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The Indian women's team is set to face South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, in a multi-format series this summer. The action kicks off in June and July of 2024. The limited-overs portion of the series, including three ODIs, will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Chennai's M.A. Chidambaram Stadium will be the venue for the red-ball battle – a one-off Test match – followed by three T20 Internationals.
Here's a tentative schedule
The Test match is reportedly set for June 28th, marking India's third Test in just six months and South Africa's historic third Test ever. The ODIs will be played on June 16, 19 and 23 while the T20Is are expected to be played on July 5, 7, and 9. However there's no official confirmation yet, cricket fans in India eagerly await the official announcement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This upcoming South Africa series holds historical significance for Chennai. The city is gearing up to host its second-ever Women's Test match. The first one was way back in November 1976, where India played the West Indies in a drawn encounter. Following this multi-format series against South Africa, the Indian women's team will participate in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. This will be a crucial preparation stage before they head to Bangladesh for the much-anticipated T20 World Cup scheduled for September-October 2024.
This upcoming Test against South Africa marks India's third Test match in a short span of seven months. In December, they faced both England and Australia in the red-ball format. This surge in Test matches coincides with a landmark decision by the BCCI: offering equal match fees for male and female cricketers. This move is seen as a crucial step towards promoting equality in the sport.
South Africa, on the other hand, is relatively new to the Test scene. After an eight-year break, they returned to the format in June 2022 with a match against England. Their most recent Test was in February this year, where they faced a heavy defeat to Australia. This series holds significance beyond the field. It represents the BCCI's commitment to expanding women's cricket's reach. Traditionally, the BCCI preferred hosting matches across multiple venues in Mumbai. However, they recently broke this trend with the Women's Premier League (WPL) held in Bengaluru and Delhi. Additionally, the three ODIs are part of the ICC Women's Championship, offering crucial qualification points for the 2025 ODI World Cup hosted by India. South Africa, currently ranked second in the championship table, will be aiming for a strong showing in this series.
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