Season Kicks Off with Bangladesh Test Series
The cricketing extravaganza kicks off on September 19th, 2024, with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. This marks Bangladesh’s third Test tour of India, following a one-off Test in 2017 and a two-match series in 2019. Chennai will play host to the opening Test, while Kanpur takes center stage for the second match starting September 27th. Following the Tests, Bangladesh will stay on for a three-match T20I series to be played in Dharamsala, Delhi and Hyderabad.
New Zealand Up Next
New Zealand will be the next team to visit India, arriving for a three-match Test series beginning on October 16th in Bengaluru. Pune and Mumbai will host the second and third Tests respectively. These matches hold significance for India’s quest to qualify for a historic third consecutive World Test Championship final.
England Tours Before Champions Trophy 2025
Just before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, England will tour India for a limited-overs series comprising five T20Is and three ODIs. This follows their earlier visit to India in 2024 for a five-match Test series, which the hosts convincingly won 4-1.
Focus on World Test Championship Qualification
The Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand will be crucial for India’s World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 campaign. Currently, India leads the standings with a dominant performance – six wins in nine Tests and a points percentage of 68.51%. Their remaining assignment in this WTC cycle is a five-Test away series against second-placed Australia, scheduled for later in the 2024-25 season.
Indian cricket fans can look forward to an exciting home season with a variety of teams and formats on display. The high-stakes Test matches will be particularly captivating as India strives to secure their place in the WTC final once again.