India and England will contest in a four-match Test series from February, which will be followed by a five-match T20I and a three-match ODI series, the BCCI and ECB confirmed on Thursday.

The first two Tests will be played in Chennai, before the series moves to Ahmedabad for the third and fourth Tests of the series. The third Test of the series will be a pink-ball encounter, the first between these two sides.

After the Tests, the teams will contest in five T20Is, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021 later in the year, with all of those matches being played in Ahmedabad. A three-match ODI series in Pune will conclude the tour.

This will be India’s first bit of cricket at home since the Covid-19 pandemic brought the clash against South Africa to a premature end. Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, said the board would leave no stone unturned to ensure a safe tournament.

England’s 2020/21 tour of India has been confirmed!

The two teams will play four Tests, five T20Is and three ODIs between February 5 and March 28.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/cSLw4ZCMkS

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) December 10, 2020

“The BCCI prioritises health and safety of both teams and will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the tour is held adhering to all safety protocols agreed by the BCCI and ECB medical teams,” Shah said in a statement.

“Both Boards have worked closely to put together an exciting series that promises to provide high octane action between two powerhouses of world cricket. This will be India’s first bilateral series at home since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the home season will bring back joy to cricket fans.”

[caption id=”attachment_176370″ align=”alignnone” width=”925″] India captain Virat Kohli had a stellar series the last time India and England contested in Tests[/caption]

When the two sides last contested in a Test series, in England in 2018, India came away with a 4-1 defeat despite their captain Virat Kohli putting to bed demons of his past visit to England. However, when England last toured India in 2016, India came away with a 4-0 victory.

India v England 2021: Full schedule and itinerary of the Test series

1st Test: February 5 to 9, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

2nd Test: February 13 to 17, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

3rd Test: February 24 to 28, Motera Stadium, Ahmedabad

4th Test: March 4 to 8, Motera Stadium Ahmedabad

India v England 2021: Full schedule and itinerary of the T20I series

1st T20I: March 12, Motera Stadium Ahmedabad

1st T20I: March 14, Motera Stadium Ahmedabad

1st T20I: March 16, Motera Stadium Ahmedabad

1st T20I: March 18, Motera Stadium Ahmedabad

1st T20I: March 20, Motera Stadium Ahmedabad

India v England 2021: Full schedule and itinerary of the ODI series

1st ODI: March 23, MCA Stadium, Pune

2nd ODI: March 26, MCA Stadium, Pune

3rd ODI: March 28, MCA Stadium, Pune