India is scheduled to take on England and Australia in two warm-up matches ahead of the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Even as the 14th edition of the IPL 2021 is closing in on its climax, the UAE is also gearing up to host the much-awaited T20 World Cup a few days after IPL concludes.
The qualifying round will see eight teams including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh fighting it out from October 17 to 22. The top eight teams are already qualified for the Super 12 round and those sides, during this period will get into the groove with warm-up matches.
India Will Face England And Australia In Warm-Up Matches
The schedule for the warm-up games has been announced and the matches will be played only on two days, October 18 and 20 with four matches taking place on each day at different venues. Every side will get to play two matches each in the lead up to the Super 12 round starting from October 23.
Team India, led by Virat Kohli, will face England and Australia in their warm-up matches which is good for the team given the strength of both sides. However, before facing their arch-rivals in the Super 12 round, Pakistan will be challenged by the defending champions West Indies and South Africa.
Australia will also face New Zealand in their other warm-up encounter while repeating the World Cup 2019 final in England’s other warm-up. In total, 8 matches will be played across two days with Dubai and Abu Dhabi hosting them. As of now, it is confirmed that Star Sports will telecast India’s warm-up matches apart from the main tournament from October 17.
Indian Players Participating In IPL Will Be Busy As T20I World Cup Will Immediately Follow The League
The Super 12 round, meanwhile, will commence with the game between Australia and South Africa while on the same day, the finalists of the 2016 T20 World Cup, England, and West Indies will lock horns. The magnitude of matches being played in the UAE is huge, and one will hope for the pitches to last till the end of the mega event.
All of the Indian players selected for the T20 World Cup 2021 are presently busy with their respective franchises in the IPL 2021. The T20 league will conclude on October 15 while the Men in Blue are scheduled to open their campaign in the T20 World Cup against Pakistan on October 24.
With the warm-up matches scheduled for October 18 and 20, the Indian cricketers bound for the T20 World Cup are set to remain busy even after the conclusion of the T20 league. The Indian team of 15 players for the T20 World Cup 2021 featured Ravichandran Ashwin, the off-spinner, who returned to the white-ball side after 2017. Among the notable omissions were Shikhar Dhawan, and the wrist spinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
Here’s the schedule of the warm-up matches
October 18, Monday – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Match 1 – Afghanistan vs South Africa – 3:30 PM IST
Match 2 – New Zealand vs Australia -7:30 PM IST
October 18, Monday – Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Match 3 – Pakistan vs West Indies – 3:30 PM IST
Match 4 – India vs England – 7:30 PM IST
October 20, Wednesday – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Match 5 – England vs New Zealand – 3:30 PM IST
Match 6 – South Africa vs Pakistan – 7:30 PM IST
October 20, Wednesday – Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Match 7 – India vs Australia – 3:30 PM IST
Match 8 – Afghanistan vs West Indies – 7:30 PM IST