Indian Cricket Team Schedule, Venues and Dates for 2023 Home Season Announced

BCCI announced a packed schedule for the Men in Blue from January 2023 till March 2023 with Sri Lanka, New Zealand & Australia slated to tour India. The Indian season will begin with a T20 series against the Lankans at Mumbai. The much awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy will begin on the 9th of March in Nagpur.

It will be interesting to see if India sticks with Rohit as captain and Dravid as the coach, both of whom have been under fire recently with India having fared poorly in Asia Cup 2022, WT20 2022 and now having lost the ODI series in both NZ & Bangladesh.

Team India Schedule from January 2023 to March 2023

Sri Lanka Tour of India

3 January – 1st T20I, Mumbai

5 January – 2nd T20I, Pune

7 January – 3rd T20I, Rajkot

10 January – 1st ODI, Guwahati

12 January – 2nd ODI, Kolkata

15 January – 3rd ODI, Trivandrum

New Zealand Tour of India

18 January – 1st ODI, Hyderabad

21 January – 2nd ODI, Raipur

24 January – 3rd ODI, Indore

27 January – 1st T20I, Ranchi

29 January – 2nd T20I, Lucknow

1 February – 3rd T20I, Ahmedabad

Australia Tour of India

9 to 13 February – 1st Test, Nagpur

17 to 21 February – 2nd Test, Delhi

1 to 5 March – 3rd Test, Dharamsala

9 to 13 March – 4th Test, Ahmedabad

17 March – 1st ODI, Mumbai

19 March, 2nd ODI, Vizag

22 March – 3rd ODI, Chennai

What tour are you most excited for?

Key Battles in Final of T20 World Cup 2022 - England vs Pakistan at MCG in Melbourne

Key Battles in T20 World Cup Final: England vs Pakistan at MCG in Melbourne: Nov 13, 2022

The final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 promises to be a fascinating battle. England probably has the strongest and the lengthiest batting line up in the tournament while Pakistan possesses the quickest and probably the most complete bowling line up. On a collision course, we will see sparks fly when the crème de la crème battle against each other.

Let us look at a few key battles that might decide the outcome of the T20 World Cup final between England and Pakistan to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. You can also check out the Match Preview and the road to the final for these teams.

Mark Wood vs Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Mark Wood missed the semi final, but he was back bowling in the nets on Saturday. If he's passed fit, then his opening burst against the Pakistani openers might set the tone for England. The openers would look to start cautiously but if the ball jags around, combined with his high pace; Wood and England can do early and irreversible damage.

Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Shaheen Shah Afridi looks to have gotten into nice rhythm lately after starting the tournament slow. He's getting the ball to tail in and that has been a nemesis of Hales in particular in the past. Buttler will have to be careful against the ball that goes away as he often chases wide deliveries early in the innings.

Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz vs English batters

Nawaz was brilliant in the latest 7 match T20I series these two teams played in the lead up to the world cup. Shadab Khan also is a dangerous customer with a good googly and can also turn the ball away from the right handed batters. Babar might want to introduce one spin option against Hales and Buttler early or against Liam Livingstone in the middle overs.

Adil Rashid vs Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris

If Babar survives the opening burst, then England can turn to Rashid to contain Babar. Babar has had issues against him and is unable to read his googly on occasions. Rashid will also be on a high after containing aggressive Indian batters in the semi final and also scalping the prized wicket of Suryakumar Yadav. Haris, has quickly become an important figure in that Pakistan line up and he's looked good against pace in general. Rashid might also be tasked to nip in the young star in his bud before he can start his innings.

Sam Curran vs Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan

Sam Curran is tasked with closing out the innings with his wide yorkers and change of pace. Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan have played good innings throughout the world cup and bailed Pakistan out with their late hitting and timely runs. How these two manage against Curran will be very important especially if Pakistan are batting first and looking to set up a big total.

Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim vs Phil Salt and Ben Stokes

If England lose their openers quickly then the task of facing a super quick Rauf and accurate and clever Wasim will most probably fall to Salt and Stokes. Stokes hasn't looked at his best in the tournament and the high pace of Rauf might unsettle him. Salt hasn't batted so far in the tournament, so facing high accurate pace bowling under cloudy Melbourne skies might not be what he's looking forward to.

