IMAGES from the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Shubman Gill has been guilty of taking too much load on himself since his T20 comeback and the Indian team wants him to bat as freely as he does in the IPL, said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
This isn't just a Test match - it's a test of Shubman Gill's leadership, temperament, and decision-making.
This was India's fourth defeat in the last six Tests at home and in all four Tests -- including three against New Zealand -- their batters have flopped against spin.
On one of India's most challenging surfaces in recent memory -- a dry, unpredictable turning track where every ball felt like an event, Temba Bavuma played one of the defining innings of his career.
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma downplayed Shukri Conrad's controversial remarks that he wanted India to "really grovel".
England captain Ben Stokes on Tuesday dismissed the chatter surrounding Jasprit Bumrah's availability for only three Tests out of five as "India's problem" and said he is expecting the "passionate" visitors to fight hard in the second Test irrespective of the team composition.
Gill back in full flow, Hardik opts out of practice ahead of SA T20I series
'It (the pitch) wasn't free-flowing. You felt comfortable, but the scoreboard wasn't going anywhere.'
India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav urged his teammates to remain on the fearless on the cricket pitch.
Bumrah, when quizzed about the repeated ball change, maintained a neutral tone on the matter.
'Raat mein bande ne chashme pehne hue hain,' Bumrah chuckled in a video shared by the BCCI.
Mahela Jayawardene, MI's head coach, had last spoken about Bumrah's situation on March 19, admitting the challenge of starting the season without their premier fast bowler.
Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that India's new T20 approach isn't just about fearless batting, it's about all-round aggression.
Indian skipper Shubman Gill confirmed that world's best fast bowler will be back during the third Test starting July 10 and Stokes wasn't amused that he would be asked about the fast bowling talisman for zillionth time.
Jasprit Bumrah reflected on missed catching opportunities off his bowling and emphasised the importance of moving on during the game.
Siraj took a six wicket haul in the first innings and got rid of Zak Crawley in the final hour on day five.
'He has been benched so many times that he has lost a bit of rhythm.'
He has taken nine five-wicket hauls in SENA conditions.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
With India's home aura cracking again, Sourav Ganguly has stepped into the pitch debate admitting the Eden surface was far from ideal but stressing that a world-class Test side should never crumble in pursuit of 124.
The T20 WC champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
Rishabh Pant was ruled out for nearly three months after he fractured his foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July.
A 'special message' from India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah on the eve of Cameron Green's back surgery gave the Australian all-rounder the much-needed reassurance about his decision to go under the knife.
India finished Day 3 on 90/2 to lead England by 96 runs at stumps in the opening Test on Sunday after England were dismissed for 465 in the first innings.
Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs by an Indian in England. Virat Kohli holds the record for most wins by an Indian captain in England.
Jasprit Bumrah said it is his self belief which has allowed him to complete almost a decade in international cricket.
The Indian squad, which is expected to comprise 16 members, will be one of the trickiest ones in recent times as there is a debate around who the new captain should be.
Bumrah steps aside from Test captaincy race; Gill, Pant now leading contenders
In the IPL Eliminator against Gujarat Titans on Friday, May 30 2025, Mumbai Indians' seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were the difference-makers, underlining the timeless adage that in cricket, it's the big players who deliver on the big occasions.
Gill may miss ODI series due to unhealed neck injury; Rahul, Pant in line for ODI captaincy
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 1st Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds on Saturday.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Washington Sundar enhanced his reputation as a T20 hitter with India batting in top gear through the innings to comfortably chase down a target of 187 for a series levelling five-wicket win over Australia.
The collapse, India's lowest failed chase at home, has left behind deeper fault lines than a dry Eden Gardens wicket can conceal.
Bumrah shared a picture of him hitting the gym at the National Cricket Academy as he recuperates from the lower back injury that forced him out of the Champions Trophy.
Many on social media felt that Bumrah's reaction was over the top, which seemed to have arisen from the frustration of being thrashed to all corners of the park by Nair.
Difficult to replace Bumrah but we have enough quality in squad for England tour: Gambhir
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