The time for experiments is over, Harish Kotian points out.
Defending champions Australia are grappling with injury concerns to three key players, including captain Aaron Finch who is uncertain to lead the side in their crucial T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan on Friday.
Here's a wrap of all major international episodes in 2024.
The former South Africa captain said the inclusion of cricket in the Olympic Games is a big push to attract more countries to the game and it is a big chance for cricket to challenge football in terms of global sports.
ri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka smashed a belligerent century as Indian bowlers endured their worst day in the Asia Cup before Arshdeep Singh produced a brilliant 'Super Over' to win the game for his side in Dubai on Friday.
India will start their T20 World Cup campaign on June 5 against Ireland at the newly constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Virat Kohli will be expected to hit his straps after a lean run
Afghanistan has shown great promise in taking its game to the next level, as its journey from the lower divisions to competing on cricket's biggest stages testifies. Since the ICC World Cup 2015, Afghanistan has won 25 of 44 games across formats. That includes 11 Twenty20 Internationals wins in 13 matches. Those statistics, and the fact that it has never lost a T20I to Scotland, will give Afghanistan a mental boost when the two sides lock horns in Tuesday's (March 8)second Group B match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Afghanistan certainly has all the ingredients to beat Scotland and this contest should be a keenly fought one.
Suryakumar Yadav leads a sprightly bunch of 'Gen-Next' stars against a strong Australian side in a five-match T20 series, starting in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
'Kya khichdi pak rahi hain we know it very well'
Hazratullah Zazai (162 not out off 62) and Usman Ghani (73 off 48) set a new record for the opening-wicket partnership with a 236-run stand as Afghanistan surpassed Australia's 263 for 3 posted against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2016.
India gears up for the second match of the three-game T20 series against Afghanistan in Indore on Sunday.
Afghanistan boast of an arsenal of high-class spinners including skipper Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad.
The new-look Indian team to be captained by Shubman Gill departed for their upcoming tour for Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Reserve batsman Fakhar Zaman, who has been out with a knee injury, will also travel to Brisbane with Afridi.
Fans can expect a wide open tournament in the absence of an overwhelming favourite in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
'Ben Stokes is one of the best captains I've ever seen. So it would be stupid not to look at him.'
Sanju Samson will look to continue his domination of the bowlers but India need more stability in the top order
India play 2 Tests versus Bangladesh, followed by three against New Zealand before the big-ticket five Test Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia Down Under.
'I had not played for one year, so I discussed ideas with Rahul bhai. Although I was watching the games, I was not playing. I got an understanding of a few things, so we wanted to implement them and also do something different.'
Aaron Finch stressed the need to be ultra-positive and ultra-aggressive
Jos Buttler joins greats Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara as players who failed to translate their many individual triumphs into success as captains.
The series starts with the first T20I in Mohali on Thursday, and Afghanistan will look to take inspiration from their impressive outing in the ODI World Cup in October-November last year to prepare in earnest for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
England captain Jos Buttler has declared himself fit for Sunday's opening Twenty20 International against Australia but Liam Livingstone's ankle injury makes the all-rounder doubtful for their World Cup opener later this month.
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra raised concerns over middle-order batter KL Rahul's omission from the squad against Afghanistan.
Chopra questions the sudden disappearance of a player who, not long ago, was considered for the World Cup team.
The Rajasthan Royals entered the IPL 2025 auction with a strategic approach, carefully balancing retention and acquisition.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first T20 International against Australia at Mohali on Tuesday?
Chris Gayle was not at his brutal best in the IPL but Andre Russell's butchering of the bowlers has forced the teams to take note of what could await them at the World Cup.
There have been 24 occasions on which 400 has been passed in ODI cricket and 15 of those have come since the 2011 World Cup.
'We think he is a deserving captain and we will see how he fits into the role.'
Penpix of the Australia squad that will play the cricket World Cup final against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Ishan Kishan has scored 796 runs in 32 T20I matches with 6 half-centuries and a strike rate of 124.37.
Maxwell was part of Aaron Finch's groundbreaking squad in the United Arab Emirates in 2021 and scored an unbeaten 28 in the final against New Zealand.
The Afghanistan cricket team might take a roundabout route to reach Sri Lanka for their three-match ODI series against Pakistan, scheduled to begin in Colombo on September 3.
Rain threatens high-voltage India-England semi-final clash
New Zealand look to experience and adaptability at T20 showpiece
Captain Aiden Markram urged his players to stay calm and not get 'scared' by the pressures of playing in a title clash.
Rashid was out of action for four months after undergoing a back surgery following the ODI World Cup in India in October-November. He was part of the more recent T20 Word Cup in the USA and Caribbean where he captained Afghanistan to the semifinals.
Australia is hoping to finalise a T20 tri-series with West Indies and Afghanistan just before the T20 World Cup
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