Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to Bid Farewell to England as BCCI Refines 2027 World Cup Plans

As part of India’s strategic preparations for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a white-ball tour of England in 2026, which is set to be the final tour to the country for veteran stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

This development comes amid the ongoing India-England Test series, which both Kohli and Rohit are not part of, having announced their retirement from the longest format just weeks before its commencement.

INDIA'S 2026 ENGLAND TOUR: SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

India will tour England in July 2026, with a packed white-ball schedule that includes five T20 Internationals followed by three One Day Internationals (ODIs).

T20I SERIES:

1st T20I – July 1 | Riverside Ground, Durham

2nd T20I – July 4 | Old Trafford, Manchester

3rd T20I – July 7 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham

4th T20I – July 9 | Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol

5th T20I – July 11 | Utilita Bowl, Southampton

ODI SERIES:

1st ODI – July 14 | Edgbaston, Birmingham

2nd ODI – July 16 | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

3rd ODI – July 19 | Lord’s, London

This will be India’s second-last overseas ODI series before the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. The build-up to the tournament will begin with a three-match ODI series in Australia in October 2025. In total, India is scheduled to play 24 ODIs leading into the marquee ICC event.

A GLORIOUS SEND-OFF FOR LEGENDS

The 2026 England tour will likely mark the final appearance in English conditions

for Kohli and Rohit in national colours. Though both legends retired from Test cricket, they remain vital to India’s white-ball setup and are expected to feature prominently until the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Their swansong tour will be played across historic venues, offering fans in the UK a final opportunity to witness two of India's greatest batters live in action.

ENGLAND’S 2026 PACKED CALENDAR

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has lined up an exciting and diverse international calendar for the summer of 2026. Alongside the men’s series against India, England will also face:

New Zealand and Pakistan in two Rothesay Test series (men’s team) Sri Lanka in white-ball fixtures (ODIs and T20Is)

INDIA WOMEN’S TOUR AND HISTORIC MILESTONES

The Indian women’s team will also tour England in 2026, playing a multi-format series that includes:

WOMEN'S ODI SERIES:

1st ODI – May 28 | Chelmsford

2nd ODI – May 30 | Bristol

3rd ODI – June 2 | Taunton

Following the ODIs, India and England women will clash in a one-off Test match at Lord’s, marking a historic occasion as Lord’s hosts its first-ever England Women’s Test match.

ENGLAND TO HOST 2026 ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP

A significant highlight of the 2026 English summer will be the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to be hosted in England for the first time since 2009.

> “It’s a huge moment for the women’s game and a fantastic opportunity to inspire the next generation of players and fans,” said ECB CEO Richard Gould.

> “With world-class teams playing at iconic venues, this promises to be a spectacular summer of cricket.”

The tournament will be followed by the historic Test match at Lord’s, capping off what promises to be a transformative period for women’s cricket in England.

LOOKING AHEAD: A NEW ERA BECKONS

With Kohli and Rohit preparing for a potential farewell tour and the BCCI recalibrating its roadmap to the 2027 ODI World Cup, Indian cricket is clearly entering a transitional phase. The 2026 tour of England will not just be a competitive challenge but a sentimental chapter in Indian cricket history.

As fans prepare to say goodbye to two modern-day greats on English soil, the spotlight will also be on emerging talent ready to carry the torch forward on the road to South Africa 2027.