India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins in Rajkot on Thursday.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday
Images from Day 4 of the third Test between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday
Stokes, who is still recovering from a knee surgery, hasn't bowled since the second Ashes Test in June last year.
England stuck to their gameplan in the second innings, attacking the spinners at every opportunity as the Indians came undone and clearly looked bereft of ideas.
Coach Brendon McCullum said England will continue with their attacking Bazball approach in the last two Tests.
England had taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series in India but Ben Stokes and his men let the hosts draw parity in the second Test as all their batters were unable to get big scores.
In the absence of the injured Ollie Pope, big-hitting Harry Brook has been promoted to No 3 in what is a must-win Test for the hosts.
'This is his first tour and he is travelling with me. I am excited to see him.'
England will be looking to bounce back from a rain-affected opening match and solidify their T20 World Cup campaign
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Root enjoyed the utmost respect of players in the dressing room and that there was no clear 'natural successor'.
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Rohit Sharma, India's captain, acknowledged the dry pitch and the team's readiness for the challenge.
Former England pacer Steve Harmison loves watching the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami go about their business and thanks to their unbelievable skills, he feels India have become a formidable force in all conditions.
A dialed-in Novak Djokovic disconnected Ben Shelton's dream US Open run in the semi-finals on Friday.
Root relies on trademark style to rescue England
Mike Atherton feels India's spinners will win it for them
PHOTOS from the 5th T20I match between India and Australia played in Bengaluru on Sunday
After England tore the prediction books for an epochal 28-run victory in Hyderabad in the first Test, India now find themselves in a tight space, mentally and technically, ahead of the second match starting in four days in Visakhapatnam.
Since embracing Bazball, England are yet to lose a Test series, while India remain unbeaten at home since 2012-13.
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan feels the Rajkot pitch will be similar to the ones in Hyderabad and Vizag, bringing reverse swing into play once again.
Tim Paine lashed out at England Test captain Ben Stokes for coming out of ODI retirement to play in the World Cup.
England are an ageing side alright, but few will dare to bet against Jos Buttler's men successfully defending their World Cup title in a few weeks time.
Jannik Sinner bounced back after losing the first set to beat Tallon Griekspoor in the third round of the Miami Open.
Liverpool's slim Premier League title hopes faded further on Saturday when Michail Antonio's late header earned West Ham United a deserved point with a 2-2 draw.
Mikel Arteta's team are third with 61 points after 27 games, a point behind Manchester City
The "composed" set of newcomers in the Indian team don't need frequent advice, they need just a supportive environment to excel, said skipper Rohit Sharma after the young guns played a major part in the hosts' series-sealing win over England in the fourth Test in Ranchi on Monday.
The baby was born Tuesday, January 6, in Los Angeles, reports PEOPLE.
Stokes ton helps England beat Netherlands, end World Cup losing run
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against England?
'There have been a lot of 6:30 wake-ups on day four and day five when my alarm has been set for 8:15.'
Chennai Super Kings will launch their Indian Premier League (IPL) title defence against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday
England won't rush Ben Stokes into the playing XI against New Zealand if he is not completely fit, skipper captain Jos Buttler said on Wednesday, hinting that the explosive batter might not start in the World Cup opener.
It is doubtful there has been a more popular winner of a Formula One race in recent years than McLaren's Lando Norris, who was celebrated by everyone from Max Verstappen to Donald Trump following his victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.
'The question is, which is worse?' 'Is it worse that he would be resting in peace or is it worse that he's being held by these terrible people who have attacked and killed babies and raped women?'
Kuldeep picked the wickets of Ben Stokes at Ranchi and Zak Crawley in Dharamsala as his favourite dismissals from the series.
Ahead of the fifth and final Test at Dharamsala, England's head coach, Brendon McCullum, opined that it would be "slightly mad" if the spin duo of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir didn't get the opportunities to play in the County Championship.
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