The England test cricket team will tour India between January and March 2024, for a five-test series. An England-India cricket tour is one of the indisputable highlights of the cricketing calendar. India is one of the best places in the world for an international cricket tour. Electric energy and passion for the game course through the country. Can we see the team lead us to victory again 10 years since their last test India win?
No cricket fan would want to miss seeing England and India’s cricketing rivalry play out in legendary test venues. 2024’s tour boasts destinations like the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Eden Gardens in Calcutta (Kolkata). But, possibly controversially, you’ve also got somewhat obscure locations to experience – all part of experiencing off-the-beaten-track India. No Mumbai, no Calcutta, no Delhi, and no Chennai. Instead, we’ve got Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi & Dharamshala.
KEY CRICKET TOUR DETAILS
England India Cricket Tour: What’s the Match Schedule?
At the time of writing (26 July 2023), the current schedule is below. Who knows, maybe with a bit of wrangling, the ECB will get their way and we’ll get some more iconic grounds in there. But from our understanding, this is unlikely.
England’s Tour of India 2024
First Test: 25-29 January, Hyderabad
Second Test: 2-6 February, Visakhapatnam
Third Test: 15-19 February, Rajkot
Fourth Test: 23-27 February, Ranchi
Fifth Test: 7-11 March, Dharamshala
Tickets for India vs England cricket tests are often released comparatively late in the calendar. That said, hotels and flights will soon be booked up, so you have to act quickly to get the best accommodation options.
Hyderabad: Nizam’s Playground
Direct flights with BA into the hustle and bustle of Hyderabad. Visit historical charms like the Charminar and the Qutub Shahi Tombs, while savoring the city’s famed spicy biryani. If the sprawl and traffic of the city is too much, why not start in Goa? From there, you can travel via the incredible Hampi and discover its iconic boulders. As an added adventure, there is an 8-hour train expedition to the 2nd test in Visakhapatnam.
The stadium: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, 55000 capacity in the northeast of the city.
Visakhapatnam: The Coastal Clash
Feel the humid coastal breeze, possibly influencing the game’s swing, while the beachside locale is interesting for a post-match walk. Have you heard of this place? It shows the true scale of the country, a little-known city with a population of over 2 million! There isn’t lots to see in the city, but not many international cricket fans will experience cricket here, that’s for sure.
The stadium: Dr Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy Cricket Stadium: 30 minutes north of the main city, this is a smaller stadium with a capacity of 30,000.
Rajkot: The Western Warzone
Cheer with the electrifying energy of Saurashtra and take a culinary detour with sweet Gujarati delicacies like jalebi. This city is the fourth largest in Gujarat and is on the other side of the country from Visakhapatnam. Whilst the food might be sweet, having a drink might be an issue… (ssh!) Gujarat is a dry state.
The stadium: You won’t be watching in the world’s biggest cricket stadium (in the capital of Gujarat, Ahmedabad) but in the smaller, 28000-capacity Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Ranchi: Dhoni’s Den
Dive deep into the cricket-loving spirit of Jharkhand, the home ground of cricket legend MS Dhoni, and get a slice of India’s heartland. This one is really in the sticks (Ranchi’s population is only 1.5 million!). Again, like Visakhapatnam, there’s not loads to see here, but you’re just a one-hour direct flight from Kolkata, home of the East India Company and more importantly, the iconic Eden Gardens.
The stadium: JSCA International Stadium Complex: This is a relatively new stadium with a capacity of 50000, inaugurated in 2013.
Dharamshala: The Himalayan Huddle
Beyond the cricketing thrill, let the majestic views of the Dhauladhar range sweep you off your feet. And why not see if the Dalai Lamai in exile wants to chat cricket? A great place to end the series – you have the Golden Temple and Shimla (not far from the highest cricket ground in the world, Chail Cricket Ground) not too far away for a bit of extra travelling. Although it is quite a mission from Ranchi. A couple of days in Delhi, for example, is no bad thing.
The Stadium? One of the highest in the world, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It’s a humble 23000 but what a place to watch.
ETG Cricket Tour Packages – What’s Included?
Perhaps the typical ‘Barmy Army’ style cricket tour doesn’t quite appeal to you. That’s where we, Experience Travel Group (ETG), come in.
Rather than focus solely on cricket, our tours are for those who love the game AND the magic of India. Our travellers prefer interesting character and high-quality hotels, immersive experiences, seamless travel and the best guides in India. If that sounds like you, perhaps our kind of cricket experience might be what you’re looking for.
