Led by Shubman Gill, a defiant India put on a mentally strong and technically disciplined response to keep the series alive with England 2-1 up. While there were plenty of positives to take forward, a few concerns continue to linger as the series heads to a decider at The Oval.
Mohammed Shami's return to competitive cricket has been further pushed back after the veteran pacer was not picked in the Bengal Ranji Trophy squad.
Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has revealed that following his ankle injury there were moments when he feared his international career was over, but his unwavering desire to play for the country again kept him going.
Rahul, who initially batted at No. 6 in the first two games, didn't look comfortable and fared far better at the familiar No. 5 position with a useful 40 off 29 balls in India's one-sided 142-run victory in the third ODI in Ahmedabad.
Vettori said the pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head remains crucial to their success but acknowledged that the opposition teams have planned well.
14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest centurion in T20 cricket as he fired Rajasthan Royals to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans.
Mohammed Shami has made a stunning return to competitive cricket after a year-long injury layoff, excelling for Bengal in their Ranji Trophy victory against Madhya Pradesh. Shami's impressive performance included seven wickets across two innings and a quickfire 37 with the bat, helping Bengal secure a narrow 11-run win.
Mohammed Shami claimed three wickets further building on his match fitness, while Abhishek Porel smashed a blistering fifty
Fresh from their morale-boosting win over LSG, and bolstered by the return of India wicketkeeper-batter K L Rahul, Delhi Capitals will look to build on the momentum when they take on formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL match in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
Mohammed Shami rarely operated at his best and it had a cascading effect on Bengal as they went down by 41 runs against Baroda in the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
The pacer, who was on the road to recovery from an ankle injury, has suffered a flare-up in his right knee, potentially delaying his return to competitive cricket.
England secured a 26-run victory over India in the third T20I in Rajkot on Tuesday to stay alive in the five-match series.
'Arshdeep, Shami can make impact in Bumrah's absence'
Shami last played for India in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad after which he was sidelined because of an ankle injury which needed surgery.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri cautioned against giving Jasprit Bumrah five Tests in a row in England.
In a high-pressure clash against India in the Champions Trophy semi-finals, Steve Smith seemed to have destiny on his side.
Shubman Gill, who has been India's stand out batter in the tournament, was the only one who did not turn up for practice.
Rishabh Pant will aim to hit the refresh button after a wretched run, as Lucknow Super Giants make one last-ditch attempt to stay alive in the IPL play-offs race by winning their remaining three league matches, starting with the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow on Monday.
Mohammed Shami has conceded that operating as India's lone front-line pacer after coming back from a lengthy injury layoff is a heavy "responsibility", even as he tries to regain his "rhythm" to suit the team's needs in the ongoing Champions Trophy .
They will meet the winner of Wednesday's second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand in the final in Dubai on Sunday.
Thrown into the spotlight in just his second ODI, Varun Chakaravarthy made the opportunity count in spectacular fashion.
The squad also features Karun Nair, who returns to the national set up after a long gap of eight years.
I was really surprised when he wasn't flown out even halfway through the series, two Test matches in.'
Rachin Ravindra had two reprieves before being sent back by Kuldeep Yadav.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face off in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Friday, both teams desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
'It was a test of character, a true pressure situation, and you responded with a phenomenal team performance.'
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second ODI against England on Sunday?
IMAGES from the 3rd T20I between India and England in Rajkot on Tuesday.
Choose Your India team for the first ODI against England in Nagpur.
The spotlight will be firmly on Mohammed Shami as the Indian team contemplates his inclusion in the playing XI.
A dominant India hammered England by 150 runs to claim the five-match series 4-1.
England tour may go either way, pressure on Gill but experience will help: Agarkar on transition
Statistically, Khaleel Ahmed ranks among the finest bowlers in the IPL since 2019, his first full-fledged season. With a wicket every 16.5 balls, he is as good as Jasprit Bumrah and bowlers with the best strike rates.
Having recently made his international comeback against England in both T20Is and ODIs, the stretchable knee caps did not go unnoticed as Mohammed Shami first tried to get a feel of the conditions by bowling a few deliveries with a short run-up.
'When you are scoring runs and taking wickets, everyone is standing with you.' 'But the real test is to realise who is with you during your tough times.'
The 34-year-old Shami, who last played for India in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, was forced into the long layoff due to an ankle injury that needed surgery.
Bengal pacer Mohammed Shami, playing his first competitive match after a long injury lay-off of nearly a year, took 4/54 in 19 overs.
But Rohit's deplorable form in red-ball in red-ball cricket may have forced this decision.
Rohit immediately knew the gravity of his mistake. He banged the ground in frustration, visibly furious with himself.
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