During last India Test series in Australia, Smith was banned for ball tampering and missed out on challenging one of his favourite opposition.
India captain Virat Kohli has confirmed that fit-again opening batsman KL Rahul will return to the side for the second test against Sri Lanka, with Abhinav Mukund appearing the player most likely to lose his spot.
Players from New Zealand and Australia made significant gains in the rankings updated after the first two matches of the ongoing series between the two sides.
For him, selection for T20 World Cup shouldn't be based on one IPL season.
India opener Mayank Agarwal says his time away from the national team was spent in understanding his mind space, something which India coach Rahul Dravid has always emphasised on and it benefitted him immensely as he reclaimed his place in the side.
The injury-hit Indian team brought in left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav as they aim to salvage some pride in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh on Saturday.
Following India's ODI series loss to Australia at home, head coach Rahul Dravid has his task cut out with the ODI World Cup set to be held at home later this year.
Australian batting great Ricky Ponting feels Suryakumar Yadav has the ability to 'win' the ODI World Cup for India and the selectors should stick to him despite his woeful run in 50-overs cricket.
Jurel, Sarfaraz in line for debuts, Shubman Gill skips optional training
While Rohit Sharma will lead the side, the inclusion of KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav is subject to fitness.
Pace spearhead Harshit Rana received a well-deserved maiden call-up, following his impressive performances.
Trying to pick up pieces after a demoralising defeat, India's decorated top-order will be desperate to change the narrative and give a better account of itself in the do-or-die second ODI against Bangladesh.
KL Rahul was a bit taken aback when asked if Virat Kohli, who struck his maiden T20I century during Asia Cup match against Afghanistan, should continue to bat as an opener going into the T20 World Cup alongside Rohit Sharma.
IMAGES from the Day 2 of the first Test between South Africa and India, at Centurion, on Wednesday.
K L Rahul and Shubman Gill batted simultaneously during a training session
A sixth bowler, preferably seam or pace option, has been India's major headache for past two and half years due to Pandya's injury and now the team management is "excited" looking at what Venkatesh brings to the table with his multiple skill-sets.
Following Pant's absence, KL Rahul has filled in to his shoes and produced a good show at the recent ODI World Cup, amassing 452 runs at an average of 75.33.
High-flying Rajasthan Royals will look to continue their winning momentum and consolidate their position at the top when they take on a resurgent Lucknow Super Giants, who would be gunning for revenge at home in an IPL match in Lucknow on Saturday.
India's wicketkeeper batsman KL Rahul revealed that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement from international cricket came as a shock for Team India as the players wanted to give the former skipper a big send-off on the field.
'The reports circulating in certain media sections are completely incorrect.'
KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Ravichandran Ashwin joined the captain and his better half in a boat ride somewhere in the Caribbean.
Hardik is performing well and it reflected in his mood. He was cheerful, interactive and the children were happy.
'Good challenge for us as batters, but we bat deep so it wasn't a worry.'
IMAGES from the first ODI between South Africa and India played at The Wanderers, in Johannesburg, on Sunday.
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel said India have all the 'bases covered' for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, to be played in Southampton from June 18 to 22.
Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul hit quickfire half-centuries as India outclassed England by seven wickets in the warm-up match of the T20 World Cup at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Monday.
KL Rahul was promoted to open and made a half century in his first-ever ODI against Pakistan.
Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav's magical spell of wrist spin and KL Rahul's dazzling strokeplay helped India outclass England by eight wickets in the first T20 International in Manchester, on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the Asia Cup Super 4 match played between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.
After getting married at her father's picturesque farmhouse in Khandala on January 21, Athiya Shetty posted some lovely pictures on social media.
India beat South Africa by 16 runs in a high-scoring Twenty20 international in Guwahati on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
India's KL Rahul dropped a place to sixth but Virat Kohli retained his eighth place in the latest ICC men's T20 International rankings issued on Wednesday.
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah disclosed that he experimented with an assortment of deliveries until he found the one that yielded result on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh, as the lack of grip on the wicket rendered his stock balls ineffective.
De Zorzi ton guides South Africa to eight-wicket win over India
'They are trying hard to get Virat Kohli to come back because the series is missing him.'
Despite being the world's top-ranked Test side India have struggled with their opening combination, which, in turn, has heaped pressure on the middle order.
Hardik Pandya could take over as India vice-captain in place of KL Rahul, who missed the ongoing five-match T20I series against West Indies after testing positive for COVID-19.
IMAGES from day 3 of the 1st Test between Bangladesh and India played in Chottogram on Friday.
IMAGES from the first Test, Day 1 between India and Bangladesh played at the Chepauk in Chennai on Thursday
Shami had been picked in the initial squad for the two Tests, but was forced to withdraw due to fitness issues.
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