KL Rahul, the stylish Indian batter, has been performing consistently regardless of his batting position.
Australia and South Africa, two teams renowned for their batting prowess, will go head-to-head in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, aiming to secure a place in the Champions Trophy semifinals.
The Indian team ramped up preparations for the Boxing Day Test by practicing on a fresh wicket on Tuesday at the MCG.
Defeat will severely dent both the teams' dreams of a semi-final berth in the tournament, as South Africa and Australia have already notched two points.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to see bowlers playing a crucial role in the success of teams.
'Jaiswal is too talented to be written off after one bad innings. He'll bounce back. The real test is how he handles the second innings.'
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka led by example and smashed a belligerent hundred to set up a 49-run victory over a depleted Australia.
Australia's historic pedigree in cricket's biggest tournaments will count for nothing when they run into an Afghanistan side that is fast cementing its place in the game's top table in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Friday.
At the end of the first day of play, it is the home side that is firmly in control, and India that is now reduced to chasing the game.
Smith's unbeaten 120 is his second successive hundred of the series while Carey made a career-best 139 not out hitting 22 fours and three sixes between them.
Images from Day 5 in the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
The Indian team is brave and supremely confident in its ability to win from any situation, said England's all-time great Alastair Cook.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said he will play all three ODIs against India after completely recovering from his left wrist injury/
Cheteshwar Pujara identifies reason behind Yashasvi Jaiswal's struggle, offers solution ahead of Boxing Day Test
An optimistic Mitchell Starc said he was hopeful of returning to Australia's playing eleven for the second Test against India, starting in Delhi on Friday.
The Delhi Capitals have made significant strides in their pursuit of IPL glory, assembling a formidable squad for the 2025 season.
Having a left-arm quick of Singh's calibre gives the bowling attack the much-needed heft and variety. It's like having another bow in Team India's quiver, notes Vishal Menon.
'King Bumrah has taken the mantle now. Kohli looks dejected, and this was a crucial knock for him. He has come up short yet again.'
'You've got to love the banter, especially from someone so young.'
If Smith is ruled out, then the left-hand batter Travis Head will lead the squad as he is the vice-captain of the side.
Mitchell Starc will miss the third and final Test against South Africa
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
Indian cricket has produced a generational superstar in Yashasvi Jaiswal and will remain in good health even when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide to call time on their careers, said former Australia World Cup winner Darren Lehmann.
Steve Smith has said he had never encountered a wicket like the one at the SCG
India's Abhishek Sharma has surged to the second spot in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for batters after a stunning 135-run innings in the fifth and final T20I against England.
Pant admitted to feeling immense pressure as his name neared the top of the bidding list. He particularly dreaded being picked by the Punjab Kings, who possessed a massive purse.
Spin twins Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon combined to dismantle Sri Lanka and bowl Australia to a crushing victory by an innings and 242 runs in the opening Test in Galle on Saturday.
Australia pace man Mitchell Starc said he still feels some discomfort in his finger after snapping a tendon in a fielding mishap in December but he expects to return to the side.
Virat Kohli's struggles against Australia's bowlers persisted as he was dismissed for just three runs on Day 3 of the Brisbane Test on Monday.
In a nail-biting finish at the MCG, Australia clinched a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first ODI on Monday night.
Mitchell Starc is likely to be available for the second Test against India but captain Pat Cummins has ruled out overhauling the squad.
Boland credited his intense rehabilitation for getting him back in the national reckoning.
Gujarat Titans successfully acquired Johnson for Rs 10 crore
Katich agrees that if Mitchell Marsh isn't contributing with the ball, then Australia's National Selection Panel will need to have a look at the combination considering the all-rounder's poor returns with the bat.
Fans can expect a wide open tournament in the absence of an overwhelming favourite in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Liam Livingstone once again showcased his explosive batting prowess, smashing 63 not out off just 27 balls in the fourth ODI against Australia at Lord's on Friday.
IMAGES from the 2nd ODI played between England and Australia at the Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds, Britain, on Saturday.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth, on Friday.
Harshit Rana has been part of India's white-ball squads since his impressive 2024 IPL season with the Kolkata-based franchise, where he claimed 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 over 13 matches.
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