The first edition of the WTC concluded on the 23rd of June, 2021 with New Zealand winning the final match against India that was held at Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England. After a tough battle between some of the best test teams in the world, New Zealand and India had qualified to the final of the first international tournament of test cricket. Despite putting up stellar performances in the past two years, India lost by eight wickets to New Zealand in the final match which was cut short by a day due to bad weather conditions.
Team India and its fans however should be proud of how the team has been performing in test cricket in general. The schedule for the WTC 2021-23 has been announced now. This cycle is slated to begin in July 2021 and shall continue till 2023. According to the rules of the each team has to play three home series and three away series. Let us have a look at India’s schedule for the second edition of the first tournament of test cricket.
India tour of England, 2021
India are currently in England to play the final of WTC and a test series comprising five matches against long-time rivals England. This test series will mark the beginning of India’s fight for the second edition of the WTC. The series will begin on the 4th of August and end on the 14th of September. Let us have a look at the date and timing of the matches.
4th August -8th August: England vs India, (Trent Bridge, First Test)
12th August -16th August: England vs India, (Lord’s, Second Test)
25th August – 29th August: England vs India, (Headingley, Third Test)
2nd September – 6th September: England vs India, (Kennington Oval, Fourth Test)
10th September – 14th September: England vs India, (Old Trafford, Fifth Test)
Fans will definitely have a lot of cricket to look forward to given the long tour of England that India is undertaking. This is the first overseas series for India in this cycle of the World Test Championship.
New Zealand tour of India, 2021
New Zealand and India recently faced each other off in the final of the WTC . Although New Zealand won this time and lifted the WTC trophy, India will get a chance to avenge its defeat. This New Zealand tour of India will be undertaken in November 2021 and will comprise a test series of two matches. The schedule of this series has not been declared but given India’s reputation at home and the subcontinental playing conditions, New Zealand might have a tough time here. This is the first home series of India in this cycle.
India tour of South Africa, 2021/22
India is going to have a pretty intense two years filled with test cricket. Following the New Zealand tour of India, the team shall be flying to South Africa; a team it has known to share a healthy rivalry with. Three test matches shall be played between December 2021 and January 2022. South Africa is known for having playing conditions that favour fast bowlers more. The face-off between the two teams will ensure good cricket to the fans. This will be the second away series for the Indians.
Sri Lanka tour of India, 2022
This will be the second home series for India in this cycle of the World Test Championship. Sri Lanka, along with being neighbours, has also been a tough rival for India. Three test matches and three T20Is are supposed to be held in this series which is scheduled before IPL 2022. Given the similarity in subcontinental playing conditions; Sri Lankans can surely give the Indians a tough fight and ensure good cricket.
Australia tour of India, 2022
Australia and India, the two famed rivals are set to face off again in the second half of 2022. The Border-Gavaskar series shall be held in India this time and there will be four test that shall be played between the two teams. The series is supposed to be held in October and November next year and fans can expect a tough competition. This will be the third home series for India.
India tour of Bangladesh, 2022
India shall be touring Bangladesh, yet another neighbouring country in 2022 in all probability. This shall comprise two tests. Bangladesh has been improving massively as a team in the past few years and one can expect strong rivalry between the two teams. This will be the third and final away series for the Indian team which shall mark the end of its WTC campaign.