Veteran Yuvraj Singh made a comeback to the Indian team, while Virat Kohli took over the captaincy from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for the forthcoming three-match ODI and T20I series against England, starting in Pune, on January 15.
De Kock, 23, became the youngest player to record 10 ODI hundreds
A record-breaking batting display from centurions Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers took South Africa to a 34-run win over Pakistan in the third One-Day International on Sunday.
The West Indies pulled off another upset as they beat England by seven runs to secure their first-ever ICC Women's World Cup victory over the defending champions.
While Kane Williamson's side will probably be relieved at having avoided pre-tournament favourites and hosts England, the 2015 finalists face a no less formidable opponent in India.
It's been more than a year that Rahane is out of Indian ODI team but he still will like to stick to his own method.
India secured their first ever series win in South Africa across formats when they beat the hosts by 73 runs in the fifth ODI on Tuesday.
England's rampant one-day side powered to a fourth straight win over Australia, following up their world record rampage at Trent Bridge with a commanding six-wicket victory at Chester-le-Street on Thursday led by centurion Jason Roy.
The Centurion pitch offered ample assistance to Chahal and Yadav as India dismissed South Africa for 118, their lowest total at home.
South Africa opener Quinton de Kock hit a masterful 178 runs in a comfortable six-wicket victory over top-ranked Australia on Friday in the first one-day international of the five-match series. After Australia posted 294 for nine in their innings, South Africa reached their victory target with more than 13 overs remaining.
Jean-Paul Duminy became the third South African batsman to be dismissed at 99 in ODIs -- the first two were Lance Klusener against Sri Lanka at Lahore on November 8, 1997 and Graeme Smith against Sri Lanka at Centurion on November 29, 2002.
The International Cricket Council came in for sharp criticism for its bizarre rules on playing conditions
Having suffered a minor setback in the previous game, India will look to recover and close out this eight-week long tour with a series win.
Batsman Suresh Raina was on Sunday rewarded for his recent domestic performance with a recall to the Indian Twenty20 squad for the three-match series against South Africa, starting February 18.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was disappointed that the batsmen failed to fire as a unit in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, which concluded at Centurion on Sunday with the Proteas eking out a 33-run win in the final one-dayer to clinch the series 3-2.
"A rock-star, a match winner, a great junior and a very good friend of mine," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
Soft-spoken Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal on Wednesday said youngsters with 'good attitude' are always able to produce results after his team eked out a hard-earned draw against India in the third cricket Test.
Having sneaked into the semi-finals with a last-ball victory over Pakistan, Australia will have to plug their batting loopholes when they take on England in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy in Centurion.
India rode on a solid all-round performance to comfortably crush Zimbabwe by 62 runs in the second One-day International, thereby taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Harare on Sunday.
Pacer John Hastings has provided fill-up to Australia's ambitions of notching up a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series against India, saying he is thriving on the extra responsibility following a few impressive performances. Hastings took the important wickets of centurion Shikhar Dhawan and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play a key role in the home team's victory in the fourth ODI in Canberra yesterday, their fourth in a row. With his show in the Australian capital, Hastings has proved that leadership is something that comes naturally to him.
Statistical highlights of the first ODI match between India and New Zealand, in Dharamsala, on Sunday.
Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson scored unbeaten centuries as Australia thrashed England by nine wickets to storm into the final of the ICC Champions Trophy, in Centurion, on Friday. Ponting smashed his 28th century in ODIs to finish unbeaten on 111 in 115 deliveries, while Watson blazed his way to a strokeful 136 from 132 deliveries, which was laced with ten boundaries and seven sixes.
Virat Kohli, copping criticism for his debatable selection policy for the Centurion Test, should be backed to the hilt since it is his first 'real overseas tour' as captain, reckons seasoned Harbhajan Singh.
South Africa's Farhaan Behardien reckons that the batsmen will have to be smart with shot-selection
Kuldeep Yadav took a hat-trick after openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul hit centuries to help India crush West Indies by 107 runs in the second ODI in Visakhapatnam and level the three-match series at 1-1. Rohit smashed 159 from 138 balls, while Rahul stroked 102 from 104 balls to power India to a huge 387 for five in their 50 overs. In reply, West Indies made a brave effort courtesy of Shai Hope (78) and Nicholas Pooran (75) but Kuldeep finished off their hopes with his second ODI hat-trick.
Injured South African all rounder Jacques Kallis has turned to an oxygen chamber in a bid to recover in time for the first Test against England at Centurion next week.
Hashim Amla made a sparkling 154 and his opening partner Quinton de Kock a rapid 109 in a batting blitz that earned South Africa an 88-run victory over Sri Lanka at Centurion on Friday and a 5-0 whitewash in their one-day international series.
JP Duminy struck his maiden One-Day International century to lead South Africa to a crushing 212-run victory over Zimbabwe in Centurion on Tuesday. The home team took the series 2-0, representing the perfect fillip ahead of Friday's opening Twenty20 against England in Johannesburg.
Former South African fast bowler Fanie De Villiers has praised Mohammed Shami as India's best Test bowler and added that the Proteas could easily fit him in their highly-competitive pace attack.
South Africa will have to produce an exceptional batting performance to get back into the contest when skipper Faf du Plessis and Zubayr Hamza return to the crease in Ranchi on Monday.
Inspite of blasting a 61-ball 119 in the fifth and final ODI against India, South African skipper AB De Villiers has played down his effort in comparison to teammate Faf du Plessis's more sedate 133, saying the knock helped other batsmen free up.
Under Kohli, playing cricket will now be about winning, not avoiding defeat. India will not just be liked or admired -- it will be respected and feared. A country whose stars were labeled 'talented' or 'elegant' or 'inconsistent' now finds itself with a captain who is professional, tough, and combative, the embodiment of athleticism, aggression, and ambition. A fascinating glimpse from Pride, Prejudice And Punditry: The Essential Shashi Tharoor.
Statistical highlights of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Sri Lanka, in London.
Gautam Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni rescued India from a precarious situation in the second ODI against Sri Lanka.
England's top order fired in unison to give them a four-wicket win in the second one-day international against Australia
The Pakistan all-rounder was seen pushing his bat at a spectator who said something to him on his way back to the pavilion after being dismissed.
Statistical highlights of the cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan.
Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar, who started his international career in 2000, will stand in a record 129th Test match when Australia take on New Zealand in the first Test in Perth on Thursday.
A local South African daily reported that Shahid Afridi hurled his bat at a spectator.
Former South Africa coach Ray Jennings feels that India captain Virat Kohli can be 'intimidating in the dressing room.'
