In terms of sheer numbers there is not much to choose between the two wicketkeepers.
Skipper Rishabh Pant will look to overcome his rustiness as Delhi Capitals aim for an improved batting display in their bid for a first win of the IPL season when they take on Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Thursday.
The "composed" set of newcomers in the Indian team don't need frequent advice, they need just a supportive environment to excel, said skipper Rohit Sharma after the young guns played a major part in the hosts' series-sealing win over England in the fourth Test in Ranchi on Monday.
SRH finished last in 2023, but Pat Cummins, who was roped in for a whopping Rs 20.50 crore, scripted a sensational turnaround for the franchise, taking the team to the final with a 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 in Chennai on Friday.
No half-centuries were scored in the Eliminator, with Yashavi Jaiswal registering the highest score -- a 30-ball 45.
Rajasthan Royals will face a stern test of character as they look to arrest a shocking slide in a do-or-die IPL Eliminator against an in-form RCB.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals played in Mullanpur on Saturday
Dhawan said that he has made a conscious effort to improve his strike rate, especially in the middle-overs.
India's 40-4 (win-loss) home record in the last decade is awe-inducing but there is an ever-little crack, which is getting more pronounced in the past three years, particularly in the case of star batter Virat Kohli.
Lucknow Super Giants assistant coach Lance Klusener placed the quicker evolution of batters as the reason behind the frequent tall team totals in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand?
A resurgent Mumbai Indians will need to address their bowling woes as they look to exact revenge on table-toppers Rajasthan Royals in their reverse fixture of the Indian Premier League in Jaipur on Monday.
Rishabh Pant released by DC, Heinrich Klaasen pips Virat Kohli in retention price
The Royals spinners kept the RCB batters quiet.
The Bengaluru outfit will hope for a reversal at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, a venue that carries similar traits as RCB's home -- Chinnaswamy Stadium -- in terms of a smooth pitch and a blistering outfield adding value to the batters' shots.
'There are lots of very talented and skilful players who are coming through the system. The only thing we need to make sure is the transition is done in a controlled manner.'
That merging of skills and temperament has made him a much more desirable player than in the past.
India's batting is a major concern with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs ahead of the tour of Australia.
Both Jaiswal and du Plessis, the leading run-getters in IPL 2023 so far, are in scintillating form. While du Plessis is leading the scoring charts with 576 runs from 11 innings, including six half centuries and a best of 84, Jaiswal is a close second with 575 runs from 12 matches, which includes four fifties and a 124-run knock.
'We could have been better, but part of that is playing away from home -- trying to find out the right length to bowl, what sort of swing conditions we are going to get. That's part of the challenge of playing away.'
Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a rapid hundred before retiring hurt as India stretched their overall lead to 322 with eight wickets in hand to take control of the third Test.
Hardik Pandya has quit Gujarat Titans to rejoin his former team Mumbai Indians, following a trade between the two franchises.
A disappointed Rajasthan Royals will have to focus on better execution of their strategies for a swift turnaround when they face a highly inconsistent yet capable Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match in Mullanpur on Saturday.
IMAGES from the 1st T20I between Zimbabwe and India played in Harare on Saturday
Yash Dayal's story is now one of resilience and redemption, proving that comebacks often speak louder than any setback.
Who do you think bowled the best spell in the LSG-RR game?
Jasprit Bumrah emerged as the lone bright spot with a record haul of 32 wickets.
'Another one of those for me is Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is an all-format player and should have played for India a lot more than he has but the competition is so much that he hasn't played much. '
Kohli is the man for the big occasion and has been scoring runs consistently across formats, says Harish Kotian.
Young Indian players showed immense fortitude to tide over the absence of stars like Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami to out-punch England 4-1 in the Test series, and head coach Rahul Dravid lauded them for delivering in crunch situations.
Jaiswal polished off the South African tail with a four-wicket burst with his spin bowling to bundle out the home side for just 119 from 29.5 overs.
All about IPL 2025 which kicks off on March 22, Saturday.
Rabada, Boult or Maharaj? Who is your pick?
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Wednesday said England are not a difficult side to beat and the hosts only need to get used to their ultra-attacking style of play to secure the five-match Test series.
The Rajasthan Royal bowlers fended off the RCB batters in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad.
Rajasthan Royals are better placed than Punjab Kings on the net run rate but both will have to rely on other results to advance.
the match was won by Royals in both the Powerplays -- with the batters dominating first and the bowlers sealing their win during the chase.
India captain Rohit Sharma including mainstays Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have placed in the highest category of BCCI central contracts.
