Written by Vaibhav Tripathi
India will commence their tour of South Africa in December-January with three T20Is. These will be followed by three ODIs and two Tests, which will be part of the World Test Championship. The first T20I will take place on December 10 and the second Test is scheduled to end on January 7.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) jointly announced the itinerary on Friday. In all, the Indian team will play eight matches in less than a month. The packed schedule might test both teams after the World Cup, which ends in India on November 19. The Test matches will be played in Centurion and Cape Town.
“The Freedom Series is significant not just because it features two excellent Test teams, but also because it honours Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, two great leaders who shaped our respective nations, and the world around them. The Boxing Day Test and the New Year Test are amongst the most important fixtures on the international cricket calendar… India has always received strong support in South Africa, and I am confident that fans will be treated to some enthralling contests,” said Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary.
“I eagerly await the arrival of the Indian team and their passionate fans on our shores. This is an important tour for both teams and I am really pleased that we will have a full tour comprising all three formats of the game. Both South Africa and India boast exceptional talent, and we can look forward to exciting cricket,” CSA chairperson Lawson Naidoo said.
India in South Africa
1st T20I: December 10, Durban
2nd T20I: December 12, Gqeberha
3rd T20I: December 14, Johannesburg
1st ODI: December 17, Johannesburg
2nd ODI: December 19, Gqeberha
3rd ODI: December 21, Paarl
1st Test: December 26-30, Centurion
2nd Test: January 3-7, Cape Town