'Our plan was simple, stick to our basics'
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says they are confident of claiming a historic first Test series win in South Africa, led by their potent fast bowling attack on the lively Highveld wickets where the first two of three Tests will be played.
The Indian team landed in South Africa for the Test series, starting on December 26.
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.
It is understood that Kohli, Rahane, Shami, Jadeja will be sweating it out at the nets alongside Ashwin, who has already bowled a whopping 58 overs and taken seven wickets in a County game for Surrey last week.
India will now lock horns with South Africa for three Tests and three ODIs, beginning December 26.
India got off to a horror start in their practice match as youngsters Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill failed with the bat on Day 1 of the three-day game against New Zealand XI at Seddon Park, in Hamilton, on Friday. All the batsmen were dismissed by fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn as India were reduced to 5/3 in the seventh over.
Ajinkya Rahane has been retained in India's Test squad, to be led by Virat Kohli, for the South Africa series later this month.
We have to play aggressive cricket, says stand-in skipper KL Rahul
Resuming on the fourth day in the second Test at 140 for 5, New Zealand folded up for 167 in the second innings after India set them a mammoth 540-run target.
'I am happy people are talking about me -- I always believe people talk about important people. I am not too concerned about that. It is all about contribution for the team.'
Images from Day 1 of the pink-ball first Test between Australia and India, in Adelaide, on Thursday.
'Sometimes KG needs a rocket. You could then almost sense the intensity and focus... he was in the zone.'
New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hailed Tim Southee's leadership qualities after the fast bowler claimed a five-wicket haul on Friday in his country's first Test against India in Kanpur.
Indian players are gearing up themselves at the Holkar Cricket Stadium for the pink ball Test match against Bangladesh.
India skipper Virat Kohli backed under-fire wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, saying the team management will give him all the space that he needs in the last two Tests of the five-match series against England.
The Indian cricket coach has backed senior India pros Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, after the duo struck a half-century each in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test at the Wanderers.
Delhi done in by poor batting as Karnataka win by 4 wickets
'Lyon has improved as a bowler in the last four-five years. He likes to bowl and he wants to bowl as many overs as possible. His line length is very good and has improved a lot, I feel.'
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.'
According to PTI, the chairman of selectors, Chetan Sharma has asked the duo to regain form by playing Ranji Trophy.
Rishabh Pant smashed a blistering 146 and forged a 222-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja to drag India back into the contest in the rescheduled fifth Test against England in Edgbaston on Friday.
Images from Day 3 of the third Test between Australia and India, at the SCG, on Saturday.
"I always believed that I would get another chance. I didn't know how to be honest as the Indian pacers were doing well over the past three to four years. I was getting inspired watching them, to be honest."
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.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the rescheduled 5th Test between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday.
Livingstone was picked by Punjab Kings for Rs 11.5 crore
'You are going to face an England team where Joe Root is back to his absolute best, where Oliver Pope is playing his best-ever for England. Ben Stokes has amalgamated the team and got playing in an ultra-positive and rock and roll fashion.'
The Indian team on Sunday began training for the decisive third and final Test against South Africa here, hoping to recover from the defeat in Johannesburg and claim its maiden series win in the Rainbow Nation.
Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara forged the only century-plus partnership of the innings but India still finished the day 321 behind.
Images from Day 2 of the third Test between South Africa and India, in Cape Town, on Wednesday.
Bandon Mein Tha Dum is about a team that hits rock-bottom, loses key players, has its global reputation shrink overnight, but despite all the setbacks, pulls off one of the greatest comeback victories in the history of international cricket, applauds Shailesh Karkera.
The careers of senior pros Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma are on the line when the selectors pick the Indian Test squad for the coming tour of South Africa.
The county championship Division one was scheduled to start on April 12 before it was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Bumrah, Chahar, Kaul get their first dose of COVID vaccine.
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.
Who do you should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka?
A summary of Ranji matches played on Tuesday.
England's Ollie Robinson struck four times with the second new ball as the hosts thrashed India by an innings and 76 runs to level the series on day four of the third Test at Headingley in Leeds on Saturday.
