Five things from 2024 to look forward to
IPL 2024
The upcoming IPL 2024, commencing from March and concluding on May 29, promises an exhilarating cricketing showdown. With the BCCI introducing two fresh teams in the last two years, the tournament will witness a total of ten teams battling it out across ten Indian cities. Fans are eagerly anticipating the return of their favourite players and the revelation of new teams, setting the stage for an unmissable cricketing extravaganza. IPL 2024 is gearing up to be a carnival of cricket that fanatics won’t want to overlook.
MS Dhoni’s potential IPL swansong
With the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) looming, the spotlight remains fixed on MS Dhoni, the stalwart of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Dhoni’s future in the IPL, just three months away, sparks intense speculation. The burning question persists: Is this Dhoni’s final season swansong? Dhoni’s remarks of “Definitely Not” and a commitment to “at least one more season” fuel the debate. If the ‘Captain Cool’ opts to bid adieu this time, it’s a spectacle that cannot be missed.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024
A landmark event awaits in June with the T20 cricket spectacle expanding to a record 20 teams, grouped into four sets of five. The West Indies and the USA lead the pack as hosts, followed by the top eight teams from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022 (the top quartet from each Super 12 group). Afghanistan and Bangladesh secured their spots based on their standing in the ICC T20 International Rankings by November 14, 2022. The journey to the semi-finals for the top two teams in each group promises thrilling cricketing action set in the vibrant T20I haven of the Caribbean this June.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
The quest for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Bangladesh 2024 has kicked off. A Global Qualifier awaits in early 2024, where ten teams will vie for a spot in women’s cricket’s premier T20I event, slated for September and October. This Qualifier will witness the battle among 10 teams, including Ireland and Sri Lanka, who missed automatic entry by not finishing in the top six in the previous ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa. Two coveted spots in the T20 World Cup are up for grabs, intensifying the race to secure a place on the grand stage.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
In the closing months of the year, Team India gears up for a challenging tour “Down Under” to take on Australia in a five-Test series. Beyond being a test of their prowess in unfamiliar conditions, this series holds significant weight in shaping the World Test Championship standings. The year concludes with both teams engaged in a Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-match Test series spanning into 2025. These matches, alongside their other Test fixtures in 2024, contribute to their standing in the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship.
