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Australia Tour of India 2027: Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests Schedule

Rahul Sharma 2 May 2026 Updated 2 May 2026 ~18 min read ~3,413 words
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 schedule and venues

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The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the most consequential bilateral series in world cricket — a five-Test home contest that has, for two decades, served as the defining argument about which side is the genuine number one in the longest format. BGT 2027 carries even more weight than usual. It is the last hard data point before the World Test Championship 2025-27 Final at Lord's in June 2027. It is the last BGT for at least one of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon in their current iteration. And it lands in India in January 2027, with the Nagpur Test (January 21-25) the only confirmed fixture and the rest of the rotation a moving puzzle.

For CricJosh, BGT is the biggest non-IPL traffic event of the year. This hub brings together the schedule, venue shortlist, broadcast plan, India and Australia squad notes, the WTC stakes, and the eight storylines we will be tracking across the five Tests. Where the BCCI has yet to confirm dates and venues, we have flagged that clearly — Nagpur Jan 21-25 is firm; everything else is provisional.

Series at a glance

  • Tour window: Mid-January to late February 2027
  • Format: 5 Tests (Border-Gavaskar Trophy)
  • Host: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
  • Visitors: Cricket Australia (CA)
  • Trophy: Border-Gavaskar Trophy (current holder: India)
  • Confirmed fixture: 1st Test — January 21-25, 2027 — Nagpur (Jamtha)
  • Broadcast (India): Star Sports network (TV) and Disney+ Hotstar (digital)
  • WTC context: All five Tests count in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. Both teams will be in active contention for the WTC Final at Lord's (June 2027).

This will be Australia's first BGT in India since the 2023 series (which India won 2-1) and the first five-Test BGT on Indian soil since the 2008-09 series. The format expansion from four to five Tests — confirmed for the 2025-27 cycle — is the result of both boards agreeing that the marquee series deserves the additional weight in WTC points and revenue terms.

For the wider home-season context — how BGT slots between the Zimbabwe ODI tour and India's mid-2027 international calendar — see the India home season 2026-27 master schedule.

Full schedule (provisional)

The dates and venues below are based on the BCCI's indicative international calendar circulated to state associations in March 2026. Nagpur (January 21-25) is confirmed in writing. Every other date and venue is subject to formal BCCI announcement, which is typically released in late October / early November.

#MatchDatesLikely venueStart time (IST)
11st TestJan 21 – Jan 25, 2027Nagpur (VCA, Jamtha)9:30 AM
22nd TestJan 29 – Feb 2, 2027Pune (MCA Stadium) or Bengaluru (Chinnaswamy)9:30 AM
33rd TestFeb 6 – Feb 10, 2027Mumbai (Wankhede)9:30 AM
44th TestFeb 13 – Feb 17, 2027Delhi (Arun Jaitley)9:30 AM
55th TestFeb 20 – Feb 24, 2027Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)9:30 AM

A few notes on the calendar:

  • Why January-February? This is India's prime Test window — pitches harden, dew is minimal, the IPL is six weeks away. Australia's home BBL season is winding down, freeing up red-ball specialists. The BGT calendar slot has lived in this window for almost every BGT since 2001.
  • No day-night Test: No leg of the 2027 BGT is currently expected to be a pink-ball fixture. Australia have historically been comfortable with day-night Tests; India have not, and are unlikely to gift Australia that comfort at home.
  • Five Tests, four-day gaps: The schedule above leaves four-day turnarounds between Tests, which is tighter than the standard six-day BGT cadence. Expect at least one rest day to be added.

Likely venues

1st Test — Nagpur (CONFIRMED, Jan 21-25)

The series opens at the VCA Stadium, Jamtha in Nagpur. The 2023 BGT also opened in Nagpur — India won inside three days on a turning surface that became one of the more debated pitches of that series. Nagpur in January typically offers turn from day one, with the bounce dropping noticeably by day three. India's spin attack — Ashwin, Jadeja, Sundar, Kuldeep — is built precisely for this surface.

