Australia Women’s, A Teams and South Africa A Tour Fixtures Announced by BCCI

BCCI Confirms Tour Fixtures for Australia Women, Australia A and South Africa A Teams in India

Summary
In a major scheduling development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the fixtures for three highly anticipated tours: Australia Women’s, Australia Men’s A, and South Africa Men’s A teams. Taking place between September and November 2025, these tours are set to bring a mix of high-stakes one-day internationals and red-ball cricket to Indian grounds, all crucial in the build-up to global ICC events and player development pipelines. Chennai, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Bengaluru have been selected as hosts for the 13-match calendar.

Australia Women’s Tour of India 2025: A World Cup Litmus Test

With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 around the corner, the Australia Women’s tour of India scheduled for September is more than just another bilateral series. Set exclusively in Chennai at the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the three ODIs on September 14, 17, and 20 will serve as a key preparatory stage for both sides.

For Australia, this marks an opportunity to fine-tune combinations, particularly on subcontinental pitches which demand adaptability. The Indian team, currently focusing on their youth-depth rotation policy, will use this series to test combinations under pressure.

Considering the historical rivalry and mutual respect between the teams, this ODI series is expected to draw solid crowd numbers and will be closely followed by selectors and analysts alike.

Australia Men’s A Tour: Red-Ball Talent on Display in Lucknow and Kanpur

Australia’s depth strategy in red-ball cricket has always been robust, and the Australia Men’s A tour of India this September-October is a continuation of that vision. The team will begin their assignment with two multi-day matches in Lucknow, from September 16–19 and September 23–26, respectively.

This phase is pivotal for both sides, particularly for players who are pushing for senior team call-ups in the World Test Championship cycle. Young batters, spinners, and seamers will have a platform to gain valuable experience in the spin-heavy Indian conditions.

After wrapping up the longer format games, attention will shift to Kanpur, where the three-match One-Day series kicks off on September 30 and concludes on October 5. These fixtures are expected to simulate high-intensity domestic ODIs, providing a stress test for bench strength on both sides.

BCCI’s decision to include cities like Lucknow and Kanpur underlines a continued strategy of decentralizing elite-level cricket, offering fans in Tier-2 cities an exciting taste of international action.

South Africa Men’s A Tour: A Full-Fledged Contest in Bengaluru

While Australia sends its top women's and A-teams, South Africa Men’s A team will also embark on a substantial tour of India. This tour takes place entirely in Bengaluru, between October 30 and November 19, and includes two multi-day matches at the BCCI’s state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (COE) and three One-Day matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The Proteas A setup has been a proven breeding ground for international talent, and with several of South Africa’s key players undergoing transitions in the main Test side, this tour becomes a critical feeder channel.

India A, traditionally fielded with a mix of IPL-tested players and emerging Ranji stars, will also view this as a pivotal test. The red-ball contests, scheduled from October 30 to November 9, will serve to sharpen the players’ temperament and endurance, while the white-ball leg running from November 13 to 19 will prioritize flexibility, pressure handling, and run-rate dynamics.

This marks one of the most comprehensive A tours South Africa has undertaken in India in recent years, and the venue selection of Bengaluru — known for balanced pitches and international infrastructure — ensures a fair but competitive playing field.

Strategic Significance of the Tours

These three back-to-back tours form part of a broader BCCI strategy — maintaining match-readiness for both India’s senior and emerging teams, as well as supporting global cricket calendars. With India likely to host or participate in major ICC events in 2026 and beyond, such bilateral series become a proving ground for talent identification and development.

Moreover, for Australia and South Africa, both undergoing cycles of squad regeneration, the exposure to Indian conditions for their ‘A’ squads and senior women’s team will pay dividends. These matches are more than just warmups — they are critical chessboard tests before bigger tournaments.