India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Three days after stunning defending champions England in New Zealand, the plucky Afghans briefly kindled hopes of another upset when New Zealand's top order suffered a mini-collapse.
Shreyas Iyer's ability to negotiate spin bowling effectively makes him a crucial asset for India in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
Ahead of the nets, they asked the staff to draw extended white lines along off and leg stumps at four practice nets, an exercise generally aimed at keeping batters aware of the line and lengths.
New Zealand can become only the second team to inflict a series whitewash on India in their backyard.
Phillips' remarkable reach and agility on the field can be attributed to genes and his stint as a gymnast in his younger days.
South Africa's skipper Neil Brand made history on Monday, securing the best bowling figures by a bowler on his Test debut while leading the side.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list the 50 Most Valuable Players in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Images from the ICC Men's ODI World Cup match between New Zealand and the Netherlands in Hyderabad on Monday.
Axar Patel, once known as the 'poor man's Jadeja', has transformed into a crucial batting asset for India.
The most interesting aspect of the contest is the form of batters from both sides which has been the reason of their success so far.
Varun Chakravarthy now holds the best figures by an Indian bowler on Champions Trophy debut. His five wicket haul in just his second ODI is the earliest by an Indian in 50 overs cricket.
'Bowl the ball reasonably quick on the surface and make the batsmen commit a mistake' 'It always tends to spin here more, which is a good thing for me as a spinner. But yeah the Indians are very good players of spin, and we have to work really hard'
Stead said about Kane that he is a batter who rises for big occasions, calling him a "special player".
Chapman, Astle picked in New Zealand T20 World Cup squad; Veteran Ross Taylor ignored.
Images from the first T20 International between India and New Zealand, in Ranchi, on Friday.
'They need batters who can bat out a full session in Australia.' 'You have seniors like Pujara and Rahane, who are scoring runs in domestic cricket. They have experience of Australian conditions too.' 'They should be given a chance to make a comeback, no harm in trying especially when your batting line-up is not even lasting a full session.'
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been retained in New Zealand's 12-man squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka after an impressive debut in the third and final Test against Australia.
Daryl Mitchell's superb unbeaten half-century fired New Zealand into their first ever ICC men's T20 World Cup final at England's expense following a thrilling semi-final in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
A high-stakes match between cross-city rivals Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Chennai on Friday will usher in IPL 2024, but, beyond the grandeur around it, the two protagonists will have to find early answers to some deep questions as they attempt to enter a rarefied territory.
Needing 10 off 2, Jadeja was the man who could take CSK into the play-offs. But Dayal bowled two dots on the trot to knock CSK out of the tournament.
Virat Kohli anchored another tricky chase with perfection after Mohammad Shami's sizzling five-wicket haul as India outclassed New Zealand by four wickets.
Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers for India, picking up two wickets.
'India have played very good cricket for a long time now in your conditions (sic). They are tough to beat. We have taken it to the decider in the last two series. Both teams will want to win (tomorrow).'
Victory left New Zealand on 10 points and in pole position to bag the last semi-final spot and join India, South Africa and Australia. Pakistan will now need to beat England by a massive margin to leapfrog New Zealand on net run rate.
'That's a standard we want to keep going with for the rest of tournament.'
Sans Hardik, it's starting all over again for dominant India
Trent Boult was named in the New Zealand squad for part of the upcoming Twenty20 series against Australia on Wednesday, indicating that the veteran fast bowler is still in the frame for the World Cup in June.
Images from the T20 World Cup Group C match between the West Indies and New Zealand in Trinidad on Thursday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of World Cup 2023 after the first 12 games.
Washington Sundar justified his selection with a career-best 7/59 to bowl out New Zealand for 259 on Day 1 of the second Test in Pune.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 29 World Cup 2023 games.
India will look for the right balance as they aim for a series-levelling victory against a spunky New Zealand in the must-win second Test.
Mushfiqur Rahim's brain-fade moment led to his obstructing-the-field dismissal but Bangladesh took charge of the second Test against New Zealand after 15 wickets tumbled on a frenzied opening day of the contest on Wednesday.
New Zealand face England-beaters Afghanistan aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact
However, an officer in the electricity department said the dues haven't been cleared, adding that if the payment wasn't made by Friday evening, power supply to the venue would be snapped.
The Kiwis named their 15-player squad for the ninth edition of the 20-over showcase on Monday, with the Black Caps opting for an experienced squad that includes Williamson and fast bowling duo Tim Southee and Trent Boult.
The Kiwi players and their families got a rare audsience with His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.
The talent is in plenty in this squad and if this machine runs smoothly, a sixth IPL trophy will be at touching distance for Thala and Co.
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