2nd Test — Pune or Bengaluru

The second Test is a toss-up between Pune's MCA Stadium and Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy. Pune was the site of Australia's only Test win in India in 2017 and again in 2024 — it is a venue with a turning surface that, in dry Indian summers, has historically suited Australia's left-arm spin (Lyon, Murphy). Bengaluru is the more balanced surface, with pace and bounce in the first two days and spin from day three.

Our reading: Pune is the likely pick if the BCCI wants a turning surface; Bengaluru if they want a more balanced wicket.

3rd Test — Mumbai (Wankhede)

Wankhede in February is one of the most reliable Test venues in India — pace and bounce early, reverse swing late, and spin from day three. The Mumbai Test is typically the marquee fixture of the BGT for atmosphere — full house, evening sessions under lights through the autumn-evening glow, premium broadcast windows.

4th Test — Delhi (Arun Jaitley Stadium)

Delhi in mid-February is the cooler venue on the rotation. The pitch typically helps spinners from day one, with the cold morning conditions assisting seam through the new ball. Delhi is also a strategic choice — Australia have historically struggled at the Kotla, last winning a Test there in 2008.

5th Test — Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium)

The series concludes at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad — the largest cricket stadium in the world by capacity. The Ahmedabad pitch in late February is typically flat, with reverse swing and spin in equal measure from day three. The 2023 BGT 4th Test in Ahmedabad ended in a draw, with Cameron Green's 114 and Usman Khawaja's 180 frustrating India's push for a sweep.

If the BCCI rotates venues, Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi Stadium) is the most likely alternate — it has hosted the BGT before and offers a similar slow-turning surface to Nagpur.

How to watch

In India, the entire BGT 2027 will be live on the Star Sports network on television (English and Hindi commentary) and on Disney+ Hotstar for digital streaming. Regional language feeds (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali) will be available on Star's regional sub-channels for every Test.

For international viewers:

  • Australia: Channel 7 (free-to-air) and Foxtel / Kayo Sports (subscription)
  • United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket
  • United States and Canada: Willow TV / Willow by Cricbuzz
  • South Africa: SuperSport
  • Middle East and rest of the world: Star Sports international feed

If you are a digital-only viewer in India, the standard Disney+ Hotstar Premium subscription carries every ball, in 4K HDR, with multi-language commentary. The 4K stream is the recommended option for BGT — the slip-cordon close-ups in particular benefit from the higher resolution.

Head-to-head record (BGT)

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy started in 1996. Here is the current state of the rivalry, accurate to the start of the 2027 series:

SeriesWins (India)Wins (Australia)Drawn
1996-2024 (BGT only, all-time)~10 series~5 series~2 series
Last 5 BGTs (home and away)4 series wins1 series win0
Last home BGT (2023)211 (drawn)

India have won the last four BGTs in succession (2017, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2023). Australia's last BGT win was the 2014-15 series at home. The 2027 series in India is, in that sense, a chance for Australia to reset the cycle — a series win on Indian soil would be their first in India since 2004.

India squad watch

By January 2027, the India Test squad will look meaningfully different from the side that played the 2023 BGT. The captaincy question is the central uncertainty — see the dedicated section below.

Test squad (likely)

  • Top order: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan / Rohit Sharma (if still active), Virat Kohli (if still active)
  • Middle order and keeper: Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel
  • All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy
  • Spin: Ravichandran Ashwin (if active), Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel
  • Pace: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna

The Indian spin attack — Ashwin / Jadeja / Sundar / Kuldeep / Axar — is the deepest in world Test cricket. On the five surfaces above, expect at least three spinners in every XI, and four on the Nagpur and Delhi tracks.

India's captaincy question

Rohit Sharma's Test future is the central question of the late-2026 calendar. By January 2027, Rohit is 39 — and even his strongest internal advocates inside the BCCI accept that the BGT may be his red-ball farewell window. The succession candidates are:

  • Jasprit Bumrah — the obvious tactical choice, already proven in interim captaincy stints. The workload question (a fast bowler captaining five Tests in five weeks) is the tension.
  • Shubman Gill — the long-term choice; younger, an established Test batter, but untested as a Test captain.
  • Rishabh Pant — outside contender; aggressive, popular within the dressing room, but not the BCCI's natural pick.

Watch the BCCI media briefing in late November / early December 2026 for the language around squad announcement — that is usually the cleanest signal.

