Indian Cricket 2023: The last 12 months for the Indian men’s cricket team have been nothing less than a roller coaster ride. From the changing of the guard from Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma to the firing of the whole selection committee and the emergence of Hardik Pandya as a potential leader, Indian cricket witnessed highs and lows across formats. Now that 2022 has drawn to a close, the year 2023 promises fresh challenges to the men’s cricket team on and off the cricket pitch. As we go deep down in this article, InsideSport presents to you TEN THINGS to look forward to Indian cricket in 2023. Follow India vs SriLanka LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
Indian Cricket 2023: After a roller coaster 2022, TEN THINGS to look forward to in Indian cricket in 2023, Check out
#TeamIndia squad for three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.#INDvSL @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/iXNqsMkL0Q
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2022
1) Split Captaincy (Separate captain for T20s)
2023 in all likelihood will witness the men’s cricket team ushering into a new era, at least in the T20 mode. The indications are there, with the outgoing national selectors opting for young blood in place of experienced stalwarts for the home series against Sri Lanka. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravi Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have all been left out of the T20 squad. Reports say that the BCCI has informed the seniors that they are no longer planning to participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Hardik Pandya has taken over the reins of Indian cricket in T20s, and the team bears a fresh look of youngsters with no baggage. Suryakumar Yadav has been named the vice captain. The official announcement of Hardik Pandya as India’s T20 captain is yet to be made, but it looks like a mere formality now. If this happens, then this will be the first time Indian cricket will officially adopt a split captaincy, with Rohit Sharma in charge of the Test and ODI sides.
The sparks that lit up the #T20WorldCup 🔥
Five match-defining moments from the tournament 👇https://t.co/3vkaiJoMKh
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 14, 2022
2. Split Coaching (BCCI could introduce split coaching for the 1st time)
Since India’s semi-final exit from the T20 World Cup in Australia, everyone’s attention has been focused on head coach Rahul Dravid’s methods for playing modern-day T20 cricket. Again, following the ODI series loss to Bangladesh in December, questions were raised about player fitness and how unfit players were allowed to play for the national team. Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh supports split coaching, which is similar to split captaincy in Indian cricket. According to reports, a major decision on whether or not Indian cricket will have split coaching in 2023 can be made following the BCCI’s apex council meeting. The same formula has worked wonders for England, and given the amount of cricket played, the Board may consider using it in the future.
A look at #TeamIndia‘s Top Performers in Test cricket for the year 2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣ 🫡@RishabhPant17 @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/YpUi2rjo3P
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 31, 2022
3. Retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Test cricket returns to India in grand style, with India hosting Australia in a four-match series beginning February 9 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. The three remaining tests will be held in Delhi, Dharamsala, and Ahmedabad. Australia last visited India in 2016, and it was a close series that the hosts won by a 2-1 margin. Since then, India has toured Australia twice, coming out on top both times by a 2-1 score. Since 2016, India has retained control of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and over a billion cricket fans will be hoping for the same result in 2023.
#TeamIndia win the Gabba Test by 3 wickets. Rishabh Pant shines with a match-winning 89*.
Scorecard – https://t.co/bSiJ4wW9ej #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/AfrfOiRyUy
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2021
4. WTC Final
The World Test Championship 2021-2023 cycle is quickly drawing towards a close. India after registering 2-0 win over Bangladesh have strengthened their position at the number second spot. Australia continues to stay at the top, after a strong showing against West Indies first, and now against South Africa at home.
How India can qualify for WTC FINAL? South Africa’s loss to Australia in the first Test in Brisbane & now at MCG has helped India’s cause. India with 2-0 series win over Bangladesh themselves have supported their chances to QUALIFY for FINALS. India is now NO. 2 and South Africa have fallen to 4th SPOT.
SriLanka has taken NO. 3 spot now but have little chance to topple India.
Where do India STAND? India began the Bangladesh series with 52. 08% percentage points (PCT) while South Africa were on 60%. India’s two wins helped them garner 24 points and took their percentage points to 58.
SA’s TWIN loss have plummeted their percentage points to 50%. SriLanka meanwhile has 53.33%
Australia with 132 points and percentage points of 78.57% are all but through.
India have 4 remaining Tests at home against Australia. South Africa too have 1 away Tests against Australia and 2 home Tests against the West Indies. It is more or less a shootout between India and South Africa for the second spot in the WTC Final.
