The senior duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma went full throttle in India's practice session on the eve of the India vs South Africa first ODI in Ranchi.
When players select themselves, the selectors' job becomes delightfully simple. But did the Indian selectors have that luxury while picking the T20 World Cup squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup? asks K R Nayar.
Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad hundreds help India set 359-run target in second ODI
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.
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill is "ready to start" ahead of the first T20I against South Africa of the five-match series, which will take place on December 9.
Gaikwad guides India A to four wicket win over South Africa A
At a loss to explain South Africa's capitulation in the series-opener, their batting coach Ashwell Prince said the visitors simply failed to answer the questions posed by India's "formidable" bowlers while being dismissed for their lowest T20I total of 74 Cuttack.
Suryakumar Yadav on Sunday acknowledged the shortage of runs from him but India's T20I skipper did not count it as lack of form, saying that runs will come sooner than later.
Images from the fifth T20 International between India and South Africa, in Ahmedabad, on Friday.
Yorkers on the field, reels off it -- Arshdeep Singh is mastering both games. The left-arm pacer, already India's leading T20I wicket-taker, is fast becoming cricket's social media star.
I won't be able to play freely if I focus on criticism: Harshit Rana
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.
Arshdeep Singh, who took three wickets for 35 runs in the third T20I against Australia, in Hobart on Sunday, said he's been working on his process, trusting his skills, and executing the plans he practised.
The controversial decision to select Shubman Gill in place of a well-settled Sanju Samson as the opener has backfired for the Indian team so far.
Gill back in full flow, Hardik opts out of practice ahead of SA T20I series
Rohit Sharma shared a few words of encouragement before presenting the cap to the youngster.
This happened following India's practice session that saw both India's senior batters hit the nets at the Optus Stadium.
India's players lauded batting maestro Virat Kohli after his scintillating century guided India to a 17-run win over South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi on Sunday.
So far in the T20I series, Bumrah has taken three wickets in three matches at an average of 26.33, with best figures of 2/26 and an economy rate of 6.58.
Images from the second T20 International between India and South Africa, at the PCA's New Chandigarh Stadium, Mullanpur.
The Bellerive Oval is one ground where the side boundaries are smaller in size, hence hitting the right lengths would be paramount considering anything short would be flying over cover, point, square leg or mid-wicket on either side of the fence.
Arshdeep Singh has enough experience to understand that the Indian team management is trying different combinations looking at the bigger picture, bowling coach Morne Morkel said.
Arshdeep Singh -- statement spells against SA shows need to give pacer consistent ODI outings
Australia's Mitchell Marsh marked a milestone with a flurry of towering sixes on Sunday, becoming the eighth Australian to smash 100-plus sixes in ODIs.
Gill may miss ODI series due to unhealed neck injury; Rahul, Pant in line for ODI captaincy
The Indian junior men's hockey team suffered their first defeat in the ongoing Sultan of Johor Cup, going down to Australia 2-4 in a pool match in Johor, Malaysia, on Wednesday.
The ICC has imposed a 30 percent fine on the match fees of India's Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf for breaching the Code of Conduct during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup tie. Both players were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.
India will look to overcome batting inconsistencies and finish the tour of Australia with authority when the two sides clash in the fifth and final T20 International in Brisbane on Saturday.
India has now won each of the seven T20I series it has been part of since winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Shubman Gill's form in the series is a concern for India as he has now gone six games without a half-century.
FIH Men's World Cup: India beat Switzerland 5-0 to qualify for quarterfinals
Arshdeep feels that being a master of 50-over cricket, Kohli will score runs in the remaining two games of this series.
Grind pays off for Ruturaj Gaikwad, now upto him and luck to prove his 50-over mettle.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Virat Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit Sharma paved the way for India's victory in the series-opener in Ranchi.
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's place in the playing eleven is far from guaranteed, while Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy are locked in a tight contest for the additional all-rounder's slot as India confront several selection dilemmas ahead of the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.
The focus is to bring momentum back into the Indian dressing room: Morne Morkel
This series also marks the return of two Indian heavyweights who will be seen in action for the first time in the Indian jersey since the ICC Champions Trophy Final earlier this year.
Arshdeep Singh, Manmeet Singh and Dilraj Singh struck a hat-trick each as India mauled Oman 17-0 to register their second consecutive win in the FIH men's Junior World Cup.
Ashwin wants this "unexpected hero" to surprise against Pakistan during Asia Cup
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances