# The Last Dance in 50-Over Cricket: NZC, SLC & Ireland Want More ODIs With India — And It’s All Because of Rohit & Kohli

URL: https://technosports.co.in/kohli-cricket-nzc-slc-ireland/  
Published: 2026-03-14  
Updated: 2026-03-14  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

The clock is ticking on two of cricket’s greatest careers, and the world knows it. With [Rohit Sharma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rohit_Sharma) and Virat Kohli expected to retire after the **ODI World Cup 2027**, cricket boards across the globe are doing something remarkable — they’re knocking on the BCCI’s door and asking for *more* ODI matches. Not more T20Is. Not more Tests. More ODIs — the only format the two legends still play.

## India’s Confirmed ODI Schedule for the 2026-27 Season

| Opposition | ODIs | Period | Venue |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Afghanistan** | 3 | June 14–20, 2026 | Home |
| **England** | 3 | July 14–19, 2026 | Away |
| **West Indies** | 3 | Sep–Oct 2026 | Home |
| **New Zealand** | 5 | November 2026 | Away |
| **Sri Lanka** | 3 | December 2026 | Home |

## Who’s Asking for More — and Why

**New Zealand** moved fastest. NZC originally scheduled 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is for India’s tour, but once they realised Team India is unlikely to return for the next five years, they flipped the white-ball split — upgrading to **5 ODIs** while trimming T20Is. The BCCI has already accepted this change, as India also needs 50-over match practice ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

![Kohli](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/virarad.jpg)

**Sri Lanka Cricket** had originally locked in just 2 T20Is — a goodwill arrangement to help raise funds for Cyclone Ditwah relief in 2025. But SLC is now pushing for a **3-match ODI series**, recognising this could be the final time Rohit and Kohli set foot in Sri Lanka as international cricketers.

**Cricket Ireland** is in active discussions with the BCCI around a July series — likely played in Southampton or on Irish soil during the England leg of India’s tour. Ireland is pushing hard for at least one ODI series; if the BCCI doesn’t agree, a 3-match T20I series will be played as a fallback.

## What This Tells Us

There’s something quietly poignant about all of this. Teams aren’t requesting more ODIs because of commercial strategy alone — they’re doing it because they understand that watching **Rohit Sharma open the batting and Virat Kohli walk out at No. 3** is a privilege that won’t be available much longer. The cricket community has about **18 months left** to witness them together in whites — and everyone, from Auckland to Colombo to Dublin, wants their share of that window.

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## FAQs

### **Q: Why are cricket boards requesting more ODIs against India in the 2026-27 season?**

 A: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Ireland are all requesting additional ODI matches because Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — who now only play 50-over cricket — are expected to retire after the ODI World Cup 2027, making this one of the last chances to host them.

### **Q: How many ODIs will India play in the 2026-27 season?**

 A: India have at least 17 confirmed ODIs lined up — 3 vs Afghanistan, 3 vs England, 3 vs West Indies, 5 vs New Zealand, and 3 vs Sri Lanka — with possible additional series against Ireland and Sri Lanka still being finalised.