2022 was a rollercoaster ride for Team India as started the year losing to New Zealand in the T20I and ODI series and then crashed out in the group stages of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.
Then they won the series in Sri Lanka and extended the winning run by claiming a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games to winning the Women’s Asia Cup to losing in the ODI series versus England and then defeating them 3-0 in the ODI series in their backyard to playing quality cricket versus Australia at home in front of massive crowds going down 1-4 to celebrating the highs of the pay parity, we have witnessed it all. With the seeds for a major cricketing revolution being sown, Indian cricket is certainly going places. Let’s have a look at what 2023 holds.
The tri-series versus South Africa and West Indies (19th January to 2nd February)
India will kickstart the year in a tri-series that features South Africa and West Indies that is slated to begin on 19th January. It will serve as good practice for Team India ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 and India would look to make the most of the matches and figure out ideal team combinations.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa (10th February to 26th February)
Perhaps the acid test for Team India will be when they play the T20 World Cup in tough South African conditions. Having finished as runners-up in the 2020 edition and other cases of so close, yet so far; they would certainly look to go all the way this time around and aim for World Cup glory.
Women’s IPL (Tentatively scheduled from 3rd March to 26th March)
In 2022, the BCCI announced the arrival of the Women’s IPL for 2023. As there is a long gap from international cricket, this period has been earmarked for the Women’s IPL and will see top-flight cricketers from across the world plying their trade for different IPL franchises
The series versus Bangladesh (June-July 2023)
India will square off against Bangladesh in 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is in the June to July period on Bangladeshi shores. The dates are yet to be announced for the same. India has an overwhelmingly superior record versus Bangladesh having trounced them in the ODI World Cup by 110 runs and in the Asia Cup by 59 runs.
The series versus South Africa (September 2023)
India will take on South Africa in a home series and it will comprise three ODIs and three T20Is. Although the dates are yet to be announced for this series, it will be a series to look forward to as the last time the two teams locked horns, India lost by a narrow margin at the ODI World Cup and India will look to present their best team performances against the formidable Proteas team.
The series versus New Zealand (October 2023)
Another series that has the potential to be crowd puller is the series against the White Ferns. India will host them for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is and the games can be phenomenal encounters considering the quality of players across both teams.
The series versus England (December 2023)
India will square off against England in a one-off test almost after two years and three T20Is at home and can be expected to be a belter of a series. Encounters between both these teams always promise to be high voltage and the expectations would be the same for this as well as the last time the two teams played, India lost the T20I series but won the ODI series 3-0 on English soil.
Multi-format series versus Australia (December 2023- January 2024)
To cap off what would have been a memorable year for India would be playing a series versus Australia that has one test, three ODIs and three T20Is in the last week of December at home that will carry on to the next year. With India having gotten the opportunity to fine-tune and sharpen their skill set over the year, we can expect some riveting contests.
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.
