Almost the entire Indian team was seen drenched in colours
Stylish batsman Cheteshwar Pujara comes with the reputation of a good Test cricketer, according to former opener Virender Sehwag, who hoped that the Indian batting mainstay improves his skills in T20 cricket and gets picked by an Indian Premier League franchise in the next season.
The 18-year-old right-hander was named in a 12-man squad on Wednesday for the first of the two-Test series and is expected to open alongside Lokesh Rahul.
Vihari, clearly hampered having pulled up clutching his hamstring after running for a single before tea, scored at a rate that made Pujara look like a limited overs slogger.
As expected, the Indian selectors decided to stick with the same 16-member squad, which beat Bangladesh in the one-off Test, for the first two matches of the forthcoming four-match Test series against Australia, starting in Pune, on February 23.
Superb half-centuries by M Vijay (77), Cheteshwar Pujara (73) and Rajat Bhatia (55 not out) helped India A beat hosts Israel by 90 runs in their second one-day international match in Ashdod on Monday. India A scored 313 for 5 in their stipulated 50 overs and then rolled over the opponents for 223 in 46 overs with the aid of R Vinay Kumar (4 for 33) and Bhatia (3 for 35).
Brought into the squad only after first-choice opener Murali Vijay was ruled out due to injury, Dhawan made full use of the opportunity and played an entertaining 168-ball innings that was studded with 31 fours. This was his fifth Test hundred.
'The Indian top order should observe Babar and Kane to understand how to handle pacers when the ball is moving around. Both of them possess exceptional skills in playing late.'
Cheteshwar Pujara's brilliant unbeaten 87 went in vain as Andrew Gale scripted a successful run-chase to help England Lions beat India A by five wickets in the final of the tri-series tournament at Worcester.
Images from Day 4 in the first Test between India and New Zealand, at Green Park in Kanpur, on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma is set to play at number three in the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning on Wednesday but Sunil Gavaskar feels India captain Virat Kohli should bat at the crucial position.
Shubman Gill smashed a career-best 128 and Virat Kohli regained his form to fuel India's robust reply
Virat Kohli has scored 1,138 runs in overseas Tests this year -- that's the most by an Indian in a calendar year, points out Rajneesh Gupta.
Images from Day 3 of the fourth and final Test in Delhi, on Saturday.
Rohit's 162-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane dragged the hosts back into the contest, before England dismissed both in the final session.
Rohit Sharma's request to the BCCI for a break from white-ball cricket in South Africa despite being offered T20 captaincy has been accepted, while Jasprit Bumrah has been named his deputy for the two Tests starting December 26.
Patel smashed 74 and dominated his 114-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ashwin to rescue India
'We will be quarantining for that much time.'
India's much-vaunted top order let them down at The Oval
Star batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been appointed brand ambassador by the Gujarat State Election Commission to encourage more voters, will exercise his franchise when the voting for the parliamentary polls take place in the state on April 30.
Pakistan legend Wasim Akram said the Indian fast bowling unit should not get 'carried away' with the new ball.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI in the fourth and final Test against Australia?
'He will be missed by all of us in Saurashtra.'
Inclement weather played spoilsport, as not a single ball was bowled on the second day of India's opening tour fixture against Leicestershire, in Leicester, on Friday.
The Indian squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni departed for New Zealand from Mumbai on Sunday for a five-match ODI series followed by a best-of-two Test rubber against the hosts.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir, BCCI president Roger Binny and all-rounder Hardik Pandya led the long list of joyous members of the cricketing fraternity in lauding Jay Shah, who was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the ICC Chairman.
India dropped both Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara from the side following the South Africa tour but brought them back rather than grooming youngsters? Rahane scored the bulk of the runs for India in the WTC final but was going back to him and Pujara the right call?
Shubman Gill is all set to open with Rohit Sharma after he was named in India's 15-man squad for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, in Southampton, from June 18.
'After Adelaide we didn't discuss about what happened, we just wanted to play our game, show a good attitude, show good character on the field.'
Pujara, I would give him more credit because he only plays one format for India.
'Lyon has over 400 Test wickets and dismissed India's best batter in this crucial moment.'
India's pace trio took less than three hours to rout the tourists after Mominul Haque's decision to bat backfired.
Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara overcame occasional discomforts to take India to 86 for one wicket at lunch on the opening day of their one-off Test against Bangladesh at Hyderabad on Thursday.
I really like the look of Shikhar Dhawan. He's a talented, aggressive opener, says former Australia captain Ian Chappell.
Photos from Day 4 of the first Test match between India and England in Nottingham, on Saturday.
KL Rahul gave a timely reminder to the Indian team management with a sublime first-class hundred against Select County XI on the opening day of the warm-up game in Durham on Tuesday.
Indian cricket fans celebrate historic win over Australia on Tuesday.
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar said India will be happy with the Oval pitch when they take on Australia in the WTC Final.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the WTC final against Australia?
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