Sanju Samson was to play the T20 World Cup final.
Then, Skipper Rohit Sharma changed his mind.
In typical Rohit style, he then spent 10 minutes explaining to Sanju why he was being excluded from the playing eleven.
Subject to visa, the team will now leave for Hyderabad from Lahore in the wee hours of September 27 and reach Hyderabad via Dubai in the night.
Kane Williamson will play both of New Zealand's warm-up matches but will skip the tournament opener against England.
'The intensity and frequency of heatwaves will be much higher than in previous years over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.'
Defending champions Australia are clubbed alongside India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Group A.
The India cricket team is scheduled to tour England in August and September to play five Test matches, beginning with the opening game at Nottingham on August 4.
Captain Ishan Kishan and Ricky Bhui smashed unbeaten centuries as three-time champion India crushed Canada by 372 runs in their warm-up match of the U-19 World Cup in Mirpur on Saturday.
On August 16, 1980, the Kolkata football derby between arch rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, played at the Eden Gardens (there was no Salt Lake Stadium then) witnessed a massive clash between the supporters of two teams, leading to 16 deaths.
The year 2024 was the hottest year on record, with the global average temperature exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. Every month from January to June was the warmest ever recorded, and from July to December (except August), each month was the second warmest on record. Scientists are warning that the world is entering a new climate reality, with extreme heatwaves, floods, and storms becoming more frequent and severe. The report also highlights the failure of developed nations to meet their climate finance commitments to developing countries, despite the urgency of the situation.
The Netherlands and Germany scored morale-boosting wins in friendly matches on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli hugged Rohit Sharma after an electrifying IPL 2025 clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
Australia were the number one team back in the day and reminisced the challenges they faced playing against them.
New Zealand completed their World Cup preparations with a 134-run victory over South Africa on Wednesday.
Germany put the finishing touches to their World Cup preparations by beating Colombia 3-0 on Friday.
The long wait for cricket fans is finally over as the tickets for World Cup 2023 will go on general sale on Friday.
Bangladesh begin their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Texas on June 7 and it remains to be seen if the premier pacer is fit for that match. Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed is also down with a side strain.
Virat Kohli's form in focus as India eye ODI clean-sweep over England
Jemimah Rodrigues struck a crucial fifty as India secured a comprehensive 20-run victory against West Indies in a warm-up game ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday.
Lim Si-hyeon delivered an emphatic statement on Thursday that she is the woman to beat at the Paris Olympics as the mighty South Korean archery team warmed up for another assault on the medal podium.
Stimac, whose contract was terminated on Monday, coached India for five years.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's comments about being mentally unprepared for pre-World Cup practice matches were ill-timed, feel West Indian batting legend Vivian Richards and ex-Pakistan captain Imran Khan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance have expressed satisfaction with the progress made in negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement. The two leaders met in New Delhi and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including cooperation in energy, defense, strategic technologies, and other areas. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Beginning with the Eden T20I, the two teams will fight it out in a full white ball series, comprising five T20Is and three ODIs, which will serve as a crucial warm-up for the Champions Trophy, slated to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.
Madison Keys said she would be wary about being too aggressive against Iga Swiatek.
Saurabh Tiwary scored an unbeaten 98 as India rallied from the loss of three early wickets to win their final warm-up match by six wickets.
'It is typical of China's strategic deception of making virtue out of necessity,' observes Rup Narayan Das.
Pakistan would be desperate to plug the gaping holes and hope their star players regain form when they open their World Cup campaign against a free spirited Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday appeared to be giving clear signals that it may not be averse to discussions on government formation with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which welcomed the gesture.
What despots and dictators, jammers and competitors, had not managed to do in 83 years -- what the Soviet Union had failed to counter during the Cold War; what China had failed to crush during the Tiananmen Square uprising -- a US President had succeeded with his own hand, notes Krishna Prasad.
New Zealand will play the World Cup-opener against England on Thursday without key pacer Tim Southee, who is yet to recover from his thumb surgery.
Bill Aitken came to India nearly 60 years ago. He never returned. An Indian citizen since 1972, he tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih how India changed his life forever.
In a hilarious social media video, the wicket-keeper-batter is seen playing a unique game of golf with team-mate Suryakumar Yadav -- using a cricket bat and a paper bag as a hole, all within the confines of their team hotel hallway!
Aryna Sabalenka opened her bid for a third straight Australian Open title with an easy victory over Sloane Stephens on Sunday.
Images from the Track and Field action at the Parish Olympics on Monday.
There could be no place more appropriate for Djokovic to finally break free of his tie with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam singles titles than in her own backyard at Melbourne Park, where he has won the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup 10 times.
Padikkal's innings against Punjab Kings wasn't just a return to form -- it was a powerful reminder of his talent, timing, and temperament.
The Serbian 24-times Grand Slam champion trailed Korda 5-2 in the second set but broke the American as he served at 5-3 and his precise and powerful serving carried him to the finish.
Jake Fraser-McGurk set the IPL alight with his smashing performance with the bat for Delhi Capitals, hitting 330 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 234.
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