Royal Challengers Bangalore director P A Murali revealed the strategy behind not retaining Yuvraj Singh, saying it was to ensure that the purse of other teams are exhausted and help them get better cricketers for IPL 8.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan believes the right blend of youth and experience makes India a formidable side and it would be great if they can emulate the past success of five-time World champions Australia.
Ajinkya Rahane has been a conspicuous absentee from the ongoing Indian runfest against Sri Lanka but the middle order batsman appears to have the backing of the team management ahead of the tour of South Africa later this month.
The second day's play of the second Test match between India and South Africa in Bengaluru on Sunday was called off without a ball being bowled because of rain.
Does India need two spinners for the Nagpur Test?
Mumbai Indians seek to maintain momentum against Kings XI Punjab.
World Cup-bound Kedar Jadhav is virtually ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League Season-12 after hurting his left shoulder while fielding during Chennai Super Kings's match against Kings XI Punjab, in Mohali, on Sunday.
Out-of-form opener Shikhar Dhawan has tried to put up a defence after India lost the ongoing Test series to England, saying the players are also 'hurt' like the fans and followers of Indian cricket.
Captain Kohli and Coach Shastri's selection choices for the first two Tests against England, which India lost, were bizarre. Why, for instance, did they drop Umesh Yadav and include Kuldeep Yadav for a seaming track at Lord's? Instinct, gentlemen, can't overrule logic. Time we helped Messrs Kohli and Shastri pick the side for the Trent Bridge Test. What changes must India make for the must-win third Test?
England hammered India by an innings and 159 runs in the second Test at Lord's on Day 4 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, on Sunday.
'We bowled to two outstanding batsmen in good conditions, a very good cricket pitch. But to be able to pick up two wickets at the end certainly has given our dressing room a huge lift tonight'
The Hyderabad batsman created a frenzy by tweeting that he plans to buy 3D glasses to watch the showpiece which begins May 30 in the UK.
Check out the Delhi Daredevils squad for IPL 2014.
After the gruelling league phase of the ongoing IPL, the stage is set for the play-offs with CSK and MI clashing against each other for a place in May 12 final.
The series is even more important for Kohli as it would also define his legacy as a leader having already established himself as world's premier batsman.
Having taken a huge first innings lead, defending champions Karnataka are on course for an outright victory over Tamil Nadu after reducing them to 113 for 3 in their second essay on Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy final, at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Karnataka posted a massive 762 in their first innings in reply to Tamil Nadu's paltry 134.
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who came in at No. 7 in Tuesday's IPL match against Rajasthan Royals, blamed the 14-day quarantine for lack of batting time.
Opener Murali Vijay (53 off 113 balls) and Lokesh Rahul (58 off 92 balls) also scored a half century each after the visitors opted to bat after winning the toss.
It is learnt that the Indian captain's sole focus is on the five Test series against England and he is likely to miss the one-off Test against Afghanistan starting June 14 as he will be busy with his county stint.
Australia captain Steve Smith struck a cultured unbeaten century on Thursday to steer Australia to 299 for four wickets on the opening day of the third Test against India in Ranchi, signalling he has put the review controversy at Bengaluru behind him.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 1:
They endured a disastrous run the last time around to finish at the bottom of the heap and Kings XI Punjab would be aiming to make amends this season when they begin their campaign against newbies Gujarat Lions in their IPL opener in Mohali on Monday. Kings XI Punjab did not make any big buys this year and have a new captain in South African David Miller in place of Australian George Bailey who was released after leading the side to the last place in the previous season. Virender Sehwag has also retired and he will serve as team mentor this season. The Preity Zinta-owned side continues to lack the team balance as it has not added any significant player, only snapping the likes of all-rounders Farhaan Behardien and Marcus Stoinis, seamer Mohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh. Last season, their batsmen lacked consistency and whenever they did well, the bowlers let the side down. On the other hand, debutants Gujarat Lions have a balanced side with top-class performers in both batting and bowling. They have explosive batsmen in Brendon McCullum, captain Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch and a plenty of top-notch all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja and James Faulkner.
Cheteshwar Pujara has now scored 3 centuries in this series, equalling Sunil Gavaskar's record.
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by one wicket in the Indian Premier League match at Eden Gardens.
The needle clash, expected to be watched by a capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, looks set to raise the curtains on the decade-old T20 League in grand style after a formal opening ceremony.
Injuries have forced India to make changes to their winning combination. With Murali Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha returning home, the visitors are likely to field a new combination.
Mumbai Indians lost their IPL cricket match against Kings XI Punjab by 18 runs.
India's opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan looked visibly upset, venting out his anger on reserved opener KL Rahul on day 3 of the 4th Test at Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi. Birthday boy Dhawan played an important hand before lunch. The incident unfolded when Dhawan was hit on the forearm by a rising delivery from Imran Tahir.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and N Srinivasan were seen having an interaction at the Chepauk during the second day of Chennai Super Kings' training session.
Cheteshwar Pujara's innings is the highest by a subcontinent batsman and third highest by any visiting batsman on the opening day of a Test in Australia, reveals Rajneesh Gupta.
Recovering from a shoulder injury, Indian batsman Rohit Sharma, who missed leading the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Champions League T20, is set to miss the limited-overs edition of the West Indies series starting October 8.
Virat Kohli is the quickest among all subcontinent players to score 1,000 runs in Australia. Rajneesh Gupta has all the numbers.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA), on Wednesday, met the Indian team management to discuss the communication issues, take stock of the England debacle and draw a blueprint for the upcoming Australia tour.
India's chief coach Ravi Shastri feels that Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara should remain in the top bracket when the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Committee of Administrators (COA) thrash out the revised central contracts based on the new remuneration structure.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between South Africa and India at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg on Friday
COA Meet on Wednesday: Team management, selectors to discuss 'communication' issues, Australia tour
Australian coach Darren Lehmann praised his team for enduring a tough opening day of the second cricket Test at the Gabba but said he expects them to come up with a better showing against India on Thursday.
Skipper Virat Kohli says he received 'words of gold' from the legendary cricketer who visited the Indian team hotel ahead of the first cricket Test in Antigua.
Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of the rest of the Sri Lanka Test series following the injury to his right hand.
India were 227 for eight in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the second cricket Test against New Zealand at the Edens Garden on Kolkata on Sunday. India, thus, took an overall lead of 339 runs over New Zealand with two wickets in hand. Rohit Sharma made 82 while Wriddhiman Saha was unbeaten on 39 along side Bhuvneshwar Kumar (8 not out).