India went on an experimentation spree in the limited overs series against the West Indies but not much came out of it except Tilak Varma emerging as a contender for a World Cup middle-order slot on the back of his exploits in the T20 series.
After a disappointing showing in the Test series in Australia recently, the Indian team is eager to make a fresh start in the T20 format.
Captaon Suryakumar Yadav, all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, the only member from the Test side, will be hoping for a strong outing so that India can apply some balm over the wounds from their recent home series defeat against New Zealand.
'A good headache (playing XI selection), we want to stick to our strengths.'
'This time, even after we led 2-1 in the series, we decided how to play the last match (aggressively), everybody stepped up. Credit goes to everybody. We won this series as a team.'
'I can't point out one moment where we lost the game'
New rules, new captains, but same excitement as two months of cricket extravaganza kicks off in Kolkata.
Adil Rashid produced a stunning delivery to dismiss the in-form Tilak Varma during the third T20 International in Rajkot on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the 3rd T20I between India and England in Rajkot on Tuesday.
Rishabh Pant will be entering a new phase of his Indian Premier League (IPL)career when he takes over as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025.
His performance in Pune was a powerful response to his recent struggles in the Ranji Trophy, where he had been dismissed for ducks in both innings during Mumbai's loss to Jammu and Kashmir.
Samson was part of the squad in the recently concluded ODI series that the team won 3-0 and scored a half-century in the second game.
Samson hammered eight sixes and 11 fours to make 111 off only 47 balls while also recording the second-fastest T20I ton by an Indian -- off just 40 balls.
Mohammed Shami's first white ball outing since 2023 World Cup final was below par but Bengal survived a fine all-round effort by Arshdeep Singh
Eden Gardens will host the first game of the five match T20I series between India and England on Wednesday.
When someone hits century, they are backed: Shikhar Dhawan on Pant's selection over Sanju Samson
India's Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has seen both ends of the spectrum with high of Champions Trophy and low of six Test losses and he'll have tough choices to make once the new two-year cycle comes around with the new season.
Sanju Samson believes that in the past few years he has prepared himself in a manner that he can't be considered a 'one-dimensional cricketer' any more.
Images from the fourth T20 International between India and England in Pune on Friday.
Sanju Samson will look to continue his domination of the bowlers but India need more stability in the top order
The 31-year-old didn't find a place in the squad against England because of Reddy's recent exploits.
India have used 12 out of their 15 players in the first three games and it would be interesting to see if one among the two uncapped pacers Yash Dayal or Vysakh Vijaykumar gets a debut cap in case the pitch warrants an extra specialist speedster.
The Bangladesh bowlers have the ability to spice up things but against India's formidable lineup, they would need plenty of runs on the board.
Suryakumar Yadav reaffirmed the stance that no one is 'bigger than the team' and having a 'selfless' approach after the hosts handed Bangladesh a shellacking in the final T20I.
'I can't express my feelings right now. It's unbelievable. Can't imagine scoring back-to-back hundreds, that too in SA. Right now, I can't express my feelings.'
"When a captain or a coach says something like this, obviously there is a bit of confidence and you've to back yourself up.'
'You can always talk about a missed single here or there, but what matters to me is his positive attitude.'
Put into bat, Abhishek's onslaught propelled India to their highest powerplay score of 95 studded with 16 boundaries.
IMAGES from the 1st T20I played between India and England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Kerala advanced to their maiden Ranji Trophy final after clinching a dramatic two-run first-innings lead over Gujarat in the semi-finals on Friday.
Dube was hit on the helmet by a Jamie Overton bouncer and seamer Rana replaced him despite it not being a like-for-like replacement as concussion substitute rules mandate.
Deepak Hooda smashed an unbeaten 47 off 29 balls as India eased to a seven-wicket victory in the rain-curtailed first Twenty20.
Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson was effusive in praise of IPL 2022's leading scorer Jos Buttler, saying he is grateful to have the Englishman in his team.
It could also open the door for in-form Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a historic maiden Test century during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
'I'm a Sanju Samson fan, been that way for years now, (but) he's wasting good form by shot selection'
IMAGES from the second T20I in Gqeberha played between India and South Africa on Sunday
K L Rahul is set to be included in India's 15-member provisional World Cup squad, which will be announced by Tuesday.
All about IPL 2025 which kicks off on March 22, Saturday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was on Saturday expectedly picked in the India squad for the Champions Trophy and pacer Mohammed Shami returned to national fold
India's young T20 stars, led by opener Abhishek Sharma's blistering 79 off 34 balls, helped India crush England by seven wickets in the first T20I in Kolkata.
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