The Proteas arrive high on confidence, having fought out a hard-earned 1-1 draw in Pakistan last month under challenging conditions.
With three centuries already in the series, Gill could join Don Bradman and Gavaskar in the elite club of captains who've hit the most hundreds in a single Test series, if he converts his current innings into a fourth on Day 5.
'They say it's not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters... feeling blessed to have you in ours for a connection I can't explain... happy birthday Rahul... love you son.'
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.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played across India on Sunday
There were moments in past tournaments where we weren't able to finish games or capitalise on crucial situations. But this time, we learned from those experiences,
In a series finale defined by pressure and fine margins, the Indian dressing room found its anchor in an unexpected source - the Shri Shiva Rudrashtakam.
TV commentators Graeme Smith and Scott Styris remarked that such discussions should occur privately, not in front of the broadcasting cameras.
The 25-year-old captain struck 13 fours and eight sixes to make 161 off 162 balls, following up his first-innings' 269 to become only the second Indian after legendary Sunil Gavaskar to have scored a double century and a ton in a Test.
Atkinson, who is playing his first Test of the series following a hamstring strain, said that he is "ready to push the limits" in case Woakes does not take any further part.
Jadeja reduces South Africa to 93/7 in second innings, India smell big win
Test captain Shubman Gill also doesn't fit in the Indian T20 line-up, which has a settled top three in Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy then safely saw off the bowling to stay 73 for 5 till close of play, taking a 11-run lead.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against England due to a knee injury.
'I don't think the target was a lot. It was just 10 over-par. We bowled well in patches. Just made a few mistakes.'
KL Rahul also indulged in Mangalore's famous Pabba's gadbad ice-cream during his visit.
Entertainers on the field, K L Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah enthralled fans off the pitch.
Rahul was given a test on collecting the ball outside off-stump, and the 31-year-old also managed to crouch for the entire duration of training without much discomfort.
India lost their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul on a green top but did well to reach 72 for two at lunch on Day 1 of the series-deciding fifth Test against England at The Oval, London, on Thursday.
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.
With Rahul and wife Athiya Shetty expecting their first baby, the senior player could miss a game or two depending on the due date.
'When I joined the India team, M S Dhoni had told me, "Kisi ki baaton mein nahin aana. Jab tu acha karega, toh poori duniya tumhare saath rahegi, aur jab kharaab karega, yahi duniya tujhe gaali degi".'
The Capitals sit pretty at the top with 10 points from six games, while the Titans trail close behind with eight from as many outings.
England gained the upper hand after a rain-hit first day of the final Test, needing victory to square the series, battled to 204-6, with all their big guns dismissed cheaply.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between England and India at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, on Saturday.
'To take two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible, but he is clearly in the scheme of things with how good he is.'
The collapse, India's lowest failed chase at home, has left behind deeper fault lines than a dry Eden Gardens wicket can conceal.
It's storm in a tea cup: Klusener downplays Goenka's public outburst on KL Rahul
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have struggled in recent Test matches, will find their form in the upcoming ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy.
Rahul's decision to bowl after winning the toss backfired quickly as Sunil Narine went all guns blazing against the LSG bowling unit.
KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Harshit Rana Face Rohit Sharma's Wrath
Senior batter Virat Kohli's awesome genius in 50-over format was on full view during his 52nd hundred that guided India to a strong 349 for eight against South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series in Ranchi on Sunday.
'We would like to believe and back ourselves to know these conditions or adapt to these conditions a lot faster even if we find them slightly different, as compared to, say, somebody who is brought up in Johannesburg and has played all his cricket at the Wanderers ground.'
Delhi Capitals will be desperate to arrest their slump and stay in contention for a play-off berth when they take on high-flying Punjab Kings in a crucial IPL match in Dharamsala on Thursday.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
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.
Rahane lauded Gill's temperament under pressure, especially after India had lost the opening Test.
For the team management, it is a choice between a younger man's (Sarfaraz) flamboyance and fearlessness versus a seasoned campaigner who has been a Test captain and is part of the national set-up for a decade now.
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.
India stuck to their pre-series decision to field Bumrah in only three Tests and was hence not played in the final Test at the Oval
