New Delhi: Cricket fans in India have a lot to look forward to in the coming months as the Indian team is set to play a series of matches across formats till the next T20 World Cup in 2024. After hosting the ODI World Cup in 2023, which Australia won by defeating India in the final, India is now gearing up for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in West Indies/USA in June 2024.
Before that, India had to face some tough challenges from Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan, and England in different conditions and venues. India will also host the IPL 2024, which is expected to be a thrilling tournament with many star players and emerging talents.
Here is a brief overview of India’s international cricket schedule for the next few months:
| Series | Format | Matches | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India vs Australia | T20 | 5 | 23 Nov – 3 Dec | India |
| India vs South Africa | T20, ODI, Test | 3, 3, 2 | 10 Dec – 7 Jan | South Africa |
| India vs Afghanistan | T20 | 3 | 11 Jan – 17 Jan | India |
| India vs England | Test | 5 | 25 Jan – 11 Mar | India |
| IPL 2024 | T20 | 60 | Mar – May | India |
| T20 World Cup 2024 | T20 | TBD | June | West Indies/USA |
India will start its campaign with a five-match T20 series against Australia at home on November 23. This series will be a good opportunity for India to test its bench strength and prepare for the T20 World Cup. India has rested some of its senior players for this series and handed over the captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav, who has been in great form in recent times.
After the series against Australia, India will travel to South Africa for a full-fledged tour comprising three T20s, three ODIs, and two Tests from December 10 to January 7. This will be a tough challenge for India as South Africa is known to be a formidable opponent at home. India will have to adapt quickly to the pace and bounce of the South African pitches and deal with the quality of their bowling attack.
India will return home to host Afghanistan for a three-match T20 series from January 11 to 17. This will be a relatively easy assignment for India as Afghanistan is not a very strong team in the shortest format. India will look to dominate the series and give some chances to the fringe players.
The most anticipated series for India will be the five-match Test series against England at home from January 25 to March 11. This series is also part of the World Test Championship and will have a lot of significance for both teams. India and England have a fierce rivalry in Test cricket and have played some memorable matches in the past. India will hope to repeat its performance from the last home series against England in 2021, when it won 3-1 and qualified for the WTC final.
After the Test series against England, India will host the IPL 2024, which is the most popular and lucrative cricket tournament in the world. The IPL will feature 60 matches between eight franchises and will run from March to May. The IPL will showcase the best of Indian and international cricket talent and will also serve as a platform for the young and upcoming players to showcase their skills and impress the selectors.
The final destination for India will be the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in West Indies/USA in June. This will be the ultimate prize for India, who will be eager to win their second T20 World Cup title after 2007. India will face some tough competition from the likes of Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand, and Pakistan, who are all strong contenders for the trophy. India will have to play with consistency, aggression, and flair to lift the coveted trophy and make the nation proud.
