Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh struck half-centuries, while left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar took three wickets as Punjab Kings outclassed Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs.
With just two wins from seven games, the Royals, languishing at eighth on the table, come into the contest on the back of a gut-wrenching Super Over defeat to Delhi Capitals.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the third Test match between England and India at Lord's, London, on Thursday.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Delhi Capitals looked like a well-oiled machine with four wins in a row before a stunning batting meltdown against Mumbai Indians halted their momentum.
The Rajasthan Royals have retained their core group of players, including captain Sanju Samson, as they look to build on their recent success.
India opener Abhishek Sharma suffered an ankle injury during a catching drill at the nets in Chennai on Friday.
'But I think if you look at a rebuilding sort of phase, I think India can cope with it better than most other teams'
India crushed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs inside three days in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday.
'Yeah, 100 per cent. That's a good question, and I think that's something we'll obviously reflect on after the tour, the things we could have done better.'
Shubman Gill struck his 10th Test century, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets as India dominated Day 2 of the second Test against West Indies, in Delhi, on Saturday.
England had moved to within 35 runs of securing a famous victory over India when bad light and torrential rain ended an extraordinary fourth day of the final Test at The Oval on Sunday.
Over four decades, the India-Australia ODI rivalry has mirrored the evolution of both teams, from Australia's supremacy in the 2000s to India's resurgence post-2010. Come Sunday, this rivalry will be renewed as Shubman Gill will commence his first assignment as ODI captain in the opening game of the three match series, at the Optus stadium in Perth.
Aus ODIs: Bumrah, Gill workload to be discussed, battle between Jaiswal and Abhishek
After a cautious start, Crawley and Duckett punished the straying Indian bowlers with an array of crisp boundaries. The pair blunted the new ball and raced to 77 without loss at tea.
Shubman Gill said on Monday he had planned not to lose his wicket to an lbw decision come what may, despite the odd ball keeping low and turning sharply during the fourth Test against England, which India won by five wickets.
Pat Cummins captured the sentiment perfectly, calling this potentially the 'last chance' for fans Down Under to witness these legends in action. With both stalwarts set to be 39 and 40 respectively by the 2027 World Cup, every appearance carries added significance. Ro-Ko have been the heartbeat of Indian cricket for over 15 years. Their return brings an emotional lift to the team and raises expectations for the series against the world champions.
England gained the upper hand after a rain-hit first day of the final Test against India at The Oval on Thursday
The short turnaround time from the high of winning a controversy-marred Asia Cup notwithstanding, Shubman Gill's India will be outright favourites against a struggling and under-strength West Indies when the teams face-off on a green-top in the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
India's Bumrah produced a devastating spell in the morning, dismissing Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Chris Woakes before Archer struck with his third delivery to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal in his first test for four years.
Following RR's six run win at the Barsapara cricket stadium, a video surfaced online showing Parag tossing a phone back to security personnel after posing for a photo with them.
Refreshed and re-energised, the team is surely geared up for the all-important third T20I scheduled for Wednesday.
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has returned to the team after recovering from a finger surgery he underwent last month. .
Broken foot, unbroken in spirit: Pant gives update
England captain Ben Stokes and India head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed contrasting views on the use of injury replacements in Test cricket.
The 22-year-old expressed his feelings after being selected for the BGT 2024-25 series.
Rishabh Pant last played a Test match in December 2022 before a serious car crash saw him sidelined for nearly two years.
Chennai Super Kings might feel more 'at home' against an equally clueless Rajasthan Royals on a slow turner expected to be on offer in their next IPL game in Guwahati.
With two days still to play, England are firm favourites to secure the win in Manchester, one that would seal victory in the five-match series with one test still to come.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is up and running in Beckenham, putting in the hard yards before the upcoming five high-stakes Tests against England, slated to kick off on June 20 at Headingley.
A spot in India's playing XI is a tough ask, but once you get that golden opportunity and you shine on debut, is your place secure?
Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy then safely saw off the bowling to stay 73 for 5 till close of play, taking a 11-run lead.
Rinku Singh attempted the falling reverse lap scoop and reverse pull by using the pace off Ravi Bishnoi's googlies, similar to Rishabh Pant's audacious stroke-making.
The Rajasthan Royals entered the IPL 2025 auction with a strategic approach, carefully balancing retention and acquisition.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) might be revisiting their squad composition for the 2026 IPL, with at least six of their players attracting trade-off interest from various franchises.
Rishabh Pant has a chance outdo his ex-skipper and icon MS Dhoni - by becoming the most successful wicketkeeper-batter in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA) conditions.
As Team India gear up for the much-anticipated Test series against England starting on Friday, several players in the squad will draw confidence from their county cricket experience.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and West Indies in New Delhi on Monday.
Avesh Khan held his nerve in the death overs, bowling yorker after yorker to perfection, to help Lucknow Super Giants pull off a thrilling two-run win over Rajasthan Royals.
The BCCI on Friday announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour of England, featuring a blend of experienced prospects and rising stars.
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