Five of the top 10 Test run-scorers of this year have been shortlisted for #ICCAwards 2022 👀
Check out the nominations 👉 https://t.co/phUdrKMZ53 pic.twitter.com/F4sTgAAbbc
— ICC (@ICC) December 31, 2022
What must India & SA do?
● If SA manage to win Sydney in Australia and then clean sweep West Indies 2-0, India will need to win either three Tests or win two and draw the remaining two Tests against Australia to ensure they finish above South Africa.
● If India beat Australia 4-0, they will finish with 68. 05% points. In that case, SA cannot qualify even if they win all 4 of their remaining matches, for then they will end up with only 66. 66%.
● If India beat Australia 3-0, SA can only qualify with 4 wins in their remaining 4
Tests. If India beat Australia 3-1, then too SA again will have to win all 4 remaining Tests. If SA lose one more Test Down Under, they will be at the mercy of the India-Australia series scoreline to progress.
Are Australia through?
● Only if they win their remaining two Tests against South Africa. If they win one and lose the other, they will need five points from the India series.
Are any other teams in the running for a place?
● None except Sri Lanka, who have the best chance to pip India and South Africa. Lanka can finish at 61. 11% if they win their remaining two Tests against New Zealand and India and South Africa both goof up in all their matches.
The #WTC23 standings following Pakistan’s draw against New Zealand in Karachi 👇
🏏 State of play: https://t.co/HMBv3B49lr pic.twitter.com/bYjy4fJ1aT
— ICC (@ICC) December 31, 2022
5. Reclaim Asia Cup title
When Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2022 in September 2022, they were crowned the rightful winners. India was unable to advance to the final and was forced to return home empty-handed. India’s progress was hampered by losses to Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the group stage. When the battle for Asian supremacy resumes in September 2023, the Blues will be looking to turn things around. Although Pakistan is the official host, the tournament may be held elsewhere due to India’s reluctance to send its cricket team to the neighboring country. Nonetheless, the six-time champions will attempt to return the trophy to India in 2023.
C H A M P I O N S !
Men’s Asia Cup Champions for the 6️⃣th time! 🏆#RoaringForGlory #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/t3RmkBan4t
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 11, 2022
6. Win ODI world Cup at home
The men’s cricket 50-over World Cup will be up for grabs towards the end of the year. India will host the quadrennial event for the first time since 2011. The tournament will be played between October and November, and the top 10 teams will participate in the mega event. A total of 48 matches will be played, and England will be the defending champions, having won the World Cup in 2019. For the first time, India will host the entirety of the World Cup, with no co-hosts this time around. The last three editions of the World Cup have been won by hosts: 2015 by Australia and 2019 by England, and with India not winning any ICC titles since 2013, this provides them a golden chance to end their title drought.
Always on 🎯
Following last night’s five-for in the #IPL, here’s a throwback to every single wicket by India’s Jasprit Bumrah at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 ⬇️
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) May 10, 2022
7. Win Test series in South Africa
When India last toured South Africa in 2021-22, the hosts came back after losing the 1st Test to win the 3-Test-series 2-1. In 2023, India will get another opportunity to win its maiden Test series in South Africa. India will tour South Africa in December 2023, for two Tests, 3 ODIs and as many T20Is. Can India learn from its mistakes and make history in 2023?
South Africa beat India for the first time at the Wanderers and keep the series alive 💥
Dean Elgar leads by example and helps the Proteas level the series 1-1 👏#WTC23 | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/zqgRP5Cm1x
— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2022
8. New NCA complex in Bengaluru
2023 will witness a new National Cricket Academy mushrooming up in the Garden city – Bengaluru. Work is in full flow at the site in Bengaluru. The current NCA is set inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and is deemed smaller in size. The new complex is believed to be made on a 45-acre land, with 40 practice pitches and a 16,000 sq ft gym.
BCCI president Jay Shah shared that the development of the new NCA building is in full flow with site clearance work underway. The facility is expected to be launched sometime next year, replacing the current NCA structure. Currently, the NCA complex is inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and deemed to be smaller in size. BCCI acquired land for the NCA complex near Bengaluru airport a decade ago but didn’t make the shift right away.
