Cricket fans and commentators have slammed the BCCI after the venues for five Tests between Australia and India in early 2027 were announced on Thursday. Australia will tour the subcontinent next January for five blockbuster Tests against their fierce rivals, amid a jam-packed cricket schedule.
On Thursday the dates and venues for the series were announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India – and it went down like a lead balloon. Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru have all been overlooked despite being established Test venues with rich histories of Australia and India matches.
Australia will play five Tests in India in early 2027.
(Getty Images)
Nagpur will instead host the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from January 21, followed by Tests in Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad. The Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Barsapara has only hosted one Test match previously – when India played South Africa in November of 2025.
It means Australia still hasn’t played a Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata since 2001, or the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai since 2004. Eden Gardens was the site of India’a famous victory over Australia in 2001 when Steve Waugh enforced the follow-on and it backfired spectacularly.
VVS Laxman made 281 and Rahul Dravid 180 as India came all the way back to win by 171 runs after a first-innings deficit of 274. But Australia has never returned to the venue for a Test match amid concerns it needs major upgrades.
Australia last toured India for Test matches in 2023.
(Getty Images)Cricket world reacts to India-Australia Test announcement
Leading cricket commentator Bharat Sundaresan wrote on social media on Thursday: “Happy to see a Chennai Test on the schedule but the wait for an Australia men’s team return to Mumbai and Kolkata for a Test will continue. Quite disappointing that.”
Adam Collins said: “There are so many Aussies who want to visit to see their team play a Test at Eden Gardens. How have they never played again there since India’s 2001 miracle win?”
Another person wrote: “It’s an absolute joke how we treat our iconic Test venues.” While Daniel Cherny said: “This would be like Australia hosting its five marquee Tests in Hobart, Brisbane, Kalgoorlie, Wollongong and Canberra.”
Australia hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a 3-1 victory at home in the summer of 2024/25. However they haven’t won a Test series in India since 2004.
Dates and venues for Australia v India Test series in 2027:
1st Test – January 21-25 in Nagpur
2nd Test – January 29 to February 2 in Chennai
3rd Test – February 11-15 in Guwahati
4th Test – February 19-23 in Ranchi
5th Test – February 27-March 3 in Ahmedabad