Picture Credit: ICC/BCCI
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on,” Robert Frost
And sport being a reflection of life itself, goes on too and so will Test cricket after New Zealand became the first-ever Test Champions on Wednesday. Although India played some pretty good cricket in the inaugural cycle, they were only as good as the runners up as they stumbled to an eight-wicket defeat at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Despite India being one of the most consistent sides over the years, they did not look on top of their game in this summit clash but nevertheless, Virat Kohli and his boys could be proud of the way they performed this cycle and would look to continue the momentum and lessons learnt into the new cycle of World Test Championship.
The new cycle of the World Test Championship is set to begin in July 2021 and end in 2023. As per the original format, each side will play three home and three away series. With India’s 2021-23 Future Tours Programme (FTP) released earlier, here is what India’s tentative schedule for the second cycle looks like.
India tour of England
India’s new Test championship campaign will begin with their tour of England, where they are set to play as many as five Test matches. The series is scheduled to commence on August 4 and end on September 14.
August 4-8: England vs India, First Test, Trent Bridge
August 12-16: England vs India, Second Test, Lord's
August 25-29: England vs India, Third Test, Headingley
September 2-6: England vs India, Fourth Test, Kennington Oval
September 10-14: England vs India, Fifth Test, Old Trafford
New Zealand tour of India, 2021
India will get their chance to avenge their defeat against New Zealand in the World Test Championship final when the Kiwis tour India later this year. The Blackcaps are scheduled to tour India for a two-Test series in November although further details are awaited on the series.
India tour of South Africa, 2021-22
After taking on New Zealand in home conditions, India will fly to South Africa for a three-Test series. This is likely to happen in December 2021 and January 2022.
Sri Lanka tour of India, 2022
Prior to IPL 2022, Sri Lanka is expected to tour India for a three-match Test Championship series and a three-T20I contest.
Australia tour of India, 2022
While India had a memorable series Down Under in 2020-21, Australia will hope to return the favour when they tour India next year. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is likely to take place in India around October and November next year.
India tour of Bangladesh, 2022
After the Border-Gavaskar trophy, the Indian team is scheduled to tour Bangladesh for a two-match series. This is also set to be the last series of India in the next cycle of the World Test Championship.