Team India's run-up to T20 World Cup gets busier with three more tours

World Cup in Australia. TOI has learnt the Indian cricket board (BCCI) is planning to squeeze in three more limited-overs overseas tours after the tour of England in July and before the T20 World Cup. India are scheduled to play a one-off T20I against Ireland while in the UK.

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Flexibility will hold the key as India look ahead to the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year. Batting positions will be determined by situations and not set ideas.

According to sources, India will be touring West Indies immediately after the England tour before travelling to Zimbabwe and then participating in the Asia Cup in UAE as preparation for the T20 World Cup, which is due to start on October 16. Once Sri Lanka's tour of India is over on March 16, the Indian players will be busy with the IPL which will run till the third week of May, followed by a five-match T20I series at home against South Africa till June 19. The team will fly out to UK a week after the South Africa series.

TWO DIFFERENT TEAMSThe Indian team management and selectors have already started contemplating a mega-pool of nearly 35 players who will represent India. With the one-off T20I in Ireland likely to overlap with the one-off Test in England, there is every chance India could be having two teams at different venues at a given time, much like how a second-string team toured Sri Lanka last year when the Test team was playing a series in England. "The discussions on bio-bubble breaks have already started. Every player has been communicated about the busy itinerary. They have been given time to think about when they would like to take a break. It's likely a depleted side will travel to Zimbabwe.