Rohit Sharma completed a century in each innings in his maiden Test as opener as India pressed for victory in the first Test against South Africa by setting the touring side a daunting target of 395.
Having finally bowled India out for 336, Australia finished Day 3 on 21 for no loss, an overall lead of 54 runs in the final match of a see-saw series which remains level at 1-1.
The top Indian cricketers are unlikely to have a national camp at Motera in Ahmedabad prior to this year's Indian Premier League, taking into account their health and safety amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. There is a high possibility that all the centrally contracted cricketers -- save Cheteshwar Pujara and Hanuma Vihari, who don't feature in IPL -- will be joining their respective IPL teams training camp in Dubai from the start.
With 765 international scalps in his bag, Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker from India after Anil Kumble.
Gaikwad's supporters argue that his exclusion underscores inconsistencies in selection, with some feeling this sends a discouraging message to players trying to climb the ranks through domestic achievements.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 1:
India should bring back Cheteshwar Pujara, Harish Kotian tells Messrs Kohli and Shastri.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against South Africa, starting on January 3?
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand, starting on Thursday?
For India's current head coach, the Test series defeat against New Zealand at home, a first in 12 years and after 18 victories on the trot, would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Opener Mayank Agarwal stamped his authority on a struggling South African attack with a second successive hundred as India gained the upperhand on the opening day of the second Test.
South Africa finished at 11 for one in nine overs bowled in second innings.
Veteran India speedster Mohammed Shami has recovered from his niggles and is fit to play the final Test against England in Manchester, starting September 10.
Paine admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by David Boon
India's senior batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is expecting a strong showing from Ravichandran Ashwin in the upcoming Test series against Australia.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who was among the top-order batsmen who failed to click in the five-Test series against England that India lost 1-3, has sought permission to play in the remainder of the English county season and will be allowed to do so by the Board.
Cheteshwar Pujara says his stint with the English county side Yorkshire has helped him rectify the flaws in his batting and is ready to bat at any position when the Indian team square off with Bangaldesh in the one-off Test in Fatullah.
Shreyas Iyer sparkled with a half-century on debut, while Ravindra Jadeja also hit an unbeaten fifty to keep New Zealand at bay on Day 1 of the first Test in Kanpur on Thursday.
'The 2018 series win in Australia stands out in his captaincy.'
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 4:
Images from Day 1 of the 2nd Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede in Mumbai on Friday.
'I couldn't even hold my bat, but I still wanted to carry on batting despite the amount of pain because me staying there was important for the team.' 'It was tough, but if you want to win matches for your team, if you want to contribute, then you will have to overcome such challenges.'
India will be under tremendous pressure when they face an equally circumspect Australia in a battle of two out-of-form batting units in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth
Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has successfully completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy following a back injury and will join India's squad ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, beginning New Delhi on Friday.
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were spotted at the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the largest National Parks in Maharashtra.
Cheteshwar Pujara struck an unbeaten 79 as Indian batsmen gave a far better account of themselves to keep the hosts afloat by taking a 126-run lead.
Australia appealed for a catch off Cheteshwar Pujara's inside edge at short leg by Matthew Wade, off the bowling of Nathan Lyon, which was turned down by umpire Wilson following which the hosts opted to take the review.
'If we keep bowling like this, we will win as many as Tests as possible.'
Yashasvi Jaiswal joined the legendary Sunil Gavaskar as the only two Indian batters to score more than 700 runs in a bilateral Test series.
'He showed what Test cricket is all about.'< 'It is not about hitting the ball and looking fancy out in the middle, it is about showing grit.'
Virat Kohli joined the national team's training session on Monday at the picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Club.
As many as four world-class match-winners are expected to bid adieu to the game one by one in the next couple of years and Gautam Gambhir is in an unenviable position as head coach.
Pace bowler Prasidh Krishna has been added to India's squad for the fourth Test against England at The Oval, starting on Thursday.
Vihari, Gill and Iyer have all played Tests for India in the absence of regular players and Rohit said a decision on the composition of the side against Sri Lanka was yet to be made.
All eyes will be on Captain Shubman Gill and Coach Gautam Gambhir to lead the Indian Test team into a bold new era.
Ashwin is the only Indian to score a century and bag a five-wicket in a single Test. He has achieved this feat on three occasions.
India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara said winning the ICC Test Championship will be a much bigger achievement than claiming an ODI or T20 World Cup title. Pujara also hailed ICC's decision to introduce World Test Championship, saying it has made the traditional format of the game more competitive.
Shubman Gill, who scored his maiden Test century at home in the ongoing fourth and final Test, said he was determined not play a loose shot.
India's premier Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara will play for Team Zalawad Royals in the inaugural Saurashtra Premier League.
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