Images from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, in Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
Having mentored many pacers in India, Wasim Akram feels fast bowling is becoming an integral part of Indian cricket with youngsters finding their heroes in the likes of Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav.
Despite the Indian bowlers working hard to improve their chances of a win in the third Test in Melbourne, Australia finished Day 4 on 261 for seven with Shaun March (62 no out) and Ryan Harris (8 not out) and 326-run lead. Rogers and Shaun Marsh scored fighting fifties to put Australia in a strong position on Monday. Here are the statistical highlights from the day's play.
Delhi Capitals avenged their shocking first-leg defeat with a five-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab, brightening their prospects of making the play-offs of the Indian Premier League.
Kings XI Punjab will look to go all guns blazing against down and out Gujarat Lions in Mohali.
India have won the first two Tests by comprehensive margins -- by 304 runs in Galle and an innings and 53 runs in Colombo.
"Definitely, we all do believe that we have the team that can do well in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. It is important to start well. The preparations part will be really important as it will provide us with the momentum," Rahane said at the India Today Conclave in Mumbai.
In a team that mostly includes aggressive stroke-players, the 22-year-old Rahul's fortitude makes him just the right choice. The fact that he played in Australian conditions in recent times, having opened for India 'A', will be an added advantage.
Ashwin, Jadeja likely to be rested; Team selection on Aug 13
Chappell still believes that Australia might have a slight edge in Test matches
Pant is likely to do simulation training in Bengaluru by keeping on tracks that offer turn, in order to get ready for the decks that will be on offer in Rajkot and Hyderabad.
Travis Head (61 batting) and Pat Cummins (10) kept Australia in the game with a 50-run partnership in the last session but India walked away with the advantage after the latter fell towards the end of day's play.
A determined Delhi Daredevils will make another push to stay in the hunt to make the playoffs when they take on bottom-placed Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
He has been Virat Kohli's go to bowler on unresponsive Indian tracks and seasoned pacer Umesh Yadav credits his "enormous mental strength" for keeping him in the game despite a stop-start international career for the past 10 years. The 32-year-old Vidarbha speedster with more than 250 international wickets (259) across formats, doesn't feel the need to respond to perceptions of being a Test specialist as the time spent away from the 22-yard pitch is more about honing skills and remaining battle-ready.
While there were brilliant performances from Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, India's pathetic bowling attack -- which could not claim 20 Australian wickets in any of the four Tests -- was depressing.
Rain threatens to disrupt the first day's play when Sri Lanka and India face-off in the opening Test at Galle on Wednesday.
The intent has always been honest and that precisely is the reason for the stupendous results that the Indian cricket team is currently delivering, skipper Virat Kohli said.
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.
Should India play an extra fast bowler in Dharamsala where the pitches suit pacers?
India were 157 for three in their second innings at stumps on day four of the third Test in Gros Islet, St Lucia on Friday.
The Indian pace attack has been talked up of late and to be fair, they have done a decent job in South Africa.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Aswhin produced one of his most impactful performance outside the sub-continent as India reduced England to 285 for nine on the opening day of the first Test in Birmingham, on Wednesday.
Aaron, who has had a start-stop career ever since making his international debut in October 2011, has no qualms in acknowledging that the time has come to deliver consistently.
Captain Steven Smith was well-entrenched for his third century in successive Tests even though India restricted Australia to 259 for five on the opening day of the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. Electing to bat, he again was the visitors' main tormentor, anchoring the innings with an undefeated 72 at stumps. Check out some photos from the day's play.
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar said all-rounder Stuart Binny would lend much needed balance to the Indian team which is keen to bounce back after an embarrassing defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
India stormed back in some style, after being surprised in the first game in Chennai, to thrash England in the next three and score an emphatic 3-1 triumph in the just-concluded Test series. A look at how the Indian players fared in the England series.
Impressed with India's aggressive brand of cricket in the two Tests so far, former Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas on Tuesday said that the five-bowler theory is reaping rich results for the young visiting side.
Kohli was at his aggressive best in the just-concluded second Test against Sri Lanka as he smashed a strokeful 213 off 267 balls to help India amass a huge first innings total.
Indian batsmen and bowlers warmed up with a morale-boosting five-wicket win against Derbyshire in their second three-day tour game on Thursday, ahead of the first Test against England in Nottingham starting July 9.
McCullum was 143 not out at the close of play, his eighth Test century, while Williamson was dismissed after tea for 113, his fifth hundred, as the Kiwis finished the opening day on a strong 329 for four in 90 overs.
Rookie England pacer Sam Curran says it was unreal to perform the way he did only in his second Test though bowling to Indian captain Virat Kohli made him think more about his bowling.
Australian batting star Steve Smith has no time to think about how India might plot revenge in the second Test in Melbourne but he does have a word of advice for the visitors jolted by the first game's battering -- 'Let it go and move on'.
Two seasoned, left-handed Bengaluru-born players -- Amit Verma and Sreenath Aravind -- representing rival teams, stole the honours on day one of a Group B Ranji Trophy match between Assam and Karnataka in Mumbai on Thursday.
Hardik Pandya has said that comparisons with Indian legend Kapil Dev are unwarranted
Skipper Virat Kohli's magnificent 243 was overshadowed by unprecedented scenes of mask-wearing Sri Lankan players, who halted proceedings thrice, complaining of poor air quality, on Day 2 of the third Test, in New Delhi.
India's skipper Virat Kohli scored a splendid unbeaten century to guide his team to a comfortable 302 for the loss of four wickets at stumps on day one of the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua on Thursday. At the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Kohli carried his limited-overs form into Tests and scored an effortless 143 off 197 balls, which was laced with 16 boundaries.
India's carefully devised plan to triumph in England seems to be coming undone with injuries to their key bowlers.
'I always wanted to play Test cricket. I just didn't want to be a cricketer who played One-Dayers and T20s and just goes away.' Jasprit Bumrah on why playing Test cricket is so important for him.
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.
Bishop refused to compare the Indian unit to the fearsome West Indians of the past.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances