Tamilians and Keralites believe he is one of them, and people from Karnataka also consider him their hero.
Suryakumar revealed that in the team meeting, he asked the players to be fearless in the game.
The stage is set for a thrilling T20 World Cup final between India and South Africa. Here's a breakdown of five key matchups that could swing the momentum of the match:
New Zealand great Stephen Fleming feels Kuldeep Yadav can provide that 'extra bit of wicket-taking flair' in the Super 8 stage.
For the first time in a men's Test, England went into the match with a lone fast bowler in Mark Wood, opting for a spin-heavy attack instead, which included debutant Tom Hartley.
USA cricketers Saurabh, Harmeet open up on connection with Indian stars
Fascinating glimpses from Day 4 of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India would want their big guns Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to fire when the mighty hosts aim for a clean sweep against a beleaguered Bangladesh in the second and final Test starting in Kanpur on Friday.
England secured a 26-run victory over India in the third T20I in Rajkot on Tuesday to stay alive in the five-match series.
Rahul, who initially batted at No. 6 in the first two games, didn't look comfortable and fared far better at the familiar No. 5 position with a useful 40 off 29 balls in India's one-sided 142-run victory in the third ODI in Ahmedabad.
Krunal Pandya recorded his first fifty in IPL since 2016, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru pull off a six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals.
Virat Kohli opened up on his batting methodology, saying his focus remains on analysing the conditions and rotating the strike.
India's young batter Yashaswi Jaiswal was placed sixth with 714 points.
Goenka approached Rahul after the match to congratulate, only to receive what looked like a cold, disinterested handshake. No words, no eye contact. Just quiet closure and a telling payback.
Axar Patel made an expected comeback to the side for the first two Tests against England.
In a league defined by change, Sanju Samson's steadfast presence offers a sense of stability and a genuine chance for the Royals to finally reclaim their long-awaited title
Rinku Singh picked for second round as top stars leave for Test series against Bangladesh. Mayank Agarwal has been named as India A captain in Gill's place.
A turner in Pune exposed the soft underbelly of Indian batters' technique against slow bowling but as per the current team's philosophy, it has decided to take the bull by its horns by asking for a turner where the ball might turn at right angles from first hour.
Karun Nair has smashed 664 runs with five centuries in eight matches at an astonishing average of 664 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Siraj's economical spell of 1-13 in just three overs wasn't his only contribution. His fielding brilliance led to a crucial dismissal in the 16th over, putting Ireland under pressure.
Delhi Capitals annihilated Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets in an IPL match in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Bangladesh's One-Day International debutant Tanzim Hasan, who grabbed public attention with a scintillating opening spell in the Asia Cup Super Fours match against India, in Colombo on Friday, described India skipper Rohit Sharma's dismissal as a "dream wicket".
Ajinkya Rahane has been retained in India's Test squad, to be led by Virat Kohli, for the South Africa series later this month.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was on Friday ruled out of the Asia Cup after he sustained a knee injury.
IMAGES from the T20 World Cup FINAL played between India and South Africa in Barbados on Saturday
'If he was going to bat at No 9, then he should have batted at No 7.'
Yashasvi Jaiswal was on Saturday expectedly picked in the India squad for the Champions Trophy and pacer Mohammed Shami returned to national fold
Axar Patel's promotion in Delhi Capitals batting order is being seriously contemplated by the management
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and England in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The national selectors on Sunday retained the Indian team, which hammered Bangladesh by 280 runs in the opening Test here, for the second and final match in Kanpur.
'Five spinners, Siraj ignored for Rana, and Jaiswal dropped. Brain-faded captain and coach combo!'
With Ashwin absent from the Rajkot Test, India is forced to field only 10 players and four specialist bowlers.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against England?
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar Azam for focusing on personal milestones over team success, expressing concerns about Pakistan's preparations ahead of their crucial Champions Trophy clash against India. He believes Pakistan's recent struggles, including a disappointing Tri-Nation Series campaign and a 1-1 draw against the West Indies in a home Test series, point to a lack of readiness for the India encounter.
The tournament was decorated with several impactful players and 12 of them have made it to the ICC Champions Trophy Team of the Tournament.
India's left-arm spinner Axar Patel jumped 20 places to his career-best ranking of 13 in the International Cricket Council's Rankings for ODI bowlers while Jasprit Bumrah and Dhawal Kulkarni also made progress after conclusion of the three-match series against Zimbabwe.
Suryakumar Yadav's doughty 73 not out proved to be the difference as Mumbai Indians sealed the fourth and final play-off berth with a 59-run trouncing of Delhi Capitals.
Shivam Dube proved his utility in India's crowded batting line-up with a belligerent half-century to secure their six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the opening T20 International in Mohali on Thursday.
Delhi Capitals finished 9th in IPL 2023. Will IPL 2024 be the year DC win its maiden title?
Kings XI Punjab spinner Axar Patel knows he can be predictable after a couple of seasons at the highest level and that is why he will be seen tossing up the odd ball during the upcoming IPL and not rely only on flatter deliveries. "You expect top batsmen to read you well after two three seasons at this level and that is why I felt the need to add more variety to my bowling. I am tossing up the odd ball in training but it doesn't mean I will only do that. I will continue bowling the flatters ones and try to mix it with the odd flighted ball," Patel told PTI from Mohali where he is training alongside his Kings XI Punjab teammates. The season starting on April 9 is crucial for Patel, who has been sidelined from the Indian team after the return of senior pro Ravindra Jadeja and another left-arm spinner Pawan Negi getting the selectors' nod over him for the recently concluded World T20. Though the 22-year-old was part of India's 50-over squad in Australia, he did not get a game and last played for the country in October. But the spinner, who is often criticised for not turning the ball enough, is not perturbed by the selectors' snub.