The Indian Cricket ecosystem is all set to be enhanced and upgraded soon, as site clearance work for @BCCI‘s new National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/BC1rDLg0tJ
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) November 25, 2022
The new complex provides better facilities and players’ quarters besides other world-class amenities. The new NCA complex will have a 16,000 sqft gym, 40 practice pitches, and 243 rooms including an open-air theatre. There will be an indoor training facility besides a creche for cricketers’ children.
New NCA Building: What to expect?
- 16,000 sqft gym with the latest equipment.
- An all-Indian players’ rehab centre.
- 40 practice pitches with 20 having floodlight facility.
- 243 rooms for players, a creche for cricketers’ children.
- Open-air theatre, temperature-control pool, and indoor training facilities.
- Three grounds could host domestic matches.
- Ancillary facilities such as a bank, pharmacy, hospital, courier, salon, ATM, cycling track, basketball, tennis and futsal court.
A flick that ended a wait that lasted 1214 DAYS 🥺
The King is Happy, and so are we for his 44th ODI HUNDRED 👑@imVkohli#SonySportsNetwork #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/OTn7LO3JFX
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) December 10, 2022
9. Virat Kohli closing in on Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI hundreds
Before 2022 ended, Indian batsman Virat Kohli has ended his over 3-year-long ODI drought by slamming his 44 ton against Bangladesh in Chattogram. This was Kohli’s 72nd hundred in international cricket. With the ton, Kohli also went past former Australian Captain Ricky Ponting’s record of 71 tons across formats at the international level.
Only Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar is ahead of Kohli, who has 100 international hundreds against his name. Kohli’s last ODI ton came in Aug 2019 against West Indies in West Indies.
Virat Kohli brings up a brilliant 100 – his 44th in ODI cricket 🙌#BANvIND | https://t.co/SRyQabJ2Sf pic.twitter.com/dE9BQfPp8R
— ICC (@ICC) December 10, 2022
𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓 𝐊𝐎𝐇𝐋𝐈 💥💯
He brings up his 44th ODI ton off 85 deliveries.
He goes past Ricky Ponting to be second on the list in most number of centuries in international cricket.
Live – https://t.co/HGnEqtZJsM #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/ohSZTEugfD
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 10, 2022
Kohli’s last ODI hundred came 1214 days back. The fact that makes it huge is that at one point of time, Kohli used to make tons for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It goes without saying that after leaving Ponting behind, Virat Kohli will be eying Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record. He will be chasing the Indian batting legend in not one, but two records. Sachin has the most number of hundreds in international cricket, but he has also scored most 100s in ODIs. Sachin has 49 ODI tons from 463 matches, but Kohli has already scored 44 hundreds from mere 265 matches.
From emerging victorious after a tricky run chase to sharing the excitement of red-ball cricket 🙌🏻
Match-winners @ashwinravi99 & @cheteshwar1 sum up #TeamIndia’s series win against Bangladesh 👌🏻👌🏻 – By @RajalArora
Full Interview 🔽 #BANvIND https://t.co/5E8DzZ0bVP pic.twitter.com/4XSe2HjInB
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2022
10. Ashwin closing in on 500 Test wickets
After finishing 2022 on a high by assisting India to a nervous 3-wicket win over Bangladesh in Mirpur, ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has his sights set on a major milestone in 2023. Ashwin, who has 449 Test wickets from 88 Tests, will look to not only join the 450 Test wickets club, but also to get as close to the 500 Test wickets list as possible. If he succeeds, he will be only the second Indian after Anil Kumble (619 Test wickets) to accomplish the feat. With an aging body and Ashwin no longer the preferred spinner in overseas conditions, Ashwin will look to take as many scalps as he can before his time in red ball cricket runs out. He will next be seen against touring Australia in a four-Test series beginning in February.
The series! Ravichandran Ashwin takes another 5-wicket haul as India win the 4th Test by an innings and 36 runs #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/1YoDLg4NNA
— ICC (@ICC) December 12, 2016
Indian Cricket 2023: After a roller coaster 2022, TEN THINGS to look forward to in Indian cricket in 2023, Check out
Follow InsideSport on GOOGLE NEWS / Follow Sports NEWS, LIVE updates & LIVE Scores with InsideSport.IN
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Unpopular Opinion: Rohit Sharma is eating up Sarfaraz Khan & Dhruv Jurel spots in IND vs AUS Tests
Top Stories
