With their respective leaders switching camps and squads undergoing major overhauls, both Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, under new captains, will be eager to make a strong start to their IPL campaign when they face off in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy final played between India and New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.
Fresh from a hard-fought 2-2 draw in England, Shubman Gill's men will be eager to translate their overseas resilience into home dominance.
When you're not bowling at other end, there's something missing: Kuldeep tells Chahal
If series is on the line and Bumrah is fit, he has to play: Ian Bell
Former India cricketer Arun Lal believes captain Shubman Gill's patience and self-assurance are rubbing off on the group.
A final decision by the team's think-tank will be taken after the final practice session on Friday.
India batsman Dinesh Karthik feels the challenge young wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal encountered in the first ODI against New Zealand will only make them "mentally tougher" for future games.
Every summer, Sudhir Gautam makes a pilgrimage to Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai home, carrying a box of Muzaffarpur litchis from his home town in Bihar, a gesture sweeter than the fruit itself.
India captain Virat Kohli said the team is trying out the likes of Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar as it is looking to bat deep and post 200 plus totals consistently.
Kuldeep Yadav feels that he still needs to learn from his "senior partner" Yuzvendra Chahal on how to plan for a particular batsman.
Kuldeep Yadav, among all the players in this team, has more experience of playing with pink ball and the kind of revolution he produces, he could make it difficult for batsmen to spot the black seam of the pink kookaburra under lights.
Mohit displayed immense game awareness, taking a single to bring Ashutosh on strike, bringing down the equation to five runs in four balls.
Varun Chakravarthy said head coach Gautam Gambhir has instilled in the Indian team a mentality that leaves no room for mediocrity and where losing is not an option.
'Kuldeep is bowling really well. He has been consistent in the last few months. With him and Chahal, I think India has two wicket-taking wrist spinners'
Central Zone make four changes in squad for Duleep Trophy final against South Zone
The series promises a fascinating duel between the two modern-day pace greats.
'They can't afford to go 2-0 down so you want your best bowler.'
It is understood that Kuldeep, who had lost his mojo in the Kohli-Ravi Shastri era, has been called back as the current team management and selectors feel that he has the X-Factor to contribute to team's cause.
'If he gets a couple of early wickets, he will be a different bowler but things may not go as per plan. It might take some time for him to get back the rhythm.'
India bowled England out for 218 and cruised to 135/1 in their robust reply to seize early control of the fifth and final test.
India wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday said he likes to "reflect on the errors" when things doesn't go his way as he is geared up for the first two Tests against England, starting in Chennai from February 5.
Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav's slump prompted Kolkata Knight Riders team management to drop him from the playing XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad barely six weeks before World Cup.
Virat Kohli anchored a tricky chase with an unbeaten 100.
Indian opener KL Rahul's two impressive knocks in the recently concluded two-match T20 series against Australia helped him climb to fifth in the latest ICC Rankings for T20 batsmen, in Dubai, on Tuesday.
'Technology can never be 100% which is why we have the umpire's call.'
Chinaman spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav was on Tuesday seen practising with a wet ball on the eve of the Twenty20 International series-opener against New Zealand, in New Delhi.
Suryakumar Yadav's doughty 73 not out proved to be the difference as Mumbai Indians sealed the fourth and final play-off berth with a 59-run trouncing of Delhi Capitals.
Ahead of the game, the BCCI teased the possibility of Pant taking the ball, showing him bowling in the nets to Shubman Gill.
The 25-year-old Yadav, who now has 99 ODI wickets, ended the match with the figures of 3-52.
Shubman Gill said on Monday he had planned not to lose his wicket to an lbw decision come what may, despite the odd ball keeping low and turning sharply during the fourth Test against England, which India won by five wickets.
Chasing 192 for a victory that would fetch them an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, India cruised to 40 for no loss at stumps on day three.
ri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka smashed a belligerent century as Indian bowlers endured their worst day in the Asia Cup before Arshdeep Singh produced a brilliant 'Super Over' to win the game for his side in Dubai on Friday.
Starc dismantled SRH's top order with sheer pace, while Kuldeep's control in the middle overs ensured there was no way back for the batting side.
Cricket has never been the same since India's thrilling, last-over win over Pakistan in the final at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, on September 24, 2007.
Obviously, we miss Ashwin but one day Jadeja will also be gone: Ravindra Jadeja
Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah returned to India's T20 squad for next month's Asia Cup, but IPL star performers Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal missed out.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is up and running in Beckenham, putting in the hard yards before the upcoming five high-stakes Tests against England, slated to kick off on June 20 at Headingley.
The inclusion of Gill in the squad has raised doubts in the minds of management about who will open the innings for their side, along with left-hand batter Abhishek, in the tournament.
Opener Ben Duckett hit the most defining century of his career, exposing an out-of-depth Indian attack as England comfortably chased down a tricky target of 371 to win the opening Test by five wickets.
