The Indian cricket team will have a tough and a testing 2013 in terms of their series schedule. India will start their New Year with the on-going ODI series with Pakistan, when they play their 2nd ODI against them today – 3rd January, 2013. With one more ODI to be played between these two teams, the next series for India will be against England who went back home after a famous 2-1 win in Tests and a T20 series draw, will now return to play 5 ODI’s starting from January 11 to 27.
India Cricket Schedule 2013
India’s real test starts when they meet Australia for a four match home Test series which will be played from 22nd February to 26th March. It will be an exciting contest for both teams as Australia will bank on their recent form in Tests while India will try seeking revenge for their 4-0 whitewash in Australia.
Australia will be playing their first Test series without their Test pillar Michael Hussey who recently announced his retirement. For India, this will be master batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s first international appearance after he announced his retirement in the limited over cricket. Fans will be waiting to see him in the field again with the best of his form.
India will move to England to play their next series – the Champions Trophy which is the ICC’s next big event in the 50 over format after the World Cup. India will play along with the top eight teams in ODI cricket, scheduled to be played from 6 – 23 June 2013. India will face some mighty opponents in the league matches (South Africa, West Indies & Pakistan) and the match against South Africa will be the series opener. Can India repeat the magic of 2011 World Cup here? Let’s wait!
India will play a Tri-Series with Sri Lanka and West Indies which will be hosted by West Indies in June – July 2013. Sri Lanka who were about to play 2 tests, 3 ODIs and 2 T20s against the West Indies according to the Future Tour Programs (FTP) schedule will now play this Tri-Series along with India. The Test matches between Sri Lanka and West Indies will be played later this year in order to allow all the players to participate in the IPL. Later this year India hosts Australia for a 7 ODIs and a T20 Series in October 2013. India’s biggest and toughest series this year will be against South Africa when they tour them for a long series of 3 Tests, 7 ODIs and 2 T20s which will be played from mid November 2013 – January 2014.
Apart from these exciting international matches, the Indian players will play the IPL which is scheduled to start from 3rd April to 26th May 2013 (76 matches in all) and the Champions League which will be played in September! So, 2013 will see India playing some interesting series in home and away. Can India reach new heights in the Year 2013? Let’s see!
Tags: Cricket, Cricket Schedule, India, Indian Cricket Team, Team India
