Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir was dropped while India's medium pacer Bhuvaneswar was recalled to the 16-man squad for the next three Tests against England.
KL Rahul will have to show drastically improved leadership acumen when he leads India against a buoyant South African side in the second ODI on Thursday.
Bhuvneshwar took six wickets at an economy rate of 4.65 in the three ODIs
Samson found the boundaries at ease almost every over. There was the well-timed drive through the covers, smashes to the boundary over the infield and shots on the on side.
As the 16th edition of the glitzy Indian Premier League is set to unfold, let's take a look at the driving force of the T20 league and what's in store in this edition.
If RCB win their remaining two games, they will move to 20 points and have a chance of finishing in the top two.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Abu Dhabi, on Wednesday.
India's World Cup-bound bowlers could pick and choose matches during the second phase of Indian Premier League as part of the workload management programme, senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said on Thursday.
Washington will join Axar and KL Rahul at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation.
Virat Kohli and Co. arrived in Pune by a chartered flight from Ahmedabad at around 4.45 PM
Sunrisers Hyderabad's head coach Tom Moody attributes role clarity for the team's success.
India will look to clinch the series albeit with a more impactful batting performance from the middle-order in the second T20 International in Ranchi on Friday.
Almost out of reckoning for a place in the play-offs, bottom-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad will look to play party-poopers when they take on an equally struggling Punjab Kings in the battle of laggards in the IPL in Sharjah on Saturday.
How India's cricketers fared in the three-match T20I series against England.
India fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar married Nupur Nagar in Meerut.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Tuesday's third T20I against South Africa?
It will take a special effort from the struggling Sri Lankan side to pull one back against the rampaging visitors.
Virat Kohli was rested from the three-match T20I series against the West Indies.
Left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and fast bowler Jason Holder have achieved career-best rankings in bowling after helping the West Indies to a series-deciding 17-run victory in the fifth match against England in Bridgetown.
Operating like a well-oiled unit, Chennai Super Kings will start as overwhelming favourites when they clash with struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL match in New Delhi on Wednesday.
An extensive experience of playing the Big Bash League in Australia contributed to Jos Buttler and Alex Hales' absolute dominance over India in the T20 World Cup semi-final, said head coach Rahul Dravid.
History is also a bit against India when it comes to results at the business end of the ICC events.
Not picking Bhuvneshwar for the WTC final and the five Tests against England starting August 4 is baffling, said Sarandeep
Coach Boucher ruing the absence of Aiden Markram during the series but was impressed by one Indian player
Rishabh Pant hailed the fighting spirit of the side after the hosts came back from two games down to take the five-match series against South Africa
Indian cricket fraternity has also come out in support of the young pacer who had dropped a crucial catch in the 18th over of the match.
IMAGES from the T20 World Cup warm-up match played between India and Australia in Dubai on Wednesday.
The All-India Senior Selection Committee of the BCCI has picked the squads for India's upcoming series against New Zealand and Bangladesh
Whether he is batting in the middle or fielding at the boundary line, Virat Kohli's every move will be tracked, though some of that attention will now be on skipper K L Rahul.
Images from the first Twenty20 International between India and Sri Lanka, in Lucknow, on Thursday.
Ishan Kishan has made a massive jump to enter the top 10 among T20 batters.
Images from the third T20 International between New Zealand and India, at McLean Park in Napier, on Tuesday.
Against England on Monday and then Wednesday's game versus Australia, the Indian team management would look to give the players who are still not automatic choices in the playing XI, more overs to bat or bowl to get a better idea about their current form.
'Like MS Dhoni, I try to detach myself from the result and focus on small things, which I also refer to as process. And this helps in getting the desired outcome'
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second T20I against South Africa?
irat Kohli is set to achieve a significant milestone in his career by becoming the first Indian to complete a century of international matches across all three formats.
Russell's eyes lit up immediately, much like a hungry tourist at a breakfast buffet, as he chomped through the deliveries, starting with two singles before finishing with three sixes off the final four deliveries.
Who would you pick in India's playing XI for Tuesday's first One-Day International against England?
India will be looking to round off their T20 World Cup preparation with a marked improvement in their death bowling besides providing crucial game time to its untested players in the three-match series against South Africa.
India captain Rohit Sharma admitted that death bowling remains an area of concern for the team going into next month's T20 World Cup but hoped that the bowlers will find their groove soon.
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