India will welcome back regular skipper Virat Kohli, who missed the last three Tests in Australia to attend the birth of his daughter.
With the three-match T20I series ahead and also the World Cup round the corner, India will have to address this weakness to ensure that their much-vaunted batting doesn't crumble on an odd day when the condition aids swing bowling in England.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday
A first T20 series victory in New Zealand will be the icing on the cake for the Men in Blue, who have far exceeded expectations during their three-month sojourn in this part of the world.
This is his 'Test' and for Kohli, a century to mark a 'century' is something he would be craving
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was on Thursday hit by a bug, compounding the visiting team's misery, but opener Tom Latham sounded optimistic about the batsman's availability in the second Test against India beginning in Kolkata on Friday.
Rahane, who too has also endured rough end of the stick as far selection matters go, had a word of advice for Rishabh Pant.
Australia remain optimistic about their Twenty20 World Cup campaign despite being shown up in all facets by India in the opening two matches of their current series. With Steve Smith leading an advanced party to New Zealand for the forthcoming ODI series, the Australians have made more changes to their XI, with Shane Watson to lead the side after skipper Aaron Finch suffered a hamstring injury in Friday night's second T20 defeat. In-form top-order batsman Usman Khawaja comes into the squad as Finch's replacement, and will likely open the batting alongside Shaun Marsh. Finch is awaiting scan results and the Australia camp is bullish he will be able to return before the start of the World Cup in India on March 8.
Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday questioned India batting coach Vikram Rathour's ability to guide Indian cricketers in the T20 format. Yuvraj, who had retired from international cricket last year, also took a veiled dig at India chief coach Ravi Shastri.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was on Tuesday after being blocked by ex-Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar on Twitter following a verbal spat over the selection of Ravindra Jadeja.
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera has been sent home from their tour of New Zealand after failing a drugs Test, local media, citing a Sri Lanka Cricket statement, said on Tuesday.
India's soft power diplomacy came into play during this cataclysm affecting the world as the pandemic defies barriers and borders, notes Rup Narayan Das.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had made it clear to their Bangladesh counterparts that it will not host them on a neutral venue during the upcoming home series in January-February.
For Kohli, in probably his last three matches as T20 captain of India, one would expect some prudent team selections and it starts with the question of repeatedly ignoring a player of Ashwin's calibre.
India would be looking to sort out issues such as the opening blues, the middle-lower order conundrum and also the bowling strategies during the three-match T20 series against West Indies.
After launching their campaign on a winning note, IPL finalists Kings XI Punjab will look to dish out another dominating performance when they face the formidable Barbados Tridents in a Group B match of the Oppo Champions League twenty20 in Mohali on Saturday.
Former India batsman Gundappa Viswanath revealed that he was "very, very hurt" after his distinguished career came to an abrupt end following a poor Test series against Pakistan in 1982-83. Along with Sunil Gavaskar, he was one of the minstays of the Indian battling line-up through the 1970s, playing some fine knocks against the best pace attacks of that era.
A fit-again pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the last One-Dayer in Ranchi, bowled with vigour as eight Indian players turned up for the optional practice session on the eve of the series-deciding fifth and final game against New Zealand in Vishakapatnam on Saturday.
Suresh Raina is still not available for selection for India's third ODI against New Zealand as "he has not yet fully recovered from viral fever" but Rohit Sharma spent a considerable time at the nets.
Bhuvneshwar is again likely to be confined to the benches for his second successive marquee event, starting in England from May 30.
The Indian fans could get a glimpse of the immensely talented Shubman Gill in the senior team jersey if he is chosen to replace Virat Kohli for Thursday's fourth ODI against New Zealand.
India captain and batting mainstay Virat Kohli was named skipper of the International Cricket Council's Test and ODI teams of the year, following a remarkable run in 2018.
The hosts cannot afford to take England lightly, as the visiting team boasts of some of the big names in women's cricket.
Virat Kohli will join the elite company of eleven other Indians and a total of 70 other players across the various countries to complete the century of Test match appearances.
Former Australian opener Justin Langer will lead the Prime Minister XI against New Zealand in a one-day cricket match at Manuka Oval in Canberra on January 29.
Goyal was to visit Beijing from August 2 to 3 to take part in the RCEP Intersessional Ministerial meet.
Guptill wants to utilise his time facing Rashid Khan at the nets to prepare for the World Cup game against Afghanistan on June 8.
Vettori's exceptional bowling spell changed the complexion of the game. The New Zealander had laid the foundation for his side's win.
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With the national selection committee and the team management deciding to promote Rohit as an opener, keeping his spunky strokeplay in mind, the next five Tests could be a make or break for the 32-year-old stylish right-hander.
Curran is confident that he can bring his learnings of IPl into the England set-up.
The Mumbai youngster took the place of Kedar Jadhav, who was dropped from the T20I squad after his below-par showing in the three-match series against Australia.
Asked what did Watson do differently to get out of the bad patch, Fleming responded, 'Nothing'.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) have put in place racial quotas for the national team across all three formats of the game in an effort to increase the number of black players in a sport still dominated by whites.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar said he noticed the aggressive 'spark' in Virat Kohli when he made his India debut and that characteristic has rubbed off on the entire team.
'The 2014 Australia tour and the brand of cricket played by the team laid a great foundation of the brilliant run of success enjoyed across all formats and conditions.' 'It also coincided with Virat Kohli enjoying the responsibilities of leading the team and then putting his heart and soul into taking the Indian team to ascend many unconquered summits.'
Hashim Amla's superb 103 enabled Punjab put up a competitive 198 for 4 in 20 overs but Buttler made a mockery of the target with Mumbai Indians knocking off the runs in only 15.3 overs.
CSK's Harbhajan Singh and Mumbai Indians' Lasith Malinga were among the other big names to be released by their respective sides ahead of next month's auction.
The player registration deadline closed on Thursday and the list comprises 207 international players including 21 capped Indians.
Ravi Shastri was reappointed as the India head coach, the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee announced on Friday.
