1 week Ago By Daily Excelsior
With India’s Test side reeling from back-to-back defeats — a 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and a 0-3 whitewash at home against New Zealand — the stakes for their 2025 home season have rarely felt higher. From missing the World Test Championship final to seeing legends like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggle for runs, Indian cricket is at a turning point. And as the team heads into a crucial five-Test tour of England in July, anticipation around the home schedule later in the year is already building.
That anticipation isn’t just among fans — it’s growing rapidly among the betting community, too. With India’s performances becoming harder to predict and fresh faces pushing into the squad, betting on India’s matches has gained intrigue.Sportsbooks have taken notice and are launching promotions around the home season.
Fans in India looking to get in on the action can now benefit from offers like the bonus code for 4rabet, which improves value for cricket punters eyeing the packed fixture list ahead.A Fresh Start at HomeIndia’s home season begins in October 2025 with a two-Test series against the West Indies. The first Test will be played in Ahmedabad from October 2–6, followed by the second in Kolkata from October 10–14.
It will mark the first bilateral red-ball contest between the two sides since India’s 1-0 away series win in July 2023.But the more anticipated challenge will arrive in mid-November when South Africa tours India for an all-format series, including two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is — the first full-fledged bilateral series between the two nations since India’s tour of South Africa in 2023–24.Guwahati Makes HistoryThe Test series against South Africa will see a new chapter in Indian cricket history.
Guwahati will become the 30th venue in India to host a Test match. Assam will host the second Test from November 22–26, following the opening Test in New Delhi from November 14–18.This moment is significant for northeastern cricket fans, many of whom have waited decades to witness the game’s traditional format in their backyard.
The BCCI’s decision to spread cricket deeper into the country aligns with its more significant push to promote the sport beyond traditional strongholds.White-Ball Cricket Takes Over DecemberOnce the red-ball contests wrap up, India and South Africa will shift gears for three ODIs — scheduled in Ranchi (Nov 30), Raipur (Dec 3), and Visakhapatnam (Dec 6) — all day-night matches starting at 1:30 PM IST.The T20I series will follow immediately.
Five matches will occur across Cuttack, New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, and Lucknow, ending with a marquee clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on December 19. All matches are scheduled under lights and start at 7:00 PM IST.This all-format series will mark the first face-off between India and South Africa since the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final, where India emerged champions under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.
While that moment was a high point, recent red-ball struggles have since painted a more complex picture of India’s current state.Final ThoughtsIndia’s transition phase continues to evolve. Questions surround the form and future of Sharma and Kohli, with both struggling mightily in Australia.
Kohli averaged just 21 across nine innings, while Sharma’s form collapse led to him voluntarily sitting out the final Test.Yet, new talent offers hope. Yashasvi Jaiswal, India’s top run-scorer in Australia, has emerged as a genuine long-term solution at the top.
Fast-bowling stocks remain healthy, led by the relentless Jasprit Bumrah, who took 32 wickets in the BGT despite little support.The challenge lies in managing workloads — Bumrah and Mohammed Shami need careful handling, and the search for spin depth continues post-Ashwin. Promising youngsters like Washington Sundar, Tanush Kotian, and Ravi Bishnoi are waiting in the wings, ready to step up.
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