Which battle fascinates you the most? What are you most looking forward to?

Unstoppable English Batting set to collide with Fiery Pakistan Bowling as rain threat looms at Melbourne

T20 World Cup 2022 Final: England vs Pakistan at MCG in Melbourne: Nov 13, 2022 - Match Preview

England are on a roll now having handed India an absolute shellacking in the semi final at Adelaide but they'll now come up against a dangerous Pakistan side who seem to be peaking at the right moment. Both teams had to win their last group game to go through to the semi finals but both put on clinical performances once they got there. They have had a pretty similar Road to the Finals as well!

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales put up the highest partnership at an ICC Men's T20 World Cup with their 170 run unbeaten stand routing India. These two will be the biggest danger for Pakistan but even if they get early wickets, there's the dangerous Phil Salt at 3, the experienced Ben Stokes at 4 and then the versatile Liam Livingstone at 5 awaiting them. England has a very long batting order with Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan all of whom can whack the ball.

If any bowling line up can stop the English batting blitzkrieg then you'll want to certainly bet on the Pakistan one. With Shaheen Shah Afridi having found his rhythm again, he'll be a dangerous customer at the beginning with the swinging ball. Naseem Shah has the pace while Haris Rauf has been bowling with fire right through the tournament. Then there's Mohammad Wasim who seems to be a very good bowler at the death with his yorkers and in the middle overs. Pakistan also has Shadab Khan for the middle overs as a genuine wicket taking option. Nawaz is another option in the middle overs, he was good against England when these two teams faced each other recently.

Chris Jordan did relatively well against India despite going for runs at the back end but England will be hoping that their pace sensation Mark Wood is fit for the big final. Sam Curran also leaked runs for the first time in the tournament against India and would be looking to get back to his miserly ways in the final. Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone jointly bowled 7 hugely impactful overs for just 41 runs against India and Pakistan would be well advised to not let that repeat, is just a recipe for disaster. Woakes and Stokes will also play an important role with the ball under cloudy Melbourne skies.

Pakistan batting has floundered and stuttered right through the tournament but with the introduction of the dynamic Haris at number 3 and with their prolific openers Babar and Rizwan finding form in the semi final against New Zealand, means they've finally got a functioning top 3. Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz, Ifthikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan have all contributed to the batting at various points during the tournament.

Key Battles: England vs Pakistan

Chris Woakes vs Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Shadab Khan vs Liam Livingstone

Adil Rashid vs Mohammad Haris

These two teams met just before the World Cup began in a long 7 match series in Pakistan as a preparation for the big event. The series ebbed and flowed and was a closely contested one with England eking out a 4-3 win in the deciding last match held at Lahore. The two teams know each other well and it should be a great contest at the MCG, weather permitting.

Melbourne Weather Forecast for England v Pakistan T20 World Cup Final 2022

Weather for Sunday in Melbourne doesn't look too promising with an almost 90% chance for rain throughout the day. Thunderstorms are also predicted. The weather for the reserve day, Monday, is slightly better but still there's rain predicted through the morning and afternoon.

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood/ Chris Jordan 

Probable Pakistan XI

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for England v Pakistan at MCG, Melbourne

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Jos Buttler

Babar Azam

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Will Pakistan repeat the feat from 1992? Will England reverse the result from 30 years ago? Or will the famous Melbourne weather have the last laugh?

Dream 11 ICC T20 World Cup 2022 Fantasy Game - Best teams variations for Final between Pakistan v England

In this post, I will list out my Top 3 Team Variations for Dream11 Fantasy Game for the Final between Pakistan and England to be played at MCG in Melbourne on the 13th of November 2022:

You can take a quick glance at the Road to the Final for these two teams.

Dream 11 Team for Pakistan v England (Variation 1)

Balanced team with 2 Pakistani batters, 3 English batters, 3 players from each team who are expected to bowl 4 overs. All-rounders included for maximum potential of fantasy points. Mark Wood is included but can be replaced by Jordan or Woakes if he is still injured.

