Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith struck half-centuries as Australia beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in a thrilling finish to the rain-affected first One-Day International on Tuesday for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Whether it was promoting Sam Curran to the opener's slot or finishing pacer Deepak Chahar's quota upfront while using seven bowlers to dry up runs, every move produced desired result.
Virat Kohli's return to form and a rather dramatic entry into the IPL play-offs will make Royal Challengers Bangalore a more confident unit when they meet a top-heavy Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2022 Eliminator match in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Singapore-born all-rounder Tim David has been named in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad, while leg spinner Mitchell Swepson was omitted, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.
David Warner and Ashton Agar were included in Australia's squad for next month's one-day international series in India on Thursday despite being sent home from the test tour this week.
KKR are placed at the sixth spot with 12 points and they will not only have to win but do it with a big margin
Adam Zampa picked up two wickets in a miserly spell of leg spin bowling as Australia edged India by four runs in an enthralling rain-shortened Twenty20 International in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has promised safe return passage for every foreigner involved in the lucrative eight-team league.
Hardik Pandya has quit Gujarat Titans to rejoin his former team Mumbai Indians, following a trade between the two franchises.
Punjab Kings stand-in skipper Sam Curran, leading the side in place of injured Shikhar Dhawan, lauded all-rounder Sikandar Raza and batter Shahrukh Khan on their fine performances with the bat which led to an "amazing" two-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL match in Lucknow on Saturday.
Delhi Capitals will expect more from their batters after an underwhelming display in their previous outing, while Lucknow Super Giants are eager to shrug off overdependence on skipper KL Rahul when the teams clash in the IPL match in Mumbai on Sunday.
He looks to be in the form of his life, as Punjab had no ammunition to outmanoeuvre him.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai on Sunday.
Virtually out of the play-off race and struggling on multiple fronts, a horribly out-of-sorts Mumbai Indians will need a special team effort to arrest their slide when they take on Lucknow Super Giants in a return-leg IPL fixture in Mumbai on Sunday.
Smith said he did not regard his injury as a major issue.
Up against Delhi Capitals, RCB will need to address their middle-order woes, to return to winning ways, in what could be touted as a battle of equals.
Though arguably Australia's finest batsman of the modern era, Steve Smith's only on-field role has been as a substitute at this World Cup, with selectors opting for the hard-hitting but inexperienced David in the middle order.
As coach Ricky Ponting pointed out, he would expect a better "on his feet" thinking from the young captain.
Did you enjoy Mayank Yadav's fiery spell against RCB?
IMAGES from the 1st ODI played between India and Australia in Hyderabad on Saturday
Australia, who are searching for their maiden T20 title, enter the tournament on the back of a horrific run, losing bilateral series to Bangladesh, West Indies, New Zealand, India and England.
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed denied his team carry any scars from their 5-0 rout by Australia in March
Rohit Sharma did practically everything right in the T20 WC: He batted brilliantly, he captained even more capably, but he failed to top the most valuable player table. Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of T20 World Cup 2024.
Lucknow Super Giants crumbled like a pack of cards as Mumbai Indians knocked them out of IPL 2023 with an 81 run defeat.
Images from the ICC Men's ODI World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Ekana Sports City Stadium in Lucknow.
Smith's selection was mostly influenced by Australia's emphasis on having bowling options in their top six.
An inconsistent Royal Challengers Bengaluru would be eager to hit the turnaround button when they host Lucknow Super Giants, who will keep an eye on regular skipper KL Rahul's fitness, in the IPL in Bengaluru on Tuesday
Buttler said he was asked by the on-field umpires whether he intended to appeal but decided to let the moment pass.
Dhoni's men will have to adapt to the conditions quickly to avoid any such hiccup in the play-offs.
For a team that looked at ease all along, it was their first defeat in the UAE leg -- and three from 11 matches this season -- as Delhi struggled to get going against KKR bowlers who made full use of the slow surface after opting to bowl.
Markram gave part-time spinner Abhishek Sharma the crucial 15th over in which he ended up conceding 31 runs.
LSG captain K L Rahul sustained a serious thigh injury during the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.
Australia made heavy weather of a modest chase before beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in the second Twenty20 International on Wednesday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Virat Kohli's woeful form continued as India 'A' were shot out for a paltry 135 by Australia 'A' in the second unofficial 'Test' in Chennai on Wednesday.
The likes of Suresh Raina, Brendon McCullum, and Aaron Finch will be aiming to match the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Hashim Amla, and Marcus Stoinis stroke for stroke on what promises to be another belter of a track.
They know what it takes to win the 50-over World Cup, having won five of them in 12 editions, but Australia skipper Pat Cummins says they are never "weighed down" by history and will stick to basics against South Africa in the second semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Supr Giants in New Delhi, on Tuesday.
England posted a world record 481 for six before they demolished Australia by 242 runs in the third match of their ODI series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the IPL 2022 game between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.