A dominant India will be eyeing to clinch the five-Test series against England with yet another comprehensive victory when the two teams square off in the fourth match of the series starting from Thursday. With an unassailable 2-0 lead after three Tests, the confidence of the Virat Kohli-led team is sky high and they would like to regain the Anthony de Mello Trophy which they had lost to Alastair Cook's side back in 2012. Even if England manage a draw, India will win the series after the visitors' hat-trick of wins- 2011 in England, 2012 in India and 2014 in England again.
Having taken a huge first innings lead, defending champions Karnataka are on course for an outright victory over Tamil Nadu after reducing them to 113 for 3 in their second essay on Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy final, at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Karnataka posted a massive 762 in their first innings in reply to Tamil Nadu's paltry 134.
A new look Kings XI Punjab under Ravichandran Ashwin will take on Delhi Daredevils in their opening encounter of IPL-2018 here tomorrow, as both sides look to begin the T20 tournament on a winning note.
RCB have been inconsistent in their first six games in IPL-12, with both their bowling and batting faltering on many occasions.
KXIP are riding a roller-coaster ride, having to endure a controversy involving their captain Ravichandran Ashwin who 'Mankaded' Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler in their first match, an act which was legal but criticised by some as against the 'Spirit of Cricket'.
Having flattered to deceive on most occasions after his transition from Under-19 to senior cricket, Delhi boy Unmukt Chand would like to make amends as he leads India 'A' in the tri-nation 'A' series, considered a launch pad to the senior team.
Rajasthan Royals held their nerve under extreme pressure to beat Kolkata Knight Riders via the Super Over in a fifth round match in the Indian Premier League match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night.
All eyes will be on 41-year-old Wasim Jaffer, who is only 853 runs shy of 20,000 first-class runs.
Manish Pandey's scintillating century and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal's sterling bowling effort helped Ranji champions Karnataka retain the Irani Trophy after beating Rest of India by a massive 246 runs on the fourth and penultimate day in Bangalore.
Manish Pandey says his maiden ODI call-up was long overdue and he now hopes to make his much awaited India debut during the short tour of Zimbabwe next month.
India's R Ashwin struck a counter-attacking half-century to help India claw back into the match after the hosts got off to a shaky start on Day 3.
India's old warhorses like Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh will look to impress the Indian Premier League franchises when they take the field in the Super League stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, starting in Kolkata, on Sunday.
A rejuvenated India will start as the favourites when they lock horns with Zimbabwe, who have been left bruised and battered after a 10-wicket thrashing, in the series-deciding third and final Twenty20 International in Harare, on Wednesday.
A round-up of Ranji matches played across India on Friday.
Young Karan Sharma led from the front with a calm and composed 93 not out as Uttar Pradesh knocked out favourites Karnataka with a five-wicket win in their Ranji Trophy quarter-finals.
Carlos Brathwaite's inclusion will lift the spirits of Delhi Daredevils.
Pant has broken into the Test mainly on the basis of his batting and not his glove work.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
'He will go to Australia in a couple of months. I am sure he will do well because he is a good back-foot player. You want to see young players doing well'
'He will go to Australia in a couple of months. I am sure he will do well because he is a good back-foot player. You want to see young players doing well'
Chasing a modest 161, KKR were nine for one in the second over, but Uthappa (59 from 33 balls) and Gambhir put together a 108-run partnership off just 66 balls to lay the foundation for the win at the Eden Gardens.
Images from Sunday's IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab in Dubai.
The auction ahead of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League had in store something on expected lines and some surprises. Here's a look at the top buys after the first round.
'Let's see. You are the first one to tell me this. I need to see why they have not picked me. I don't know what the plan is now that I am not there in the team. Probably, I will be playing the Ranji Trophy'
South Africa off-spinner Dane Piedt says it took a lot out of him to play cricket again after suffering a career-threatening shoulder dislocation last year.
Uttar Pradesh came back strongly to keep their hopes alive for an interesting finish as they needed another 278 runs with nine wickets in hand to register an outright victory over Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final at Chinnaswamy stadium.
Shardul Thakur and Balwinder Singh Sandhu's superb bowling injected more spice into the Ranji Trophy semi-final, which seems headed for an exciting finish with Mumbai needing 384 runs to dethrone defending champions Karnataka. Set a daunting target of 445 runs, Mumbai were 61 for no loss at stumps on day two of the match in Bengaluru, on Thursday.
Talented opener K L Rahul displayed superb temperament but missed out on a well-deserved double century as he helped put India in a commanding position at 391 for 4 on the third day of the fifth cricket Test against England in Chennai on Sunday.
Senior batsman Shikhar Dhawan proved his form and fitness in style before the South African series as he led India 'A's strong reply against Bangladesh 'A' with an unbeaten century on Day 1 of the only unofficial Test.
After a shock defeat against Bangladesh 'A' in the second One-dayer, India 'A' will look to get their act together and clinch the unofficial three-match ODI series as they go into the third and final match, in Bengaluru, on Sunday, with both teams locked 1-1.
Their confidence restored after a bumpy start, a transformed Delhi Daredevils will look to stretch Kings XI Punjab to the limit when they face off in the Indian Premier League (IPL), in New Delhi, on Saturday.
Ravindra Jadeja struck a fifty to give India a handy first innings lead before returning to claim three Australian wickets as the home side stood 87 runs away from a series-clinching victory in the fourth and final Test in Dharamsala on Monday.
Chennai Super Kings will look to avenge their first leg loss against Rajasthan Royals.
Delhi Daredevils skipper Jean-Paul Duminy blamed poor batting and fielding as well as lack of intensity for his team's 14-run loss to Rajasthan Royals In an IPL match at the Brabourne Stadium.
A round-up of Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal matches played on Tuesday
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed career-best figures of eight for 50 to help Australia bundle out India for 189 on the first day of the second Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played on Saturday.
The R Ashwin-led Kings XI slipped to the fifth spot after suffering back-to-back losses against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively. Overall, the hosts have registered four wins from eight matches this season.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Mumbai Indians will fancy beating a floundering Kings XI Punjab when both sides face-off in a must-win match
