Australia vs India Women's ODI Series Postponed Due To COVID

Cricket Australia confirmed on Thursday (December 31) that the 3-match women’s ODI home series against India which was originally slated for January 2021 has been postponed to next season.

This decision from the CA comes in wake of the sudden outbreak of the covid-19 virus in Australia. Apart from the earlier schedule of 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is are also added in the series which is moved to next season and will serve both sides in the build-up to the World Cup 2022, which will be held in New Zealand in March and April.

India’s return to international cricket extended

The postponement of the series against Australia means the Indian women’s team will have to wait longer to take the field again since the T20 World Cup final in March 2020 in Melbourne, which Harmanpreet Kaur’s side lost to the same opposition. India Women last played an ODI match in November 2019.

Meg Lanning’s side is currently riding on a 21-match unbeaten streak in the ODI format.

The one-day World Cup was to be held in New Zealand early in 2021 but has been delayed by more than a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are very hopeful of delivering an expanded schedule between the Australian and Indian women’s teams for next season, which would be an outstanding result for fans in both countries. We had initially hoped to play India this summer, however, the impact of the global pandemic made it necessary to postpone until next season,” CA interim CEO Nick Hockley said.

“It will be wonderful to once again host the Indian women’s team, who were center stage for that unforgettable ICC T20 World Cup final at the MCG in March, and to do so with an expanded schedule from what was originally planned,” Hockley added.

If the covid situation subsides, Australia will have a busy next season; the Women’s Big Bash League, hosting India for limited-overs matches, and arch-rivals England for The Ashes followed by the ODI World Cup.

Also Read: Watch: Rohit Sharma Gets A Warm Welcome As He Joins Team India In Melbourne