The grand comeback party of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma endured a quick 22-ball ending, and their lowkey outing reflected in India's seven-wicket defeat against Australia.
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.
The focus is to bring momentum back into the Indian dressing room: Morne Morkel
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.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against England due to a knee injury.
Abhimanyu Easwaran made the future path all the more tough with his second duck of the match, while Sai Sudharsan concluded his lukewarm preparation for the South Africa Test series with an underwhelming 23 off 38 balls.
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.
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.
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.
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.
KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Harshit Rana Face Rohit Sharma's Wrath
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between India and South Africa, in Kolkata, on Friday.
Simon Harmer picked up four wickets as South Africa staged an incredible fightback to shock India by 30 runs in a low-scoring first Test match.
Virat Kohli's supreme fitness was evident in his 47th ODI century while comeback man KL Rahul produced an equally engaging ton on comeback as India thrashed a listless Pakistan by record 228-run margin.
KKR, CSK to engage in bidding war in IPL mini-auction with big purse in hand
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.
Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul and his Chennai Super Kings counterpart Ruturaj Gaikwad have been fined Rs 12 lakh each as their teams maintained a slow over-rate in their Indian Premier League match in Lucknow on Friday.
KL Rahul has checked in at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to start his extensive rehabilitation programme post a thigh surgery.
The Proteas arrive high on confidence, having fought out a hard-earned 1-1 draw in Pakistan last month under challenging conditions.
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.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between England and India at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, on Saturday.
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.
Shardul Thakur's better batting ability compared to speedster Prasidh Krishna could prove to be decisive while selecting the extra pacer for World Cup but both are likely to be auditioned if India pick a 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, which is set to be named on Monday.
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.
No place for Dhawan, Tilak Varma included in 17-man squad.
It was KL Rahul's second over rate offence of the season.
According to Jaffer, Axar can leave his mark as English batsmen tend to struggle against left-arm spinners.
Manu Bhaker chose to illuminate her home with traditional clay diyas, supporting local vendors and promoting the 'Vocal for Local' initiative.
Jadeja reduces South Africa to 93/7 in second innings, India smell big win
Rahul was among India's best batters in the opening Test in Hyderabad before going down with the same injury that he suffered during the IPL last year.
'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".'
Rahane lauded Gill's temperament under pressure, especially after India had lost the opening Test.
Pacers Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal and Sumit Mohanta shared seven wickets to power Bengal to an innings and 13-run win over Punjab in their Elite Group C match of the Ranji Trophy.
India, who have not lost a Test series at home since 2012, finished day two on a commanding 421-7 in their robust reply to England's middling 246 in the first innings.
Wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul, who returned to form scoring the fastest century for India in a World Cup, was a relieved man on Sunday, having spent some time in the middle before the big semi-final against New Zealand.
Shami has dismissed a batter four times off the first ball of an innings in the IPL, the most by a bowler
'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.'
Indian opener Murali Vijay will miss the second Test against West Indies due to a thumb injury and will be replaced by Lokesh Rahul, skipper Virat Kohli said ahead of the match that begins at Kingston's Sabina Park later on Saturday.
KL Rahul might feel a bit frustrated but he has not done "bad at all" with the bat, said assistant coach Lance Klusener, who feels the Lucknow Super Giants skipper was forced to curb his attacking instincts with wickets falling around him this IPL.
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
