour the country again in October 2013 to play 7 ODIs and one T20 International.

Aussies will be back again in Feb-March 2017 to play 4 Test matches and also visit again in October 2017 to play 7 ODIs and one T20I.

Though India is expected to tour Australia during this period, home series is only taken into consideration here.

Here is a table that shows India's schedule (home matches) in the next six years.