Within 15 months following the World Cup final, cricket enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the top eight teams competing for another trophy in the ODI format during the Champions Trophy. Pakistan has been designated as the host nation for the tournament. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the hosting arrangements, particularly if India chooses not to travel to Pakistan, as was the case during the Asia Cup last year. Such decisions could potentially alter the tournament’s hosting arrangements in the coming months.
The lack of preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy could prove to be a significant challenge for the Indian team. With the tournament set to make its comeback after 2017, India’s schedule currently lacks any ODIs until January 2025, while the tournament is expected to take place in February. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has tentatively identified February 2025 as the window for the tournament, but Team India is not scheduled to play any ODIs until January of the following year. This dearth of match practice could potentially hinder India’s readiness and performance in the Champions Trophy.
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The Indian players are currently immersed in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and following this, the T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in the West Indies and the USA in June. Subsequently, after the conclusion of the mega event, the Indian team will travel to Zimbabwe for a series of five T20Is, with the tour wrapping up on July 14.
While the schedule for India’s home season is yet to be finalized, they are expected to host Bangladesh and New Zealand for a total of five Test matches. Additionally, India is slated to tour Australia for five Test matches starting from November. The schedule for this tour was announced today (March 26). The first Test is scheduled to be played in Perth from November 22, with the tour concluding in Sydney on January 7, 2025.