Australia squad watch

By January 2027, Australia's Test side is in active transition. Several seniors will be at or near the end of their Test careers.

Test squad (likely)

  • Top order: Usman Khawaja (37, last BGT), Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (37, possibly last BGT)
  • Middle order: Travis Head, Cameron Green, Beau Webster
  • Keeper: Alex Carey or Josh Inglis
  • All-rounders: Cameron Green, Mitch Marsh (if fit)
  • Spin: Nathan Lyon (39, last BGT), Matthew Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy
  • Pace: Pat Cummins (captain, 33), Mitchell Starc (37, possibly last BGT), Josh Hazlewood (36, possibly last BGT), Scott Boland

The pace trio of Cummins / Starc / Hazlewood is the most decorated Australian quick combination of the modern era — but it is also a trio with a combined age of 105+ by January 2027. Workload management across five Tests in five weeks will be the central selection drama on the visiting side. Expect Boland and Sean Abbott in active rotation.

The senior farewell watch

  • Pat Cummins — almost certainly captaining at least one more Ashes after BGT, but this is plausibly his last away BGT.
  • Steve Smith — on most projections, this is his last BGT in any iteration. A century in India would close a circle that has been open since 2017.
  • Nathan Lyon — at 39, the most heavily rotated senior. Almost certainly his last BGT in India.
  • Mitchell Starc — workload-managed across the cycle; his appearance in all five Tests is unlikely.

The eight storylines we are tracking

1. India's captaincy question

Already covered above — central drama of the calendar.

2. Cummins / Smith / Lyon's last BGT

For at least three of Australia's most decorated red-ball cricketers of the modern era, BGT 2027 is plausibly the closing chapter. Their performances will write the closing line of long careers.

3. India's spin attack vs new-look Australian batting

The Indian spin attack is settled. Australia's middle order is not. Watch the head-to-head between Ashwin / Jadeja and Sam Konstas / Marnus Labuschagne / Travis Head — this is the technical chess match that decides the series.

4. WTC 2025-27 cycle implications

Both teams are pushing for the WTC Final at Lord's in June 2027. Five Tests at 12 points each means up to 60 points are on the table. For the rules and points context, see the ICC WTC rules and points system primer and the 2025-27 cycle explainer. Run the qualification scenarios in our WTC India simulator. The latest ICC Test rankings give you the entry-point context.

5. Pant's long-form return as captain or vice-captain?

Rishabh Pant is, by January 2027, established back in the Test side. The question is whether he is the wicket-keeper, the vice-captain, or both. His role in the BCCI's succession plan will become clearer with the squad announcement.

6. The 5-Test format experiment

This is the first five-Test BGT since 2008-09. The fitness and rotation implications — particularly for fast bowlers on both sides — will set the template for whether five-Test bilaterals return as the norm.

7. The Nagpur Test — early signal of pitch policy

The 2023 Nagpur Test was decided inside three days on a turning surface that the ICC officially graded "average" — a step short of the "below average" or "poor" rating that triggers demerit points. The 2027 surface will be watched closely. India's spin advantage is the obvious tactical reason; the ICC's pitch ratings are the obvious counter-pressure.

8. The Ahmedabad Test as series-decider

If the series is alive into Ahmedabad — and on past form it usually is — the 5th Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium will be the most-watched single Test of the calendar. A capacity crowd of 110,000+, the largest stadium in cricket, on the final day of a series-decider, is the most commercially valuable single fixture in world cricket today.

What to expect from the conditions

  • Nagpur (Jan 21-25): Cool to mild (15-25°C), low dew, slow turning surface. First-innings totals 280-380.
  • Pune / Bengaluru (Jan 29 – Feb 2): Mild to warm, slow surface (Pune) or balanced (Bengaluru). First-innings totals 320-420.
  • Mumbai (Feb 6-10): Warm (mid-30s daytime), pace and bounce early, spin and reverse swing late. First-innings totals 380-450.
  • Delhi (Feb 13-17): Cool mornings (10°C), warm afternoons (mid-20s), slow turning surface. First-innings totals 280-380.
  • Ahmedabad (Feb 20-24): Warm (high-20s daytime), flat surface, reverse swing and spin in equal measure. First-innings totals 380-500.

