Lack of assistance for the bowlers during the post-lunch session on the third day was a major reason for England's complete control over India in the second Test, felt all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
The IPL, which this year runs from April 5 until May 21, has been a trailblazer of sorts, inspiring similar tournaments elsewhere and even other sports.
South Africa are still fretting over the fitness of their key batting all rounder Jean-Paul Duminy ahead of their opening Test against hosts India commencing at Mohali on November 5.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali on Thursday
'It is a dream to be part of the Indian team. My father (Sundar) and coaches, including M Senthilnathan, have played a big role in shaping me as a cricketer'
A bundle of nerves ahead of his international debut in the ongoing Asia Cup, India all-rounder Pawan Negi said emotions were getting the better of him before senior players like skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped in with their calming words.
Former Australia batsman Simon Katich said Australian batsmen did not apply themselves after getting starts in the just concluded Test series, that led to their downfall.
Kohli injures right shoulder while fielding in Ranchi
India captain Virat Kohli shrugged off concerns about his team's lower-middle order ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy semi-final with Bangladesh on Thursday and called for complete focus against their "dangerous" opponents.
England openers Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed made India's bowlers toil without success for 50 overs on Sunday but their lack of intent to score runs made the team's survival even more difficult, the hosts' captain Virat Kohli said.
'I have seen it twice while batting. I have seen their players looking upstairs (dressing room).' 'I can only say, if it happens more than twice, it's not brain fade'
Rewarding for his all-round show during the on-going India 'A' ODI series against Bangladesh, the Indian selectors have picked up youngster Gurkeerat Singh Mann for the three T20 Internationals and the first three ODIs for the upcoming home series against South Africa.
India captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday described the 2-1 triumph over Australia as his side's best series win so far, saying his highly motivated team mates give it right back when poked.
Around 25 per cent of the international real estate market in London also belongs to Indians with investments around 1 billion pounds.
His cricketing brain, always sharp, was blessed with exceptional speed of information absorption and processing. He could quickly zero in on what needed to be done and use the element of surprise to overpower the opposition, observes Shreekant Sambrani.
Indian cricket ushered in a new era as Virat Kohli was officially anointed captain for all three formats as he took over from Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India's limited overs captain from the series against England, starting on January 15.
The IPL Players' draft to allow two new franchises based in Pune and Rajkot pick 10 players of their choice will be held at the Mumbai Cricket Association's clubhouse in the Bandra-Kurla Complex on December 15.
Sunil Gavaskar has welcomed the return of Harbhajan Singh to the Indian cricket team after more than two years, saying the off-spinner looks in good form even though he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone with close to 700 international wickets under his belt.
India's middle-order mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara scored his last half-century six innings ago but the Saurashtra batsman is 'not too worried' about his own form, saying he is happy as long as he is contributing in the team's success.
The Indian team used a unique method to tackle Pakistan's Mohammad Irfan, who at seven feet one inch, is the tallest cricketer in the world.
Sachin Tendulkar says the "sound" that came off skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's bat during the recent Asia Cup was a reflection of his positive mindset and it was a good news for already "favourites" India in the World Twenty20.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar condemned the unruly crowd behaviour and police response to it during Monday's second Twenty20 International against South Africa, saying the Barabati stadium in Cuttack should be banned as an international venue for two years.
India, came into the tournament after a disastrous bilateral series, is onfident of winning.
'This win is going to take a while to sink in'
Former captain Anil Kumble said that many of the recommendations of the Lodha Committee report would be good for Indian cricket if they are implemented. "Many of the aspects of Justice Lodha recommendations are really good, especially the proposal to form Steering Committee of Players' Association. "If implemented, it will be good for Indian cricket," Kumble told reporters. The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Panel had recommended the formation of players' association by a four-member steering committee comprising former union home secretary G K Pillai (chairperson) and former India cricketers Mohinder Amarnath, Kumble and Diana Edulji (ex-Indian women's team captain), to raise their concerns.
During his tenure as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has gone from being extremely cautious to trying something fancy, hoping to catch the opponent by surprise. However, mostly, he's ended up with egg on the face, especially overseas.
India speedster Mohammed Shami is amazed at how Jimmy Anderson is able to deceive batsmen with his guile even when he is not as quick as his Indian counterparts.
'Ravindra is probably the best all-rounder in India today.' 'He is a thinking spinner. He uses both his fingers and mind when bowling.'
Even in his wildest dreams Pawan Negi may not have thought he would take a five-for on a stage like the Champions League T20 final. So, naturally, after that stellar effort against Kolkata Knight Riders, he was ecstatic. He flummoxed the likes of Robin Uthappa, Jacques Kallis and Ryan ten Doeschate with his flight and guile on the way to a memorable spell in only his second match in the tournament as Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets.
'It's not too many Chinaman bowlers going around and those coming in have all been fairly successful. It's a challenge that the guys are looking forward to'
The Pretoria wicket is likely to be similar, with perhaps not the same sideways movement of Newlands, and will provide another test of the Indian batsmen's bravery against a seam bowling barrage.
Captain Steve Smith is aware of India captain Kohli's good form and believes keeping him 'quiet' can bring some success to the visitors. He also believes that his players know to play spin well enough especially after the challenging tour of Bangladesh.
'Losing wickets in bunches is something have to plug'
Sri Lanka's medium pace bowler Thisara Perera said he did not realise that he had taken a hat-trick till his teammates informed him about it, as his entire concentration was on bowling in the death overs during the second T20 International against India in Ranchi on Friday. Although Sri Lanka lost the second game against India by 69 runs here last night to concede the advantage, Perera stole the show by becoming the first Sri Lankan bowler to take a hat-trick in T20 Internationals. "Actually, I didn't know that it was a hat-trick. Because that time my concentration was about my death bowling," Perera said at the post-match press conference here. "My teammates told me I got a hat-trick. Then I thought it was very good for me," he said when asked when did he come to know about the feat. Perera first dismissed Hardik Pandya in the fourth ball of the final over and then sent back Suresh Raina in the next delivery. In the last ball of the over, he had Yuvraj Singh caught at long-on. By the time Perera's hat-trick came it was a bit too late and thus, it did not help Sri Lanka's cause. Perera said it was good to get his second hat-trick in international cricket. "This is my second one -- the first hat-trick was in an ODI (against Pakistan)," he said. Defending his team's decision to bowl first upon winning the toss, Perera said, "We thought dew factor could play a role at the latter stage of the match. So we wanted to bowl first."
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar, on Friday, said that Virat Kohli should consider playing in the final Test against Australia starting, on Saturday, even if he is not fully fit if the team management feels his presence will boost the side in the series decider.
Opener Aaron Finch knows he's the one Australian batsman struggling for runs ahead of Thursday's World Cup semi-final against India but, ever confident, thinks a big innings is just around the corner.
'On our 11th wedding anniversary, I told my husband that we need to do something together. I felt I was raising a baby all by myself and I needed him. So we decided to do something together. After a lot of brain storming, we thought of doing a web series on women-bashing.' Krishnadasi actress Chhavi Mittal tells us more about it.
'It is very difficult to pick one team to win the World Cup but there is going to a whole lot of pressure on the teams in the knock-out stage'
Friends of Vinod Mehta came together to remember the man and his legacy.
