Jasprit Bumrah will have to squeeze every ounce of energy from his already overworked body, while Ajinkya Rahane will hope to get one final chance to save his international career when India take on England in the fifth and final Test, chasing a historic series win, in Manchester on Friday.
A summary of Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar advocated the inclusion of Suryakumar Yadav as the sixth specialist batsman in the fourth Test against England, starting on September 2.
The 34-year-old was India's number one Test wicket-keeper until a career-threatening shoulder injury ruled him out of action for almost a year.
Virat Kohli's talismanic presence will be the shot in the arm that India would need in their bid to win the historic first-ever away Test series against South Africa.
India 'A' completed a convincing six-wicket win over West Indies 'A' on the fourth and final day of the first unofficial Test, in North Sound, Antigua, on Saturday.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against South Africa, starting on January 3?
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Thursday.
India's star batsman Rohit Sharma wasted no time in getting back to business as he underwent a practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Senior off-spinner Ashwin and speedster Mohammed Shami didn't bowl in the first innings but might bowl in the second.
Images from Day 3 of the third Test between Australia and India, at the SCG, on Saturday.
'He doesn't find a place in this playing XI. That is stunning. Astonishing'
In an act of gamesmanship, pacers, right-arm quick Harshit Rana (1/27 in 3 overs) and left-arm seamer Kuldip Yadav (2/27 in 3 overs) also wasted time, either faking cramps or tying shoelaces or not delivering the ball even after completing the action.
India captain Rohit Sharma was all praise for Shreyas Iyer, saying the promising batter had big shoes to fill following the axing of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane and grabbed the opportunity with both hands in the just-concluded Test series against Sri Lanka.
Bumrah endured a tough and unrewarding day on the field during the third Test at the SCG.
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on Saturday became only the third Indian to claim a Test hat-trick as he tore through the West Indies batting order, on Day 2 of the second Test, in Jamaica.
Karnataka looked set to secure a big first innings lead against Goa despite fighting half-centuries by three of the home team's batters on day three of their Elite Group C match in Porvorim, on Thursday.
A summary of the Ranji Trophy matches played on Wednesday.
Dhapola's feat did not miss the attention of the BCCI secretary Jay Shah who termed it as one of the finest bowling performances of the tournament.
Jadeja had sustained a thumb injury while batting in the first innings of the Sydney Test and was eventually ruled out for six weeks.
In-form skipper Virat Kohli (64) and teenage prodigy Prithvi Shaw (66) were among the five Indian batsmen who struck fifties before the visitors were bowled out for 358 on the second day of the rain-hit practice game against Cricket Australia XI in Sydney.
Dean Elgar lived up to his reputation as a dogged, street-fighting batsman as he held the Indian bowling attack at bay, scoring a patient 46 off 121 balls.
It was Virat Kohli's fourth unsuccessful attempt to lead India to an ICC title
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will miss the remainder of his side's limited overs tour to Sri Lanka after injuring his shoulder in Sunday's 78-run victory that clinched the one-day international series.
Shubman Gill's stellar show for India A in the recently-concluded two-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand is an indicator that he is ready for Test debut, believes senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Shubman had scores of 83 and 204 not out batting in middle-order in the first unofficial Test for India A and then scored a hundred while opening the batting in the second game, showing his versatility at different slots. Prithvi Shaw, back in the Test squad after 16 months, is also a contender in the playing XI with his equally dazzling repertoire of strokes.
Natarajan was added to the Test squad for the remaining two Test matches against Australia on January 1.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI in the first Test against England, starting on Wednesday?
New Zealand pace bowler Kyle Jamieson enjoyed a dream start to his Test career on the opening day of the first match against India as he captured three wickets and also took a catch in the deep as the tourists limped to 122-5 after rain washed out the entire post-tea session. Ajinkya Rahane was on 38 at stumps at the Basin Reserve on Friday, while the recalled Rishabh Pant was 10 not out, with the 2.03m tall Jamieson tormenting batsmen with his ability to get the ball to rear off a length.
Pujara's slowest Test half-century, a painstaking 50 off 176 balls handed Australia control of the match in which they now have overall lead of 197 runs.
The ICC Awards will comprise a total of 13 individual recognitions in all, as well as five Team of the Year announcements for each format across both men's and women's cricket.
'There is a plan to add a '19 plus' level where all these boys could be integrated'
'They came out with an attitude that they had nothing to lose.' 'That's what stands out about this team.'
The 6'7" seam-bowling all-rounder's inclusion in Australia's line-up was expected after his impressive hundred in the first warm-up game against India A.
Cook stands tall in final Test as England take healthy lead against India
A total of 164 Indian players, 125 overseas players and three from associate nations have been enlisted for the auctions.
All the injuries that happened to top Indian cricketers prior to and during the Australia series along with their current status.
Indian captain Virat Kohli on Saturday said he has "no idea exactly what's happening" when asked about the legendary Rahul Dravid being in line to be the team's head coach after the T20 World Cup.
In what comes as the biggest positive for Indian cricket in recent times, former captain Rahul Dravid has agreed to take over as the head coach of the men's team.
India thrashed West Indies by 318 runs in their inaugural World Test Championship encounter but at the onset, there was a debate on the omission of senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. The legendary Sunil Gavaskar termed his exclusion as "astonishing".
Help captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri pick India's playing XI for the Jamaica Test.
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