India will play five T20Is vs England, says Sourav Ganguly

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly revealed on Tuesday that Team India is set to play five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against England early next year.

During a virtual press conference organised by Livingguard AG, Ganguly said that England and India will lock horns in a full-fledged tour of four Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and five T20Is.

"England is touring India for four Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is, it is easy to have bilaterals as there are just two teams, we have to keep assessing the situation, a lot of people are talking about the second COVID wave, we have to be careful," Ganguly was quoted by ANI, as saying.

Speaking further in the press conference, Ganguly also assured that they are trying to have the next edition of IPL in India. "We are trying to have the next IPL in India, it's a tournament for India, I always tell people that they need to be here to see what IPL means to India," added Ganguly.

The last few years have seen the BCCI plan India's ODI and T20I series keeping in mind the next big event – either T20 World Cup or Cricket World Cup. The five T20Is against England will be good preparation for Virat Kohli and Co. for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be played in India in October-November.

When asked about the upcoming India-Australia series, Ganguly said, "Team is in Australia, they reached on November 11 (13), they will finish quarantine today, the team is in Australia, they will be starting cricket, Australia does not have a high number of COVID cases, boys are ready to get on to the field."

India and Australia are set to lock horns in three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests. The first ODI will be played on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Kohli will return to India after playing the limited-overs series and the first Test as he has been granted paternity leave by the Indian cricket board.