Dream 11 Team for Pakistan v England (Variation 2)

More focused on all-rounders and bowling. Light on Pakistan batting as English bowling can be dangerous at MCG. No Mark Wood, Rizwan and Ifthikar included who has been good lower down.

Dream 11 Team for Pakistan v England (Variation 3)

Focus on batting and bowling with only 2 all-rounders. Rizwan and Babar there. Three bowlers from each side.

What team are you looking at for the final?

Road to the Finals for Pakistan & England - Final ICC T20 World Cup 2022, MCG, Melbourne

Pakistan - Road to the Final of T20 World Cup 2022

Pakistan started with 2 last ball losses to India and Zimbabwe to start their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign. With their hopes all but over, they first defeated Netherlands in their third outing before winning against South Africa in a rain marred game.

When South Africa lost their final match to Netherlands, Pakistan had a ray of hope to qualify for the semi final stage and they beat Bangladesh in their last group match to progress in the most dramatic fashion. They met New Zealand in the first semi final and first bowled well to keep the Kiwis to a manageable total and then both Rizwan and Babar found form as they ran out comfortable winners to be the first team to qualify for the finals!

Latest Match First - Last 6 Results

• November 09, 2022, Semi Final 1, Pakistan vs New Zealand, SCG, Sydney

            Pakistan won by 7 wickets

• November 06, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            Pakistan won by 5 wickets

• November 03, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs South Africa, SCG, Sydney

            Pakistan won by 33 runs (D/L method)

• October 30, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Netherlands, Optus Stadium, Perth

            Pakistan won by 6 wickets

• October 27, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, Optus Stadium, Perth

            Zimbabwe won by 1 run

• October 23, 2022, Group 2, Pakistan vs India, MCG, Melbourne

            India won by 4 wickets

England - Road to the Final of T20 World Cup 2022

England, themselves had a stuttering start to their campaign as they first beat Afghanistan by scraping through a small chase before losing to neighbors Ireland. When their next match against hosts Australia was washed out, the chances to qualify for the semi final looked bleak.

But England won against New Zealand at Gabba with ease and then chased down a small target against the Lankans, albeit with a small stutter again, to seal their place in the semi final. They faced a strong Indian outfit in the semi final and having lost Mark Wood and Dawid Malan just before the semi final, they must have thought that chance had slipped away. But England put on a stunning show as their openers ran amok in a chase of 169, ultimately trashing India by 10 wickets and booking themselves a place in the final against Pakistan at the G.

Latest Match First - Last 6 Results

• November 10, 2022, Semi Final 2, India vs England, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

            England won by 10 wickets

• November 05, 2022, Group 1, England vs Sri Lanka, SCG, Sydney

            England won by 4 wickets

• November 01, 2022, Group 1, England vs New Zealand, Gabba, Brisbane

            England won by 20 runs

• October 28, 2022, Group 1, Australia vs England, MCG, Melbourne

            Match abandoned without a ball being bowled

• October 26, 2022, Group 1, England vs Ireland, MCG, Melbourne

            Ireland won by 5 runs (D/L method)

• October 22, 2022, Group 1, England vs Afghanistan, Optus Stadium, Perth

            England won by 5 wickets

Key Battles in Semi Final 2: India vs England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: Nov 10, 2022

Key Battles in Semi Final 2: India vs England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: Nov 10, 2022

Let us look at a few key battles that will decide the outcome of the semi final between India and England in the semi final to be held at the Adelaide Oval. You can read the Match Preview here and the road to the semi finals for these teams here.

Mark Wood vs Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul

If Mark Wood starts the game, then his opening burst against the Indian openers would be the key to set the tone for England. For India, Rahul and Rohit would do well to survive this raw pace and take advantage later.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the wood over Jos Buttler and troubled him greatly in the last series these two sides played in. Add Arshdeep Singh to the mix and the Indian opening bowlers form a lethal and potent opposition for the English openers, both of whom struggle against the moving ball.

R Ashwin vs Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone is one player in that English middle order that can single handedly kill the game in the favour of the English. He is a good player of spin and with short Adelaide boundaries, it will be imperative for India to get him out early. How R Ashwin fares against him, if these two are up against each other, will be a key and a fascinating part of the match.

