A shortened game will be like a sprint where the risk element will be high. Who will win when emotion meets execution remains to be seen. K R Nayar reports from Colombo.
Ravindra Jadeja smashed his way past Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become India's fourth-highest six-hitter in Test cricket, continuing his fine form against the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Recovering from a shoulder injury, Indian batsman Rohit Sharma, who missed leading the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Champions League T20, is set to miss the limited-overs edition of the West Indies series starting October 8.
West Indies openers Shai Hope and Evin Lewis smashed 136 off the first nine overs to put the hosts in the driving seat, with captain Rovman Powell's 38 steering his side to their highest-ever successful run chase in the Caribbean with six balls to spare.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins' chances of playing at next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka are "quite grey at the moment" as he battles a back stress issue that has affected his participation in the ongoing Ashes series against England.
A stunning hat-trick from Josh Hazlewood was not enough for Australia, as Darren Sammy led from the front with an unbeaten half-century to fashion a morale-boosting three-wicket win in a World Twenty20 warm-up match at Eden Gardens.
'In this situation, until further notice, it is requested by order to stop the broadcasting/telecasting of all matches and programs of the Indian Premier League (IPL).'
This was no Ranji clash, but a marquee Test opener-an international match that deserved a full house-yet Ahmedabad's 132,000-capacity stadium looked eerily empty.
Aware that one more defeat will ensure their exit from the tournament, New Zealand need nothing less than a big win against the West Indies in their make-or-break Super Eight match of the ICC World Twenty20 in Pallekele on Monday.
India's next international assignment is Asia Cup T20 tournament and it would be a surprise if Bumrah opts to play the tournament considering that the next Test series against West Indies will start in less than a week's time after the event in the UAE.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik praised India's Test captain Shubman Gill after he scored a record-equalling fourth hundred in the fourth Test against England.
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma's explosive batting performances propelled India to a record-breaking total against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final
'...When you come back home, when there's three spinners playing and the field's spread out, you really need to get your runs with singles. The boundaries don't come that easily.'
As Jurel basked in the applause from the limited number of spectators, the 34-year-old Pierre celebrated his first Test scalp.
India to open their U-19 World Cup campaign against USA
India face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad as Suryakumar Yadav's side aim to become the first team to successfully defend the title.
The Pakistan Cricket Board in a bid to attract more crowds to the Test match have for the first time announced free entry for several enclosures.
Australia, despite missing key pacers, are overwhelming favorites against Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener.
Temba Bavuma, who led South Africa to their maiden ICC World Test Championship title and a historic 2-0 series sweep in India, also made the cut, while four Australian players were included.
Rohit is confident that he would come good and has asked both critics and media to spare him the constant scrutiny.
For their next assignment in the ICC World Test Championship cycle, the two-time WTC runners up will aim to grab maximum points across those four home clashes. Here are five key questions the side must answer prior to their next Test match-up.
South Africa are the World Test champions and skipper Temba Bavuma wants them to play like it and prove their credentials in the two-Test series against India beginning on Friday.
With no foreign tours for the next one year, Easwaran's Test debut looks unlikely with N Jagadeesan being looked at as a potential third opener.
Sai Sudharsan pulled off a jaw-dropping catch on Day 2.
India made 3,809 runs in this series, which is the most ever scored by a team in a five Test series.
Rahul had scored last scored a century home way back in December 2016 against England at Chennai, scoring 199.
While many captains have buckled under the pressure, the responsibility to lead a team followed by a billion-plus fans appears to have brought the best out of Gill.
Mohinder Amarnath will always be remembered as a giant-hearted cricketer who stood tall against the fiercest attacks, carried the bruises with pride, and turned every setback into a comeback.
'It's a moment I'll never forget, having my family there.'
Ravindra Jadeja powered to his record sixth fifty of the series to extend his stunning run with the bat, on Day 3 of the fifth and final Test against England.
Opener Jason Roy, the hero of England's semifinal win has issued a warning to semi-finalists India and West Indies ahead of the all-important final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. When asked which team would he like to face in the final? India or the West Indies? "We prefer any side to be honest. Whoever it is, we will come out all guns blazing," warned Roy. The opener who smashed 44-ball 78 in the semi-final against Kiwis says the team is improving with every game and they are excited to play the ICC World T20 final at the iconic Eden Gardens on Sunday. He said it is great to be in the final, especially after the loss to the West Indies in the first game.
'It is a passing phase'. 'He will bounce back'. 'He is a run machine; poor form is just temporary'. The vote of confidence in Gill was inspiring and reassuring, notes Sandeep Goyal.
We didn't ask for rank turners so need to put in more effort to get bounce and turn: Jadeja
India are eyeing a 10th straight bilateral series win over the Caribbean side.
Jamie Overton returns to the Test line-up for the first time since earning his sole cap against New Zealand at Headingley in June 2022.
India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who played in the fifth and final Test at The Oval against England in their last assignment, has been named Iyer's deputy.
Responding to India's squad selection for the home series against West Indies, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan opined that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could have been rested for the series in order to groom a young fast bowler.
"There is no plan to remove Gautam Gambhir": Rajeev Shukla quashes reports of change in Test coach
'...we want him available as much as possible, but we have to be careful with him with some of the big tournaments coming as well, but like I said, the team always comes first.'
Ravindra Jadeja's standout performance in the first Test against the West Indies in Ahmedabad has helped him reach a career-best 25th position in the ICC men's Test batting rankings.
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