Opener Ben Duckett hit the most defining century of his career, exposing an out-of-depth Indian attack as England comfortably chased down a tricky target of 371 to win the opening Test by five wickets.
Gujarat Titans opener B Sai Sudharsan continued his red-hot form in the Indian Premier League to lead the Orange Cap race for IPL's top scorer and stake his claim for a Test debut in India's tour of England later this year.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes India is in "safe hands" and has "enough talent" to trounce England, but it will all come down to how the young-looking squad will leave a mark in the series on a territory known for being "tough".
It is now-or-never for the now senior-most superstar batter to produce an all-timer series that justifies his talent.
India's Test team has entered a bold new era - one without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or Ravichandran Ashwin - and the message from new head coach Gautam Gambhir is clear: it's time to fight, not just play.
'This will be a testing time for Indian cricket. And I'd say this truly marks the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era.'
Rohit Sharma, India's Test captain, has announced his retirement from the format, leaving the team in need of a new leader.
His potential absence from the England tour signals a major transition in India's leadership and batting order.
This was India's seventh defeat in their last nine matches as their poor run in Test cricket continues following successive series defeats against New Zealand at home and in Australia.
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the first Test against England?
'Shubh Aarambh': From Fazilka to Leeds, journey of passionate dad and willing son
All the prominent Indian cricketers are contracted with their respective IPL franchises at the moment as the league's knockouts will be played on May 20, 21 23 before the final on May 25.
Images from Day 2 of the third Ashes Test on Friday.
Charismatic England batter Joe Root has advocated consistency to counter India in the upcoming five-Test series, saying "there's no hiding place" when it comes to facing such an indomitable opponent.
YouTuber Daniel Jarvis aka 'Jarvo69', who intruded into the field of play during the third Test at Headingley Cricket Ground in Leeds and the previous match at Lord's, has been banned for life on charges of security breach.
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has likened the England series to a heavyweight boxing bout and thinks the Black Caps are still very much in the fight in the third Test after a topsy-turvy day two at Headingley.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons says his side cannot afford the batting debacles that have often undermined their tours of England when the series starts behind closed doors next week. The first of three Tests begins at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton next Wednesday and Simmons says making sure they are mentally ready is the most important task.
The Sri Lankan innings was into its first hour when the plane moved over the stadium with the message.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from Day 4 of the India-England Test at Leeds.
Jasprit Bumrah doesn't seem to be a long-term captaincy option given his nagging fitness concerns.
Hope says he has it in him to do well again when West Indies take on England in a bio-secure environment.
India's captain Virat Kohli admitted that after being all out for 78 in the first innings the team was always playing the catch-up game in the fourth Test at Headingley, Leeds..
Cameron Green's participation in the upcoming marquee five-match Test series against fierce rivals India was on Friday thrown into doubt after a back injury ruled him out of the ongoing tour of England.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the schedule on X.
'I'm sure he will want to entertain the local crowd. I think it is set up nicely for him, but you have still got to go and do it.'
The performance of openers Rohit Sharma and K L Rahul has been the biggest plus for India in the batting department. Both have showed remarkable temperament and technique in testing conditions to give the team a solid start.
Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled on the opening day of the second and final Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley due to persistent rain.
Former skipper Michael Vaughan feels England "missed the trick" by recalling its cricketers from the IPL to play a T20 series against Pakistan, saying it had denied them experiencing pressure-cooker situations of the playoffs, which could have helped them prepare better for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Americas.
New Zealand were 68 for three at tea on the fourth day, chasing 468 to win the second and final test against England at Headingley on Monday.
Images from the first One-Day International between England and Australia, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday.
England, chasing 455 to pull off the highest successful run chase in Test history, reached 44 for no wicket at the close on a rain-hit fourth day of the second and final match of the series against New Zealand on Monday.
South Africa very definitely have the edge in this match by courtesy of having runs on the board.
Haris Rauf was named in Pakistan's 15-member squad, which will be led by star batter Babar Azam.
New Zealand ripped through England's top order to close in on a series-leveling victory as the hosts limped to 102 for five at lunch on the last day of the second and final Test on Tuesday.
Graeme Swann took six wickets and England dodged the rain clouds hovering over Headingley to wrap-up a 247-run second Test victory over New Zealand on Tuesday and secure a 2-0 series triumph.
Johnson sidelined for Aus tour of UK
Warner's place looked uncertain after his double failure in the third Test at Headingley where the opener managed a total of five runs and fell to Stuart Broad in both innings.
England must win the fourth Test in Manchester to keep the series alive ahead of the fifth Test at the Oval in London.
Set to achieve a major milestone of playing his 100th Test this week, England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow dedicated the achievement to his cancer-survivor mother who has been his driving force and kept the family together through the difficult times.
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