For a refresher on the wider 2026-27 playing rules — the stop clock, the boundary-catch tweak, the over-rate enforcement — see our breakdown of the ICC 2026 playing conditions.

Tickets and on-ground info

Ticket sales for the Nagpur Test (Jan 21-25) are expected to open in mid-November 2026 via the host association's ticketing partner. Test prices typically start around ₹500 (general stand) and run to ₹8,000+ (premium boxes). Day-by-day tickets are typically released individually, with the third and fourth days at Mumbai and Ahmedabad as the highest-demand fixtures.

For the Ahmedabad Test (Feb 20-24), the day-five ticket has historically been the most expensive single Test ticket in India — a series-decider on the final day of the BGT at the world's largest cricket stadium typically commands a premium of 3-4x the base ticket.

Key tips:

  • Buy through the official portal announced by the host association (typically BookMyShow).
  • Photo ID matching the booking name is required at the gate.
  • Each venue has a published prohibited-items list (no DSLR cameras at most, no outside food and drink).
  • For premium fixtures, expect security cordoning starting 90 minutes before play.

Why this tour matters

BGT is the most consequential bilateral series in world cricket. It decides the rivalry. It often decides the WTC Final. It writes — and unwrites — careers in real time.

For India in 2027, BGT is the closing argument before the WTC Final. A series win cements home dominance and almost certainly books a Lord's Final ticket. For Australia, it is a chance to reset the rivalry — and, plausibly, the closing chapter for at least three of their most decorated Test cricketers ever.

For CricJosh, this is the biggest non-IPL traffic event of the calendar year. We will be live with previews, pitch reports, playing XIs, ball-by-ball updates, post-match analysis, and a daily series podcast across all five Tests.

Bookmark this hub. It is the home page for every CricJosh piece on BGT 2027.

Test-by-Test previews

Deep-dive previews for every Test of the BGT 2027 series — probable XIs, pitch outlook, key match-ups, WTC implications and our prediction:

Venue pitch reports

Red-ball pitch reports for every BGT 2027 venue — day-by-day surface behaviour, turn vs bounce, Test history and fantasy XI angles:

For more cricket previews, see our domestic cricket category.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does BGT 2027 start? The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 begins on January 21, 2027 with the 1st Test at Nagpur (Jan 21-25). The series runs through to February 24, 2027, with the 5th Test at Ahmedabad concluding the tour.

How many Tests are in BGT 2027? Five Tests. This is the first five-Test BGT in India since the 2008-09 series, an expansion confirmed for the 2025-27 WTC cycle.

Where are the BGT 2027 Tests being played? Nagpur (1st Test, confirmed), then provisionally Pune or Bengaluru (2nd), Mumbai (3rd), Delhi (4th) and Ahmedabad (5th). Final venues subject to BCCI announcement.

Where can I watch India vs Australia 2027 live? In India, every Test will be live on the Star Sports network (TV) and Disney+ Hotstar (digital), with regional language commentary on Star's sub-channels. International viewers can watch via Channel 7 / Foxtel / Kayo (Australia), Sky Sports (UK), Willow TV (US/Canada).

Do all five Tests count for the World Test Championship? Yes. All five Tests count in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, with 12 points available per win. Up to 60 WTC points are on the table for the winning side — a series sweep is, in points terms, the single most valuable bilateral series of the cycle.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is the heavyweight title of world Test cricket. Five Tests, two of the deepest squads in world cricket, and a WTC Final on the line at Lord's in June. BGT 2027 is the last argument before the verdict.

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Rahul Sharma

Expert in: Domestic Cricket

Rahul Sharma has played district-level cricket in Mumbai for 8 years and has personally tested more than 50 bats, pads, gloves, and helmets across different price ranges. He joined CricJosh to help Indian club cricketers make smarter equipment choices without overpaying. His reviews are based on real match and net session use, not sponsored samples.

View all articles →@cricjoshdotin

Why trust this review: Rahul has used every product in this review across multiple match and net sessions before writing a word. He buys equipment at retail price and accepts no free samples.

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