VIn a dramatic turn of events on Day 3, India faced a resounding defeat against South Africa in the first Test as their batting lineup crumbled, managing only 131 runs in the second innings after the hosts posted a formidable 408 in their initial essay.
Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur led India's spirited fightback, but Australia were sitting in control after stretching their lead to 296 runs at stumps on Day 3.
Sri Lanka are no pushovers but they have faltered more often than not in this World Cup after an superlative show in the qualification round.
'Off to England for the World Test Championship Final with the one and only Rohit Sharma.'
He should have played ahead of Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna in the Test series opener against South Africa but when Mukesh Kumar finally got his chance at Newlands, the Indian team realised what exactly it missed during the mauling in Centurion.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing for the World Cup match against Bangladesh?
Former India selector Sandeep Singh picked India's playing XI for the WTC Final.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against South Africa, starting on January 3?
Astronomical Rs 24.75 crore bid makes Starc most expensive player in IPL history
The truth of the matter is that India lost their second successive WTC final on day two of this encounter when they collapsed to 71/4 in response to Australia's first-innings total of 469.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
'Umran Malik is bowling at 150 km per hour. I mean when you have the best car in the world, and you leave it in the garage, then what's the point of having that car?'
Rahane's comeback after 15 months was on predictable lines
Rohit Sharma took the player-of-the-match award and Jasprit Bumrah produced what pundits called the 'spell of the summer' but Shardul Thakur's role was no less important in fashioning India's victory in the fourth Test against England on Monday.
IMAGES from the 3rd ODI played between India and New Zealand in Indore on Tuesday.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first ODI against Australia on Friday?
A round-up of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final matches played on Monday.
Captain Rohit Sharma revealed that team-mates call Shardul Thakur 'magician' for his ability to pick wickets at crucial junctures.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the WTC final against Australia?
KKR CEO Venky Mysore justifies Mitchell Starc's huge pay check from skill-set standpoint
With regular skipper Shreyas Iyer ruled out, the Kolkata Knight Riders will heavily bank on new coach Chandrakant Pandit as they set their eyes on a third IPL title.
India's Asian Games cricket team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who played the first two ODIs, has been released from the squad and will link up with the Hangzhou-bound outfit. Also released is pacer Mukesh Kumar, who came in as cover for Bumrah.
Pandya, before the Bangladesh game had bowled 16 overs in the previous three matches and picked up five wickets.
'The Ukrainian soldiers were cordial to Nigerians and others but were harsh on Indians'
How the IPL teams have shaped up after the auction.
The BCCI top brass will be hoping to convince Rohit Sharma to lead the India team in T20 Internationals despite his reluctance.
Former selector Sarandeep Singh highlighted the selection blunders in India's T20 World Cup squad and said though Rohit Sharma is the obvious choice to lead the side in white-ball formats, he is not a long-term option.
World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance of winning their first ever Test series in South Africa.
How India's players fared in the Asia Cup.
The duo put on 103 runs for the sixth wicket from just 45 balls to turn the match on its head.
IMAGES from the Asia Cup match between India and Nepal played in Pallekele on Monday
After the match, the Mumbai Indians star -- the highest buy at the IPL 2022 players auction in February -- interacted with spectators, highlighting his down-to-earth personality.
Earlier, on a pitch offering pace and bounce for the bowlers, Thakur struck the first blow by castling Chad Bowes (10) with NZ 'A' at 14 in the third over. In his next over, he had Dane Cleaver (4) caught by Sen.
Skipper Rohit Sharma would fancy a perfect culmination to Indian team's World Cup preparations as hosts eye a rare clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI in Rajkot on Wednesday.
Mhambrey said while the bowlers will get some rest in days leading up to the WTC final, the group is determined to extract the maximum benefits from the training sessions.
Jasprit Bumrah took 6/61 as India crushed South Africa by seven wickets to level the two-match series 1-1.
Chahar, who had stiffness in his back after the third and final T20I against South Africa in Indore, will now head back to the National Cricket Academy where he will be monitored by the Medical Team there, according to a statement from the BCCI on Saturday.
India's batters will have to counter a potent Pakistan bowling attack that can make an impact irrespective of the nature of the pitch.
An annoyed Rohit Sharma slammed the broadcaster Star Sports for showing his century in the third ODI against New Zealand was the first in "three years" as the skipper pointed out he hardly played any 50-over matches during the period.
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