Shami's five wickets on final day sets up fine win for Bengal over Gujarat in Ranji Trophy
Round up of all the Ranji Trophy action on Thursday
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.
Even as the conditions changed, bright sunshine alternating with gloom, the Indian batters gritted their teeth and fought it out.
While the young Indian team showed great resolve to earn a creditable draw in England, the series exposed several weaknesses that need urgent attention.
And ahead of the 4th Test, some members of the Indian team went all out at a gym training session.
Perhaps, another Ranji title with Mumbai will be a fitting send off for Ajinkya Rahane.
He successfully took a stunner to dismiss Karun Nair to complete his 211th catch, surpassing Dravid's tally of 210. Former Sri Lanka star Mahela Jayawardene slipped to the third spot with 205 catches.
Karun Nair rued that he could not convert the starts he got in the recent Test series against England into big scores.
Tom Haines smashed an unbeaten century to lead England Lions' strong reply after Karun Nair's double century had powered India A to a massive 557 on Day 2 of the first Unofficial Test.
The short turnaround time from the high of winning a controversy-marred Asia Cup notwithstanding, Shubman Gill's India will be outright favourites against a struggling and under-strength West Indies when the teams face-off on a green-top in the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
'He was disturbed after not being picked for the fifth Test, he was expecting that call.'
'A further assessment will be conducted at the conclusion of the series.'
England gained the upper hand after a rain-hit first day of the final Test against India at The Oval on Thursday
For their next assignment in the ICC World Test Championship cycle, the two-time WTC runners up will aim to grab maximum points across those four home clashes. Here are five key questions the side must answer prior to their next Test match-up.
Gill, 25, was appointed captain in May following the retirement of two great Indian batsmen and leaders in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
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 batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained the team's rationale behind playing an all-rounder at No 8 rather than fielding a specialist bowler.
Having bid adieu to his stellar Test career a content man, Indian Test batting great Cheteshwar Pujara wouldn't mind a coaching stint or a role at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in the next stage of his cricketing journey.
'Whatever he has shot or directed and left with us over the last few decades have so much depth and emotion that we can cherish them for generations to come.'
Team India touched down in Manchester on Sunday ahead of the must-win fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy
Sai Sudharsan was shadow batting on a covered square at Old Trafford on the eve of the fourth Test, an old habit that keeps the top-order batter mentally ready for the next opportunity that comes his way.
Karun Nair never stopped believing. And now, eight years after his last Test, India's only triple-centurion since Sehwag is back - older, tougher, and hungrier than ever.
Gambhir expects Nair to carry his good form into the Tests.
The cheeky young man who once gave me one-word answers grew into a philosophical, detached star yet remained simple and humble, never letting stardom steal his heart, notes Rediff's Shobha Warrier who first interviewed the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner in 1987.
Snubbed. Criticised. Written off. Sarfaraz Khan is fighting back -- this time, not just with the bat, but with sweat and steel.
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against England due to a knee injury.
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
India's batting faltered under pressure as they suffered a 22-run defeat in the third Test against England, at Lord's.
Will Sai Sudarshan or Abhimanyu Easwaran bat at No. 3?
"We will have an advantage...": BCCI VP Shukla on India's new-look squad for England tour
India pacer Akash Deep was on Tuesday ruled out of the fourth Test against England due to a groin injury, and captain Shubman Gill said uncapped fast bowler Anshul Kamboj is close to making his debut at Old Trafford.
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly found themselves reliving old memories - this time from the sidelines.
Washington Sundar's double strike pegged England back in the afternoon session, leaving them struggling 175/6 at tea on Day 4 of the third Test, at Lord's.
'Most of the batters performed. I would say that is a very good sign going forward. Apart from this you have got three quality batters who are not even part of the squad -- Shreyas (Iyer), Sarfaraz (Khan) and (Devdutt) Padikkal.'
Yashasvi Jaiswal enhanced his reputation as an all-conditions opener with a gutsy hundred on a tough pitch before Washington Sundar's whirlwind fifty allowed India to set a record 374-run target for England on an absorbing Day 3 of the final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
'There's a bit of uncertainty and maybe a lack of confidence creeping into Jaiswal's game.'
Karun Nair on Wednesday served a reminder to his prowess with an unbeaten 144 for Northamptonshire against table-toppers Surrey in a County Championship Division One contest, in London at the Oval.
Two fast-bowling all-rounders look to be in a battle for one spot, while a decision between Prasidh Krishna and left-armer Arshdeep Singh could be condition-dependent.
The series, to commence on June 20, will be played at Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord's and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.
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