Delhi residents rejoice! The national capital is most likely to host a Test match after a long gap of 5 years, and that too India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy next year in February and March.
The dates are not yet announced, but according to PTI sources, Ahmedabad, Dharamsala and Chennai are also in the fray.
The Series Significance
The series will be very important as it will be the last four games for India in the second edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. In fact, in order to qualify for the summit clash, India might have to beat Australia 4-0, which could be a Herculean task for Rohit Sharma's men. The series is traditionally a four-Test affair but will be contested across five matches during the next ICC Future Tours & Programme (FTP), starting in 2024.
Statement From The Source
As per the BCCI's rotation formula, Delhi, which has missed out during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, is all set to get one of the Test matches. The city last hosted a Test against Sri Lanka in December 2017.
"Delhi is likely to host the second of the four Test matches as of now. The dates will be out as and when the Tours and Fixtures committee hold its meeting. Dharamsala, which hosted its first and only Test almost six years back, against Australia in March 2017, will probably host the third Test," a senior BCCI official told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
It is understood that Australia, in all likelihood, will start the series in Chennai or Hyderabad, as Bengaluru had hosted a Test match against Sri Lanka earlier this year. That was a day/night Test. Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to host the series finale. A decision is yet to be taken on which of the four Tests will be a day/night affair.
The BCCI has so far hosted three pink-ball Tests -- the inaugural one in the country against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens, one against England at Motera and the last one against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. Post the COVID-19-induced break, the BCCI has hosted eight Test matches with four against England in 2021 (Chennai and Ahmedabad ), two against New Zealand (Kanpur and Mumbai) and two against Sri Lanka (Chandigarh and Bengaluru).
India will next be in action against New Zealand from 18th November in Wellington as they play in the 1st of the 3-match T20 series.
