IMAGES from the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa in Dharamsala on Sunday.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Virat Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit Sharma paved the way for India's victory in the series-opener in Ranchi.
South Africa crushed England by seven wickets in their final group match to storm into the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green smashed blistering hundreds as Australia steamrollered South Africa by 276 runs in the third and final One-Day International.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru carried off from last season with dominating performances in their opening two games of IPL 2026.
England needed seven from their final seven balls with five wickets remaining, but collapsed in the face of Ngidi's off-cutters
Virat Kohli has two hundreds and a fifty in his last three innings, while Rohit Sharma has a hundred and two fifties in his last four outings.
India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
The first Test starts at Lord's on Wednesday.
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.
South Africa have rested batter Temba Bavuma for their home white-ball series against India this month after a poor Cricket World Cup, but he will captain the team in the two-Test series which starts on Dec. 26.
Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag when the two sides kick-off their Champions Trophy campaign in Karachi on Friday.
Bavuma said his hamstring was 'feeling good' ahead of his return, and the South African skipper also confirmed he would bat at number three for the opening match of the three-game series behind openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram.
WTC-bound SA players to miss play-offs after BCCI asks teams to release them by May 26
It started pouring again with only 3.3 overs bowled and no more play was possible.
The T20 WC champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
New Zealand and South Africa, both laden with world-class talent but often falling short in ICC tournaments, will face off in a tightly contested Champions Trophy semifinal.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and India in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Aiden Markram replaced Temba Bavuma as T20I skipper of the South African national side.
Former No. 1-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja would open the innings for Australia in the WTC final against South Africa while the fit-again Cameron Green would bat at the No. 3 position.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday
South Africa's Test players including Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi have chosen to play the IPL over the home Test series against Bangladesh, starting on March 31.
Josh Hazlewood decided to pull out of this year's IPL citing bubble fatigue and he also said that he wants to spend more time with his family.
South Africa, who lost to England and Bangladesh, are looking for their first win of the tournament on Wednesday against India who are ranked second in the world.
"We're deeply grateful for the swift coordination and support from the BCCI, local authorities, and the police who made this possible," the RCB statement added.
Lungi Ngidi ruled out for 'at least a week to 10 days'; Amla recovering well
Six uncapped players named in South Africa ODI squad
New Zealand beat a vastly different South Africa team by six wickets in Lahore three weeks ago, two days after beating Pakistan at the same venue.
Top bowler Kagiso Rabada will be rested for the series, along with Lungi Ngidi, as South Africa look ahead to the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins later in November.
DC has talented India bowlers like Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Chetan Sakariya
The bowling stocks looks good, but the major concern will be around the batting line-up, which struggled on the recent tour of England.
South African pacer Lungi Ngidi on Thursday said the Indians were clearly 'frustrated and under pressure' as a controversial DRS call saved home skipper Dean Elgar.
WTC Final-bound SA players likely to miss IPL playoffs
South Africa host Australia for three T20 matches from August 30 to September 3 and five ODIs from September 7 to 17.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), already qualified for the playoffs, will aim to secure a top-two league stage finish when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash in Lucknow.
The letter was also signed by five current coaches including national fielding coach Justin Ontong, ESPNCricinfo had reported.
World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance of winning their first ever Test series in South Africa.
CSA's director Enoch Nkwe changed his stance, saying higher-level talks were happening between CSA, the BCCI, and IPL franchises, suggesting CSA had little choice in the matter.
The Men in Blue lost six wickets for no runs in 11 balls! India's collapse stunned both fans and commentators.
'There is a lot of inspiration we can draw from in the brand of cricket we have played in the last three or four years.'