Adil Rashid vs Suryakumar Yadav

Like Liam Livingstone, Suryakumar Yadav is the man who can turn the tide in India's favour very quickly with his explosive batting. He smashed a stunning 100 just a few months back against England and has looked in sublime form in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Adil Rashid will be tasked with keeping SKY quiet and if possible sneak a googly through his defence!

Sam Curran vs Hardik Pandya

Sam Curran is a man who seems to have reinvented his death bowling. He has been phenomenal for England in the closing overs and Hardik Pandya will be tasked to take him on during the slog overs for India. How Pandya fares against the wily Curran is something that might decide the fate of the match, especially if India bat first.

Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes vs Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is back to his best and the middle overs will be all about how he goes about his business against Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes. Kohli has struggled a bit against leg break bowling on occasions with the google often deceiving him. Like Suryakumar Yadav, how Kohli handles Rashid will go a long way in how India eventually fare in the match. Ben Stokes is a man for the big occasions and he will definitely take on the responsibility of getting Kohli when he comes to the crease. Stokes is known to get regular wickets and his battle with Virat will be intriguing to watch too.

Which battle fascinates you the most? What are you most looking forward to?

India take on England at Adelaide Oval in the second semi final of T20 World Cup 2022

Semi Final 2: India vs England at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide: Nov 10, 2022 - Match Preview

India will face a strong English side in a bid to make their 3rd T20 World Cup final since the tournament's inception in 2007 when India emerged eventual winners. Both the teams have had a relatively stress free run to the semis, losing one game apiece during the group stages. The two squared off for a 3 match series earlier this year in England, and although the troops were not all the same, India managed to get a 2-1 victory over hosts England.

Indian batting relies heavily on its top 4 but with Rohit and Rahul both blowing hot and cold the majority of the run making this World Cup has fallen to Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav. The two have literally carried Indian batting with small contributions from their openers at times and India will hope that they continue to find the runs in the big games now. Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik haven't had any meaningful time out in the middle with the bat yet but they'll have to do the talking in the semi final if the top order somehow fails to deliver.

Indian bowling has been looking sharp with young Arshdeep Singh leading the charge and the experienced pros, Mohammad Shami and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, supporting him. Hardik Pandya has done a decent job in the middle overs and Ashwin found some wickets finally in the dead rubber against Zimbabwe. Bhuvi had the number over Buttler in that last series, so that battle will be fascinating to watch.

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales seem to have found decent form with runs against New Zealand and Sri Lanka and will remain the key batters for England as they will hope to provide a bright start. Stokes also finally spent important time in the middle guiding England to victory against Sri Lanka. The injury to Dawid Malan means England can bring in the attacking Phil Salt into the line up while Liam Livingstone will be a key figure in how English handle Ashwin in the middle overs.

England suffered a mini blip with Mark Wood having an injury scare yesterday but he seems to be alright. He's been their pick of the bowlers along with the much improved Sam Curran who seems to have taken his death bowling to a different level. Woakes remains a key figure while Rashid and Livingstone have handled the spin responsibility. Moeen Ali has had previous success against some of the Indian batters so he might be given a few overs too.

Key Battles: India vs England

Mark Wood vs Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh vs Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

R Ashwin vs Liam Livingstone

Adil Rashid vs Suryakumar Yadav

The weather for this game should be fine with a very little chance of rain predicted in Adelaide tomorrow. The used pitch should mean that batters will have their work cut out but the smaller square boundaries might provide them with some respite. It promises to be a fascinating contest between two of the strongest white ball format teams going around currently. India and England, both, will not give an inch and at a packed Adelaide we will get to see a spectacle!

Probable India XI

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami

Probable England XI

Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Top 5 Fantasy Picks for India v England at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Ben Stokes

Sam Curran

Suryakumar Yadav

Jos Buttler

Arshdeep Singh

The match will start at 01.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)

Who will join the winner from semi final 1 into the finals? Will India end their long wait to play in the finals or will England prevail after falling at the same stage last year?

Looking to set up your Dream 11 team for this match? Head here to make the ideal Dream11 Team for India v England semi final match.