If Australia win all four Tests against India, and South Africa beat Pakistan 3-0, then South Africa will take over the No. 1 spot, ahead of Australia by a fraction of a point.
'You will get a lot of results and wins, but it's also important to make the team work harder to see the bigger picture in prospect. That will only happen on wickets in India where the match will go till the fifth day. That means everybody will get tested'
India are a flexible side with enough ammunition in their arsenal going into the World Cup, says head coach Ravi Shastri, making it clear that combinations would depend on conditions.
The number one ODI status will be on the line when second-placed India and table-toppers South Africa clash in a six-match series, starting in Durban on Thursday.
India captain and batting mainstay Virat Kohli was named skipper of the International Cricket Council's Test and ODI teams of the year, following a remarkable run in 2018.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants its Indian counterpart (BCCI) to pay approximately $ 70 million as compensation for not playing two 'home' bilateral series.
Notwithstanding Virat Kohli's theory of going in with five specialist bowlers in Tests, Mahendra Singh Dhoni says every individual's approach to captaincy is different and he will stick to his strategies in the limited-overs format against Bangladesh.
Ace off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday wrecked havoc and clinched yet another five-wicket haul as India defeated England by an innings and 36 runs on the final day of the Mumbai Test at the Wankhede Stadium. This is only the third time a team batting first has made 400 and then lost by an innings. Statistician Rajneesh Gupta presents interesting numbers from the final day of Mumbai Test
Limited over captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be eager to regain his golden touch even as Virat Kohli eyes another smashing knock at his home ground when favourites India lock horns with New Zealand in the second ODI in New Delhi on Thursday. It may be just another ODI in a bilateral series, but there is lot at stake for Dhoni, who has been under pressure after Test skipper Virat Kohli led India to the number one ranking following a 3-0 whitewash.
India are poised for their third T20 International series triumph in five years but would be wary of a strong fightback from the usually plucky New Zealand when the two sides clash in the second game of the three-match series in Rajkot.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's batting position will be under spotlight as India aim to go for the kill against a gutsy New Zealand in the third T20 International despite weather threatening to play spoilsport.
Taking note of the fatigue factor, India are likely field a second string team for the forthcoming limited overs tour of Zimbabwe next month.
Former captain Graeme Smith feels South Africa's 'powerful' bowling attack will put the Indian batting line-up under serious pressure in the upcoming Test series, starting January 5 in Cape Town.
Australia's World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh feels India's latest batting sensation Virat Kohli must learn from Mahendra Singh Dhoni to keep his emotions in check and mature as a captain.
Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore says Virat Kohli is one of the few players who have realised their potential after showing initial promise but the young India Test captain still has a long way to go.
Relishing every bit of the IPL experience in his debut season, Sun Risers Hyderabad's New Zealand import Kane Williamson is mighty impressed by the local talent available in the Sun TV-owned side.
Virat Kohli has finally clarified his stance on unfriending the Australian team, saying he 'meant only a couple of guys' and that his comments were blown out of proportion. But what has made the Indian captain changed his tune? Does the Indian Premier League ring any bells, asks Norma Godinho/Rediff.com.
- 'The current coaching set-up has done a fantastic job and if they are given a one-year run then they could really make a difference'
At the face of it, there is apparently no danger to Dhoni's captaincy since the team is still winning matches. But if one digs deeper, Kohli has slowly and surely been the man everyone is looking forward to as the leader, across all formats for India.
The comparisons will be inevitable but former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly said it is unfair to equate the leadership skills of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and newly-appointed Test captain Virat Kohli, who will only become better with experience.
How rare is it for two players to score hundreds on captaincy debut in the same series? Virat Kohli got two when he led India in the first Test against Australia in Adelaide. Now, Steven Smith got one in his first Test as captain in the ongoing second Test at Brisbane.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances