Former India star batsman VVS Laxman prefers all-rounder Hardik Pandya over Karun Nair in the playing XI for the first Test match against England, considering his all-round skill sets. Laxman is a firm believer of the "five bowler theory" and wants Pandya to open the bowling with Mohammed Shami, with Amit Mishra playing as the third specialist spinner.
Still recovering from a hamstring injury, swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle was on Wednesday left out of the West Indies' 15-member squad for the One-Day International series against India next month.
After their below par showing in the World Cup, some senior Indian players are living on borrowed time.
With the year sprinting to a close, we bring you, in pictures, some of the best action from the sports world.
The surprise decision not to consider Ambati Rayudu for the World Cup was devoid of any bias, said chief selector MSK Prasad.
India have won the first two Tests by comprehensive margins -- by 304 runs in Galle and an innings and 53 runs in Colombo.
Prithvi Shaw, Jason Sangha and Mujeeb Zadran are among the cricketers whose performances will be watched keenly in the upcoming ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Rajneesh Gupta brings all Yuvraj Singh's numbers from different formats of cricket.
There remains a big question mark over who will be India's No.4 in the World Cup.
India have not lost a series at home since the defeat to South Africa in October 2015.
Trott, who played 68 ODIs and seven T20 matches, has scored 18,662 runs in first class cricket.
Yuvraj Singh has emerged as the costliest cricketer in the IPL 8 players' auction, bought for a record Rs 16 crore (USD 2.57 million approx) by Delhi Daredevils.
Mumbai Indians had a break of five days after their 20-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring Indian Premier League in Mumbai and captain Rohit Sharma said on Thursday that the short respite was very helpful in recharging their batteries.
A keen contest is on the cards as Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals cross swords in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Bengaluru, on Sunday.
Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar has agreed with his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni that the team needs a better pitch at home despite winning all their games, in Chennai, so far.
Pre-tournament favourites Australia currently occupy third spot in Pool A.
Alastair Cook, who has scored just 246 runs in 10 innings during the Ashes, and was dismissed for four as England were beaten by Australia in the first of five one-day internationals, has been able to retain his place in the squad just because of captaincy.
Statistical highlights from day one of the fourth cricket Test between India and England in Mumbai on Thursday. # Keaton Jennings became the third England batsman after Bryan Valentine and Alastair Cook and the eighth overall to register a hundred on Test debut in India. # Apart from the three England batsmen, two New Zealanders, Bruce Taylor and Kane Williamson, Australia's Michael Clarke, West Indian, Gordon Greenidge and South Africa's Alviro Petersen have accomplished the feat. # Jennings is the eighth England opener to post a hundred on Test debut.
The fifth and final ODI against Australia will be one last chance for Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja to do something special and stake their claim for a place in the World Cup team
The 14 grounds that will host matches during the February 14 - March 29 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming conceded on Friday that the spin department of his side hasn't been as effective as compared to previous IPL seasons, but denied that the team management has lost confidence on its slow bowlers.
India's bowling coach Bharat Arun said rookie Barinder Sran, being a left-armer, gives the team 'added advantage', indicating that the youngster may be blooded into the side for opening ODI against Australia.
Mumbai Indians' consistency on the big day paid off again during a season where there were more than 30 last-over finishes.
If MI have their problems to sort out, having lost at the death in all three games so far, RCB too have their own shortcomings to address with only one win in three games under their belt.
Gilchrist made the comments after the IPL governing council proposed to have a dedicated "no-ball" umpire to reduce the number of howlers in the lucrative league.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians finally snapped their losing streak on the back of a collective batting effort as they defeated Kings XI Punjab by five wickets in the Indian Premier League.
The Pune outfit is presently languishing at the sixth spot in the eight-team standings with just four points.
Virtually assured of a berth in the playoffs, Chennai Super Kings will aim to tighten their grip on the No 1 position in the points' table when they take on out-of-contention Delhi Daredevils in Tuesday's IPL match in Raipur.
Fascinating predictions for the years ahead. A revealing excerpt from Tim Wigmore and Freddie Wilde's Cricket 2.0: Inside The T20 Revolution.
Indeed, if you look at this hypothesis with sufficiently jaundiced eyes, you will find plenty in common in the way 'Team India' conducts its affairs and the way 'Team Modi' does, argues Krishna Prasad.
Not undermining Dale Steyn's ability with the ball, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner said that he wishes to continue with Trent Boult.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes became the most expensive overseas purchase -- bought by Rising Pune Supergiants for a whopping Rs 14.50 crore even as some unheralded Indian domestic players trumped seasoned names to land lucrative deals at the Indian Premier League players' auction.
IMAGES from the World Cup match played between India and Afghanistan in Southampton on Saturday
Mumbai Indians will have their task cut out when they lock horns with Chennai Super Kings.
Ravichandran Ashwin has played a big role in grooming Jayant Yadav and the debutant profusely thanked India's star spinner for his impressive debut in the second Cricket Test against England on Visakhapatnam.
Australia's hapless performances in the 2-0 series loss to South Africa came in for huge criticism from the country's local media on Wednesday, with demands for heads to roll in both the dressing room and the corridors of power at Cricket Australia.
Just to clear the air, the first ball of the game, each game, should just be a bouncer, reckons Merv Hughes.
Rajneesh Gupta surveys the cricketing milestones from the Mohali Test.
Penpix of the Sri Lanka squad for the 2015 cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
On a roll after a poor start, Delhi Daredevils will look to complete a hat-trick of victories on home turf when they take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League encounter, in New Delhi on Saturday.
