Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of T20 World Cup 2024 after Game 54.
Media reports have said pace spearhead Pat Cummins, opener David Warner and several others might miss the tours after returning home following the abrupt suspension of the Indian Premier League last month.
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.
Did you enjoy Mayank Yadav's fiery spell against RCB?
Ishant has been dealing with injuries off late as he was sidelined due to an ankle injury this year in January.
Bolstered by the arrival of Ben Stokes, Rajasthan Royals will hope for a better showing from its misfiring top order as they try to settle scores against second-placed Delhi Capitals in their return leg IPL match, in Dubai, on Wednesday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni nearly pulled off a heist but Parthiv Patel's last ball run out helped Royal Challengers Bangalore edge past Chennai Super Kings by one run off the last ball in a thrilling finish.
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
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni batted at number seven against , promoting the likes of Sam Curran, Jadhav and Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of himself but the ploy backfired badly
The four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy is locked at 1-1 and the match at Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), which is organising it's first-ever Test, is set to be a make-or-break affair for both teams.
Sridharan Sriram, who played eight ODIs between 2000 and 2004, was part of the Australian coaching set up since 2015.
IMAGES from the 4th ODI played between Australia and South Africa in Pretoria on Friday.
Opener David Warner, who set up a crucial victory for Australia with a whirlwind century in the ongoing World Cup on Friday, credited the IPL for working as a learning platform where he perfected the art of pacing an ODI innings.
'You can never dominate T20 cricket as a bowler, I don't think. There's just so many different elements. But I'm feeling good about my game.'
Australia will start favourites in Thursday's clash but a passionate Bangladesh are expected to make life tough for the holders.
Images from the T20 World Cup semi-final between Pakistan and Australia, in Dubai, on Thursday.
Cricket Australia said on Tuesday that Test skipper Tim Paine will also captain the one-day international team during next month's tour of England
Three consecutive defeats have more or less sealed their fate and for things to turn around for the Royals, every aspect of their game needs to improve and click for them.
Kings XI Punjab will be looking to get their campaign back on track after a couple of defeats when they lock horns with bottom-placed Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in Indore on Sunday.
A battle royale is in the offing as heavyweights Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals clash in a high-profile IPL encounter, in Chennai, on Tuesday.
Chasing a mammoth target of 201, Delhi were only able to post 143/8 in their 20 overs.
Eyeing a maiden IPL title, the fancied Delhi Capitals will face another litmus test in the form of a Kolkata Knight Riders unit brimming with optimism when the two sides lock horns in the Qualifier 2 match in Sharjah on Wednesday.
K L Rahul struck an unbeaten 75 to anchor their nervy chase against Australia in a low-scoring contest and secure a five-wicket win in the opening one-day international.
Captain Virat Kohli was a relieved man after Royal Challengers finally snapped a six-match losing streak in this IPL with a eight wicket win over Kings XI Punjab, in Mohali, on Saturday.
Both teams will be looking to get out of the danger zone as eight teams remain in the play-off contention.
Australian cricketers, including big buys Glenn Maxwell and Jhye Richardson, are going to be part of the action.
They have looked more comfortable setting targets than chasing one though, and they will expect more penetration from their bowlers against a resurgent Australia.
Pacer Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best Twenty20 international figures of 4-12 to guide Australia to a 20-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, in a rain-affected opener of the five-match series.
Images from Wednesday's IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab, in Bengaluru.
Images from the ICC World Cup match between Australia and South Africa at Old Trafford on Saturday
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.
Australian all-rounder James Faulkner has been ruled out of the remaining of the one-day internationals series against New Zealand, Cricket Australia said in a statement on Wednesday.
Pat Cummins and Co. stormed into the semi-finals on the back of one of the greatest ODI innings played by Glenn Maxwell. The all-rounder battled cramps to smash an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls to lift Australia from a precarious 91 for seven to the victory target of 292 against Afghanistan.
Big-hitting Tim David is a "versatile and flexible" player. His presence only adds to the options Australia possess going into the T20 World cup, feels skipper Aaron Finch.
Ayush Badoni sizzled on a gloomy day in Lucknow with a career-best 59 to steal the thunder in the rain-hit match against Chennai Super Kings.
Singapore-born Tim David is an X-factor in Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad and pace spearhead Pat Cummins said he is looking forward to the all-rounder's debut in Australian colours during the three-match series in India.
Rain played spoilsport as the afternoon IPL match between Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings was washed out, with the two sides splitting points.
It is very difficult not to respect Mohmmed Shami for his mastery over his craft.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will aim to shed the over-reliance on their celebrated top-order when they face a belligerent Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL match in Lucknow on Monday.
Scroll down to see the list of other awardees and cricketers who glamed up the night in their sartorial best.
