Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Players after the India-England ODI series.
The mountain of runs that he has plundered so far in first-class cricket has ensured that the focus will be firmly on Delhi youngster Rishabh Pant as India 'A' take on the visiting England XI, in the second and final warm-up match in Mumbai, on Thursday.
India's R Ashwin struck a counter-attacking half-century to help India claw back into the match after the hosts got off to a shaky start on Day 3.
'In that first Test we played him nicely. He did bowl nicely, we know going into the fourth innings we can play Ashwin well'
India captain Virat Kohli's stoic batting helped India eke out a draw on the fifth and final day in the opening Test against England in Rajkot on Sunday. But it was his English counterpart Alastair Cook, who stole the show and the records on the day!
The 29-year-old, who got married this week, received a warm welcome from an unusually large crowd at the Glenn McGrath Oval and looked his usual twitchy self at the crease as he rattled off a half century in 62 balls.
The five-Test series starts with the first match in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Cook stands tall in final Test as England take healthy lead against India
England's Alastair Cook fell short of a dream farewell century as India's bowlers roared back to leave the hosts reeling on 198-7 at stumps on Day 1 of the fifth and final Test at The Oval on Friday.
England bowled India out for 184 on Sunday to win the fourth Test by 60 runs and wrap up the series with a match to spare.
Sam Curran offered a spirited resistance with a resolute half-century but Indian bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, produced a disciplined effort to dismiss England for 246 on the opening day of the fourth Test.
Opener Chris Gayle blasted a 47-ball century as West Indies crushed England by six wickets in a Group 1 match of the Super 10 stage of the ICC World T20 at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Wednesday.
India will eye another dominant performance against hosts England in a three- match ODI series
Even as Chris Gayle's fastest World Twenty20 century hogged the limelight, West Indies coach Phil Simmons acknowledged Marlon Samuels's effort.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy made it clear that they "can't take England for granted" in the opening group league fixture of the ICC World T20 on Wednesday in Mumbai.
Despite their up and down showing in the league stage, there is no doubt that England are one of the most complete teams in the World Cup and are heavy favourites for Sunday's final, but New Zealand won't give up without a fight.
Images from the fourth Twenty20 International between India and England, in Ahmedabad, on Thursday.
Images from the third T20 International between India and England, in Ahmedabad, on Tuesday.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal scripted a dramatic collapse with sensational figures of six for 25 to help India crush England by 75 runs and win the three-match T20 International series 2-1, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday.
Facing the prospect of a series defeat at home for the first time in 15 months, skipper Virat Kohli will have a relook at his team combination as hosts India take on a resurgent England in a do-or-die second T20 International, in Nagpur on Sunday.
'Out of 7 innings England played before the Oval Test, their bottom half outscored the top-half in 4!' notes Rajneesh Gupta.
'We bowled to two outstanding batsmen in good conditions, a very good cricket pitch. But to be able to pick up two wickets at the end certainly has given our dressing room a huge lift tonight'
A win on Friday would seal the three-match series for Virat Kohli and Co.
India will have their task cut out against a vastly improved England
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji identify the Most Valuable Players of World Cup 2019.
India's spinners were thwarted by a splendid display of ultra-defensive batting by England before the hosts took control dismissing rival skipper Alastair Cook on an engrossing fourth day of the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
Pakistan showed yet again on Monday why it's always a good idea to predict the unpredictable when it comes to their cricketing fortunes. As far as the early stages of their ICC Men's World Cup 2019 campaign are concerned, it has been a case of well beaten one minute, dynamic the next for Sarfaraz Ahmed's team.
India's star batsman Virat Kohli has maintained his No 1 position in the ICC T20 batsmen rankings and so have India in the team charts after the conclusion of the World T20.
An official said that the search operation turned into an encounter after terrorists fired upon the forces.
Indian cricket team will be aiming to pick up pieces while spoiling Alastair Cook's farewell party in the fifth and final Test against England starting Friday.
Having made a commendable comeback from the brink of a series defeat, India will look to increase their stranglehold on hosts England to draw parity when the two teams square off for the fourth Test, in Southampton, on Thursday.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from the Lord's Test.
With 36 different playing XIs in as many Tests under Kohli's captaincy, the Indian line-up is begging for some consistency.
'Ashwin against the left-handers could play a big role. Kuldeep has done brilliantly but I feel India should persist with Ashwin. Kuldeep is young and can learn along the way'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji identify the Most Valuable Players at World Cup 2019.
England found cricketing bliss by dint of divine intervention and Ben Stokes's brilliance, cracking a code that proved indecipherable for 44 years as history sliced through teary-eyed New Zealand's grasp in a final that will be remembered for ages.
India and England will play three ODI games beginning Sunday. Rajneesh Gupta surveys the career figures of the players who will head to battle in Pune.
Unlike in the T20I series, England do not have the option of battling this phenomenon with a practice outing against the spin-bowling machine, Merlyn. With both teams travelling to London on Friday, there might not even be enough time to sit down for some video analysis. In that light, the English batsmen will have to contend mentally with how to play Yadav on Saturday.
Rendered ineffective in the previous match, India's wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal will look to bounce back against 'well-prepared' England batsmen when the two teams clash in the series-deciding third Twenty20 International, in Bristol, on Sunday.
Clinical England beat India by 31 runs at Edgbaston on Sunday to take them back in the top-four in the points table, giving themselves a shot at the semis spot.
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