Each ETG holiday is designed from scratch for the individual traveller. So, unlike most international sports tours, you can design your trip for the England cricket tour so that it meets your requirements perfectly. The following fundamentals, however, will always be included:
- Tickets for the India v England fixtures you would like to attend
- Drivers, all internal transfers (see more below) and any activities with a local English Speaking Guide
- Accommodation
- Immersive local experiences which give back where possible
- Privacy and space to do your own thing, but with the option to meet others travelling with ETG and share a drink at the ground, over lunch and afterwards
- International flights (though you are also welcome to book your own)
It’s your holiday, so we’ll work out the details in close conversation with you. If you would like some personalised holiday ideas then we will gladly send you some sample packages, including costs. Alternatively, you can take a look at the kind of boutique India holidays we create.
ETG Cricket tour packages – What’s included?
Each ETG holiday is designed from scratch for the individual traveller. So, unlike most international sports tours, you can design your trip for the England cricket tour so that it meets your requirements perfectly. The following fundamentals, however, will always be included:
- Tickets for the India v England fixtures you would like to attend
- Drivers, all internal transfers (see more below) and any activities with a local English Speaking Guide
- Accommodation
- Immersive local experiences with give back where possible
- Privacy and space to do your own thing, but with the option to meet others travelling with ETG and share a drink at the ground, over lunch and afterwards
- International flights (though you are also welcome to book your own)
It’s your holiday, so we’ll work out the details in close conversation with you. If you would like some personalised holiday ideas then we will gladly send you some sample packages, including costs. Alternatively, you can take a look at the kind of boutique India holidays we create on our website.
Why Experience Travel Group?
To be frank, our cricket tours aren’t for those looking to experience cricket in the most low-cost way possible. We don’t aim to compete with the ‘Barmy Army’ style trips. Our holidays are for those who love cricket but are also curious about India and would like to take the opportunity for a real holiday.
We do have some critical advantages over generic sports companies:
- We arrange holidays to India all the time, so understand how to make the trip smooth, fun, and enjoyable.
- We’ve got an incredible set of immersive and fun experiences which will give you memories of true adventure along with those of the cricket.
If you would like to get an idea of the sort of holidays we can arrange, get in touch and we will send you some sample packages including costs or talk you through your specific requirements. Why not find out how successful our cricket tours to Sri Lanka were back in 2018?
Enjoying the Cricket
Whether you are planning on watching just a day or two, or the entire series, you’ll need to know that your cricket experience is in good hands.
- We can ensure that you have the ticket option that you require. Whether it is AC or outside, we can tell you from experience how it works.
- The bulk of our tickets are together, which provides a fun, friendly atmosphere among like-minded people. We promise that there are no compulsory t-shirts!
- The food in the grounds is often not great. Good, clean local restaurants are tricky to source. That’s why we will aim to include lunches where food options aren’t great for all of our clients attending that particular tests and reputable locations.
Weather in India
The good news is that this tour is taking place during India’s ‘peak’ season. January to March is a fantastic time to visit the whole country, even taking into account the vast in-country weather differences. In Delhi, Kolkata and other cricket destinations in the north, it will be comfortable during the day in January and a little chilly in the evening.
Early and mid-February will start to see temperatures around the mid-20s before hitting the late 20s and early 30s at the end of the month and into March. All other areas (think Mumbai, Chennai) should be in the late 20s and early 30s from January and picking up gradually into March to about the early 30s. For more on weather in India please visit our website.
However, this does mean that quality accommodation will be at a premium. Contact us today to see what packages we have available, and we can hold you a room while you make your decision.
Getting to India
There are plenty of comfortable flight options from the UK to India. Heathrow operates direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad taking between 08hrs 30 mins and 09hrs 30 mins. Indirect flights from Edinburgh, Manchester & London to these cities take around 12hrs 30 minutes via a transit hub in the Middle East.
Making it ‘More Than a Cricket Tour’
To make this a true holiday we’d suggest thinking carefully about how best to explore and go further into this incredible, diverse and huge country. Would you like to relax in tea-clad plantations? Spot tigers and leopards in the national parks of Madhya Pradesh? Explore the incredible historical sites of the ‘Golden Triangle’?
It’s all within your grasp alongside a cricket experience but beware of trying to do too much. We can help ensure that you have a fantastic travel and cricket experience at the right pace for you.
CURIOUS ABOUT THE ENGLAND CRICKET TOUR TO INDIA IN 2024?
Find out more about the England Cricket Tour to India by filling in your details here.
To talk about a bespoke holiday based around the cricket, give us a call on [etg-number].
Note that rates for flights are beyond our control and are likely to soar as the dates become closer. We can hold flight prices and availability for a few days or even a week while you firm up your arrangements. We’re here to help you make this idea a reality!
CURIOUS ABOUT THE ENGLAND CRICKET TOUR TO INDIA 2024?
Find out more about the England Cricket Tour to India by filling in your details here.
To talk about a bespoke holiday based around the cricket, give us a call on 020 7924 7133 .
Note that rates for flights are beyond our control and are likely to soar as the dates become closer. We can hold flight prices and availability for a few days or even a week while you firm up your arrangements. We’re here to help you make this idea a reality!