After impressive scores against New Zealand, Australia and West Indies on docile Indian conditions, Cheteshwar Pujara has a chance to prove himself on the challenging tracks of South Africa, writes Bikash Mohapatra.
'As an individual I don't have to rate myself. I have already performed in Test cricket,' says India's latest batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara. Harish Kotian reports.
Virat Kohli's struggles outside the off-stump continued as he was once again snapped behind the stumps during an intra-squad practice game.
Images from Day 3 of the third Test between Australia and India, at the SCG, on Saturday.
Shimron Hetmyer's Rs 8.50 crore annual IPL fees earned from Rajasthan Royals or Andre Russell's Rs 16 crore retention fee from Kolkata Knight Riders is an indication how cricket's financial landscape has changed and playing for the West Indies isn't a motivation anymore.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell feels the potency of Australia's pace attack in English conditions gives them the edge in next month's World Test Championship final against India, who could be "badly affected" by the absence of injured Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.
Statistical highlights of the opening day in the second and final Test between India and South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid can feel the pain Cheteshwar Pujara is going through. The batting icon also had a tough time proving he was good enough for One-Day Internationals after being categorised as a Test specialist in the early part of his career.
Rahul Dravid said India will have to find someone who can amass 500-odd runs in the series like Cheteshwar Pujara did the last time around.
Glimpses from Day 3 of the second Test between India and Australia at the Arun Jaitley stadium in Delhi, February 19, 2023.
Having tasted instant success in Test cricket, India's latest batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara tells Harish Kotian he's keen to break into the ODI team too.
Patel smashed 74 and dominated his 114-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ashwin to rescue India
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were spotted at the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the largest National Parks in Maharashtra.
'He's a very talented batsman and able to bat long period of time.'
The Indian team is training hard ahead of their departure for the series in the West Indies. Led by skipper Virat Kohli, India will be playing a 4-match Test series in the Caribbean.
Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara forged the only century-plus partnership of the innings but India still finished the day 321 behind.
Senior India opener Rohit Sharma was all praise for Cheteshwar Pujara after his unbeaten knock of 91 on Day 3 in the third Test against England on Friday.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer feels incumbent vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will have to consistently score runs to remain in the Test reckoning.
Controversial keeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, who has been dropped from the Test team, will still earn Rs 1 crore in annual income after being demoted from group B to C.
The last time Cheteshwar Pujara batted at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad, he scored 159, his maiden hundred. Seven months later, he returned to the venue and outdid the effort with a double ton. Bikash Mohapatra reports.
'He (Virat) is certainly one who can push us back and we will have to get the better of him'
India's stand-in skipper KL Rahul also reserved praise for Shardul Thakur, who put an all-round performance in the game including a seven-wicket haul in the first innings.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 4:
Rahane's comeback after 15 months was on predictable lines
Cheteshwar Pujara hit his second century of the series before India captain Virat Kohli declared their first innings closed at 443 for seven after tea on day two of the third Test against Australia on Thursday.
Rajneesh Gupta presents a detailed statistical analysis on the struggles of Rahane and Pujara since 2020.
As Ravichandran Ashwin prepares to step onto the field for his 100th Test in the upcoming Dharamsala fixture on March 7, he is poised to join a prestigious group of 14 Indian cricketers
Rahane stands at crossroads in his comeback Test
Who do you think should be in India's playing XI for the first Test against the West Indies?
Here is a complete list of players, who failed to attract any bid in the IPL 2022
Rohit maintains that turning tracks remain the team's strength and wants the struggling batters to find a way to score on them.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI in the third Test against Australia?
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, on Wednesday.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will lead India in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, starting November 25, before regular skipper Virat Kohli returns to take charge from the second Test in Mumbai.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has attained a career-best second position after notching two half-centuries in the final Test series against England in Karachi.
Young prodigy Yashasvi Jaiswal is considered the frontrunner to make his Test debut in the West Indies, but there are other options in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill.
It is understood that Kohli, Rahane, Shami, Jadeja will be sweating it out at the nets alongside Ashwin, who has already bowled a whopping 58 overs and taken seven wickets in a County game for Surrey last week.
K L Rahul has managed just 38 runs in three innings in the ongoing Test series against Australia.
Playing under the inevitable shadow of the now-retired Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli handled both the Kiwis and weight of expectations well in the first Test, says Haresh Pandya.
