You need a big upping of the ante when it comes to the fielding if you have to beat big sides in big competitions.'
It is a tribute to a system so robustly meritocratic that this team represents India's diversity better than any other institution: The Union Cabinet, our chief ministers, the civil services, the leadership of our armed forces and security agencies, the judiciary and more than all of these, our typical newsroom. That is the biggest message from this breathless rise of Indian cricket, asserts Shekhar Gupta.
Check out the Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka teams.
India led the way in the development of Test cricket under former skipper Virat Kohli, according to South African legend Graeme Smith, who reckons only five or six countries may be playing the longest format in the coming years.
A series win for India in the four Test series against Australia would be a big step in becoming the best team in the world, Indian conditioning coach Paddy Upton said.
The timing of it may be far from perfect but former pacer Brett Lee today said the upcoming India-Australia ODI series would do a world of good to the team in transition from Down Under as nothing beats the experience of playing in the heat and dust of India.
Australia concluded their World Cup preparation on an emphatic note, beating a struggling Sri Lanka by five wickets in their final warm-up game, in Southampton, on Monday. Usman Khawaja, who opened alongside skipper Aaron Finch in place of a rested David Warner, anchored the chase with 89 off 105 balls.
Fans wearing the India jersey, carrying the Indian flag, laughing, joking and anticipating an India win are moving towards the Narendra Modi stadium. There are families, friends, children, adults, teenagers, middle aged and the senior citizen who have all painted the city blue.
Rupinder Pal Singh's brace went in vain as Indian men's hockey team lost 2-3 to hosts Australia in a tense opening game of the four-nation Invitational Tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday. The Indians began positively against top-ranked Australia, showing positive intent and energy in the first quarter. However, the first 15 minutes ended in a stalemate. Indian youngster Affan Yousuf's attacking approach almost paid dividends early on had it not been for a solid defense from the Kookaburras.
India defeated South Africa, the No 1 Test side, in perfect home conditions, in the first Test, at the PCA stadium, in Mohali, on Saturday. Join us in congratulating Team India on its success.
Gilchrist said home conditions would make Australia hard to beat when the World Cup starts next October.
Cinema owners elated with 'extraordinary' advance booking match screenings
India have not beaten Australia in any format since 2013. The tourists looked like ending that barren run when they were on 277 for one, chasing 349 for victory, only to lose their last nine wickets for 46 runs in Canberra.
A battle-hardened Vidarbha won't make it easy for 41-times Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final, starting on Sunday.
'Even scorecards in T20 matches read better than the one we saw in Ahmedabad.'
the Australian women's team beat India by eight wickets in the first of the five-match ODI series in Sydney on Friday.
Kane Williamson said it was time for the Black Caps to move on from the disappointment and focus on the India series.
South Africa played their last ODI series in the qualification period that ends this week against the Netherlands and had beaten them 2-0 to move up to eighth in the World Cup Super League.
New Zealand jumped to top spot by gaining three rating points.
Then the air rifle women's team consisting of Arya Borse, Zeena Khitta and Ramita downed the Korean trio of Yeeun AN, Eunji Kwon and Jeongin Jang 17-9 in the title decider to give India the third gold of the day.
The 44-year-old Ponting will work with Australia's batsmen for the May 30-July 14 tournament, with current batting coach Graeme Hick preparing the side for the Ashes tour in England, starting in August.
Reposing full faith in the beleaguered Indian cricket team, BCCI chief N Srinivasan has said the side can still beat any top team in the worldand needs a little bit if luck to turn it around in Australia.
Ashutosh Sharma broke Yuvraj Singh's record by scoring the fastest T20 half-century off 11 balls in Railways' 127-run victory against Arunachal Pradesh.
Australia concluded their World Cup preparation on an emphatic note
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
Steve Smith and George Bailey's brilliant knocks overshadowed Rohit Sharma's magnificent 171 as Australia beat India by five wickets in the first ODI of the five-match series in Perth on Tuesday.
India thus finished a fantastic badminton campaign with three gold, one silver and two bronze.
Virat Kohli said he had painted the perfect picture after confirming his place as cricket's modern-day master batsman with a record 50th ODI hundred.
India turned in a superb show as they rallied from two goals down to beat England 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out and book a berth in final of the men's hockey tournament at the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday. The teams were locked 3-3 at the end of 70 minutes' full-time and 15 minutes' extra-time.
India put up a spirited show before squandering the early lead to go down 1-3 against defending champions Australia in a league match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, in Ipoh.
Virat wouldn't have got 700 runs and smashed four centuries in Tests in Australia, says Ravi Shastri.
The second edition of the Women's Premier League, beginning in Bengaluru on Friday with a high-profile match between defending champions Mumbai Indians and runners-up Delhi Capitals, will be optimistic about meeting its existential purpose of giving a wider platform to promising home-grown talents.
'He knows what works best for him in the shortest format, T20. It's probably just about finding that balance at international level as well'
'It's simple -- if Pakistan want to stay in the tournament, they have to bring an 'A plus' performance and win that game '
India scored 105 in the first innings and 107 in the second in the Pune Test. This is their lowest aggregate in a completed Test match at home.
'In a T20 format, anyone can beat anyone because it is a very individual kind of format, and we should not take any team for granted.'
The Indian team may not have won medals but the youngsters have won the hearts of everyone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the FIFA Under- 17 World Cup during his monthly radio programme.
The back to back Test series wins in Australia must rank as Ravi Shastri's greatest achievement as India's coach.
Rediff.com introduces you to the athletes who have brought India glory in Birmingham.
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