The Board of Control for Cricket in India is considering a special match between India and a Rest of the World XI as part of its centenary celebrations in 2028.
The proposal was discussed as the board began preparations to mark 100 years of its existence. Following its annual general meeting in Mumbai on Friday, the board said its general body had initiated the process for the centenary celebrations.
The programme is expected to begin in December 2027 and continue throughout 2028, marking a significant milestone in the history of Indian cricket. The board is also considering the formation of a dedicated committee to oversee and co-ordinate the various events planned for the occasion.
Among the proposals discussed is a match involving India and a Rest of the World XI. Such an encounter would provide a high-profile cricketing feature for the centenary programme while bringing together players from different cricketing nations.
However, the proposal remains at a very early stage. No final decision has been taken on whether the match will be held, and details such as the format, venue, date and composition of the Rest of the World XI have yet to be determined. The wider structure of the centenary celebrations is also still being worked out.
A Rest of the World XI has previously appeared in international fixtures, although such matches have been relatively rare. The ICC World XI played its first recorded international fixture in January 2005, when it faced an Asia XI in a one-day international.
Later that year, in October, the World XI played Australia in four matches, consisting of three one-day internationals and one Test. The concept then returned after a lengthy gap in September 2017, when a World XI played three Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan.
The most recent fixture listed in the original record came in May 2018, when a World XI faced the West Indies in a Twenty20 international at Lord’s. Across those engagements, the ICC World XI played nine international matches.
India, meanwhile, have never played an international match against the ICC World XI. If the proposed centenary fixture goes ahead, it would therefore mark the first such meeting between the Indian national side and a World XI.
The centenary programme also offers an opportunity to look back at the development of Indian cricket over a century. From the establishment of the national cricket administration to India’s emergence as one of the central forces in international cricket, the period represents a substantial transformation in the sport’s history.
For now, however, the India versus Rest of the World XI match remains a proposal rather than a confirmed fixture. Further decisions on the centenary programme are expected as preparations progress towards the celebrations beginning in late 2027.
