India-Australia Test series to start on Feb 23 in Pune

NEW DELHI: Pune, Ranchi and Dharamsala will be hosting Test matches for the first time as the BCCI on Friday announced venues for India’s four-match series against Australia beginning February 23.

The teams will open their campaign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the first Test in Pune from February 23 to 27. The series will then move to Bengaluru, which will host the second game from March 4-8.

The last two matches will be played in the two new Test centres — Ranchi and Dharamsala — from March 16-20 and March 25-29 respectively.

Australia were whitewashed 4-0 by India in their last tour of the country.

The three centres which had hosted one-day internationals and T20Is in the past – were accorded Test status last November.