India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
Captain Rishabh Pant conceded that India needed to get better as a Test team.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul perished early as India fumbled in the chase of a mammoth 549-run target on Day 4 of the second Test.
With the scars of last year's home series whitewash against New Zealand still raw, preparing rank turners may invite risk.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
The aura of home advantage -- long regarded as a hallmark of India's Test side -- seemed secure. But in barely over a year, that fortress has not just cracked, it has collapsed, raising uncomfortable questions about strategy, selection, and temperament.
India captain Shubman Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir along with Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel arrived in Kolkata late on Sunday ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa.
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be.
The collapse, India's lowest failed chase at home, has left behind deeper fault lines than a dry Eden Gardens wicket can conceal.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood scored 87 as the hosts reached 259 for 5 at the close of play on Day 1 of the second Test against a wasteful South Africa, who were poor in the field but kept in the contest by fine bowling in Rawalpindi on Monday.
Armed with a potent spin attack, taking on South Africa seems like competing against a "subcontinent team", Ten Doeschate said, admitting that they need to get better at negotiating the challenge posed by tweakers.
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
India A skipper Rishabh Pant will look to build on the gains from the first match, while the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav will aim for crucial red-ball game time in the second four-day match against a Temba Bavuma-led South Africa A in Bengaluru from Thursday.
Hard-hitting left-handed batter David Miller also returns to the T20 squad, as does Donovan Ferreira.
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.
This was India's fourth defeat in the last six Tests at home and in all four Tests -- including three against New Zealand -- their batters have flopped against spin.
South Africa will aim for their first Test victory in India in more than 15 years.
The series promises a fascinating duel between the two modern-day pace greats.
Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from ODI cricket and has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour.
The South African is firm about progressing further in his journey as an all-rounder.
Australia is on the cusp of scripting another milestone. If the Baggy Greens trounce the Proteas, they will become the first team to defend the WTC mace successfully.
All-rounder Marco Jansen shone with bat and ball as South Africa won the fifth and final One-Day International against Australia by 122 runs.
S Africa select young guns Brevis, Pretorius for Australia tour
Drugs ban gives Rabada extra motivation for WTC final, says the Proteas captain
IMAGES from Day 1 of the WTC Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's on Wednesday
Jansen -- who will turn 22 on Sunday next, May 1 -- had wiped out du Plessis, Kohli and Rawat -- three key batters in the RCB top order -- and in the process, helped facilitate an epic batting collapse that would make it in the record books -- for all the wrong reasons.
Australia took the upper hand in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's, ending day two on 144-8 in their second innings with a lead of 218 runs after wickets tumbled freely again on Thursday.
Pat Cummins tore through South Africa before a Proteas fightback left the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 on a knife-edge at the end of an absorbing second day at Lord's.
Rabada spent a month on the sidelines at the Indian Premier League after testing positive for a recreational drug at this year's SA20 competition.
Jansen replaces injured Dwaine Pretorius, who fractured his left thumb in the recent series in India.
Of the 13 dismissals on the night, 10 were caught and these were the standouts.
Gujarat Titans set to miss Buttler in play-offs, Moeen Ali not to return for KKR
Top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen will lead South Africa during next month's Twenty20 tri-series with New Zealand and hosts Zimbabwe, with four uncapped players in the squad, Cricket South Africa said on Thursday.
Shreyas Iyer's inspiring leadership faces its toughest test yet when Punjab Kings host an equally upbeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League in Mullanpur on Thursday.
Gibbs said leadership develops with time, and Gill possesses the composure to grow into the role.
WTC-bound SA players to miss play-offs after BCCI asks teams to release them by May 26
After restricting Lucknow Super Giants to 171 for 7 on a tricky Ekana surface in Lucknow, Punjab Kings chased down the target with ease, losing just two wickets, on Tuesday, April 1 2025.
Joe Root has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings after his stellar efforts helped England secure a 22-run victory over India at Lord's, according to the official website of the ICC.
Rizvi, Nair power DC to six-wicket win over Punjab Kings
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