War-torn Afghanistan, playing only their third match after being inducted as a Test-playing nation two years ago, completed a famous victory by defeating Bangladesh by 224 runs with 3.2 overs left on the final day on Monday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday announced five new Test venues as Rajkot, Vizag, Pune, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Indore were named as hosts for the first time, for the forthcoming season where India will be playing thirteen Test matches, eight One-Day Internationals, and three T20 Internationals.
All that's transpired on and off the cricket pitch on Monday.
India and Gujarat left-arm spinner Axar Patel acknowledged RP Singh that veteran pacer Singh's presence in the Gujarat dressing room for the past two years played a big role in the team's development.
The IPL auctions are known to spring surprises with little known players hitting a jackpot to become millionaires. Here's a look at some buys that left most people surprised. Carlos Brathwaite (Rs 4.2 cr): Inarguably the biggest surprise buys of 2016 IPL auctions. The Caribbean all-rounder has shown his hitting talent during his heroics against Sri Lanka, lower down the order. But not many would have expected Delhi to roll out a whopping 4.2 crore, which is 14 times his base price Pawan Negi (Rs 8.5 cr) : The new million dollar man! After his selection for the World T20 squad, here came another good news for Pawan Negi. It was Delhi again, that snapped the all-rounder for a monstrous Rs 8.5 crore.
It is difficult to expect that selectors would ring in changes when an Indian cricket team wins a series 3-0 on Australian soil which is precisely the reason why Pawan Negi is "pleasantly surprised" after knowing about his selection for the T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Saurashtra left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has been recalled, while India also have three first-timers in Washington Sundar, Basil Thampi and Deepak Hooda for the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka.
'It is not due to my effort that I am sitting out of the team, it is due to the supply and demand that the team requires.' Ravichandran Ashwin tries to figure out why he is not being considered for the Indian team in ODIs and T20Is.
There will be a strong focus on buying uncapped Indian players with eight franchises gearing up to pick a maximum of 76 out of the 350 plus, who will go under the hammer at the auction for the 10th Indian Premier League.
Former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar on Saturday slammed India's team selection in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, saying it is a shame to pick players for a Test match based on their form in limited overs cricket.
A summary of the day's matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.
'I just want to keep learning and keep getting better.'
Bowler Jaydev Unadkat in another player to watch out for as the three-match series in the shortest format kicks off in Johannesburg on Sunday
'The call-up from Rahul Dravid was the turning point for Sarfaraz.' 'I would like to thank Virat Kohli for the trust he has shown in Sarfaraz.'
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah produced his career-best spell in first-class cricket as Gujarat staged a sensational comeback to beat Jharkhand by 123 runs and reach their second ever final of the Ranji Trophy cricket Tournament. Bumrah finished with figures of six for 29 and alongside veteran pacer R P Singh plotted the downfall of Jharkhand, who were skittled out for 111 in their second innings after being set a target of 235 runs on day four of the semifinal.
Hardik has just taken 10 Tests to record a rare feat -- scored a ton and taken 5 wickets. Still not 25, Hardik has shown that he belongs to the place, says Rajneesh Gupta, giving us the numbers that matter.
'I just need to go back and bat at my old position at No 3.' 'In the IPL, captaincy is just for namesake. You just need to go out there and play well.' Suresh Raina tells Harish Kotian/Rediff.com about the challenges that lie ahead as he leads the Gujarat Lions and how much he will miss his beloved Chennai Super Kings and under his favourite skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
A round-up of final day of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
'He didn't want to be a stagnant cricketer, he always wanted to work hard.'
'When you saw him, you immediately knew that he was something special.'
He has enjoyed prime form in first class cricket this season, but despite being excluded from the IPL auctions list, Jharkhand's Ishant Jaggi tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian that he is mentally strong and will continue to perform. He also reckons that the auditions and the simulation tests conducted by the IPL franchises to identify players is not the right way to go about things.
'Dhoni was the captain and everyone else was battling for the second wicket-keeper's slot.' 'I was fighting with myself, always thinking of improving my game, getting better personally, not comparing myself with anyone else.'
Powerful batting lower down the order followed by tidy bowling helped Mumbai thrash Saurashtra by 16 runs in the West Zone T20 league game, for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, at the MCA's BKC ground in Mumbai on Wednesday.
In opting for an extra spinner, says Harish Kotian/Rediff.com, India have picked a batsman less.
Out-of-favour India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir found some form going their way as Delhi got the better of Himachal Pradesh by six wickets in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 match for North Zone in Mohali on Tuesday. Sehwag smashed 42 off 32 balls, while the left-handed captain Gambhir scored a 40-ball 41, helping Delhi complete the chase of 134 with 10 deliveries to spare at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium.
After Ambati Rayudu failed the Yo-Yo test, the selectors turned to Suresh Raina for the ODI series in England.
Irfan Pathan discloses on how he coped with the disappointment of getting dropped from the Indian team and what inspired his superb comeback in domestic cricket this season which he hopes lead to bigger things and eventually into a 'a really good story and inspiration' for others.
Harbhajan Singh, who bowled India to memorable victories against the Aussies, looks at the India-Australia series.
'Rahulbhai told me to manage my mental energy better.' 'He said I was thinking about the game too much, hence I am not able to manage my mental energy and it is resulting in mental fatigue.' 'I am putting too much pressure on myself. He believed that was harmful to me.'
Carlos Brathwaite's inclusion will lift the spirits of Delhi Daredevils.
The auction ahead of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League had in store something on expected lines and some surprises. Here's a look at the top buys after the first round.
While the auction ahead of the ninth edition, starting in April, was great for Indian players in general, there were a few surprises in store. Rediff.com takes a look at the Indian players who secured themselves the best deals.
A summary of the day's matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.
A round-up of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Saturday
'Mahendra Singh Dhoni has at his disposal a range of multi-skilled players who possess the ability to turn the game around at the flick of a switch.'
Shreyas Iyer, whose swagger is taking batting to the next level, tells Rediff.com that when he gets the opportunity to don India colours he will make it count.