Indian cricket team, led by skipper Virat Kohli, on Thursday reached St Kitts to play a four-Test bilateral series against the West Indies starting with the opening match at Antigua on July 21.
Chris Gayle blasted one of the fastest half-centuries in Test cricket history to steer the West Indies to an emphatic 10-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second Test in Trinidad on Friday.
The West Indies named an unchanged 13-man squad which played a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan early this month.
Kohli will join Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid himself and MS Dhoni as the fourth Indian to play 500 international matches
Pakistan rode on the innings of a resilient batting display from Shehzad, who scored 53 off 45 balls, and anchored the run chase.
Jason Holder was previously found guilty of the same offence during the Jamaica Test against Pakistan in April.
'When you pick wickets in conditions like this, you get loads of confidence. Rohit bhai asked me to believe in myself, not take any pressure and enjoy.'
An Indian team in transition will feel robbed of an opportunity as torrential rain came in its way of potentially winning the second Test against West Indies and completing a 2-0 series whitewash in the Port of Spain on Monday.
India batsman Shreyas Iyer is hoping that his 71-run knock in the second ODI against the West Indies will help him keep his place in the team.
The USA, which was looking to host some of the matches, will miss out.
Kusal Mendis led a strong Sri Lankan second innings effort but the West Indies still held the advantage at stumps on day four of the first Test at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Saturday. Set a daunting target of 453 when the hosts declared their second innings at 223 for seven just after lunch, the visitors reached 176 for three by the close with Mendis unbeaten on 94.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is on cloud 9 after his recent acquisition Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel claimed the Caribbean Premier League T20 title on Sunday.
The Hero Caribbean Premier League on Wednesday announced that the owners of Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders intend to acquire the Trinidad & Tobago franchise, subject to all "regulatory and board approvals".
The Australia coach launched a thinly-veiled swipe at detractors who claim his players' behaviour becomes ugly when they are put under pressure.
With 11,406 runs in 238 innings Virat Kohli is the second highest run-getter for India in ODI
'I feel the boys are young, but they played maturely'
Having won the first game by three runs, another victory will give India a successive ODI series win in the Caribbean.
Shikhar Dhawan hit a splendid half-century as India edged West Indies by three runs in a last-ball finish in the first One-Day International at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Friday.
One of the fittest athletes in the world, Virat Kohli said focusing on his diet and body helped him immensely.
Virat Kohli brought up his 42nd ODI ton in brilliant fashion while guiding India to victory over the West Indies, and pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said the skipper was determined to end his 11-innings century drought.
Virat Kohli doesn't want captaincy to come in the way of enjoying his cricket and the India skipper says that's the reason why he can be often seen shaking a leg on field of play to any sound of music in the vicinity.
Former skipper Sunil Gavaskar believes Shreyas Iyer is better suited for the number four spot in ODIs than Rishabh Pant and should be given a permanent slot in the Indian middle-order.
Shubman Gill was unlucky to miss out on a maiden century but India rode on his sublime 98 to outclass West Indies by 119 runs and complete a 3-0 rout in the ODI series at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Wednesday.
India's leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had an emphatic "no" for an answer when a scribe alluded to suggestions that cricketers could be better off wearing half pants instead of trousers in the future, given that the game is often played in extreme heat.
India recorded their biggest Test series win on Caribbean soil with a 2-0 victory over West Indies following a washout in the fourth and final Test match but ended up losing the number one spot in the ICC rankings, in Port of Spain, on Monday.
Jermaine Blackwood completed a half-century on debut to put West Indies in control of the second test against New Zealand in Trinidad on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Jamaican celebrated his call up to the test team with a well-crafted 63 at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain.
Rohit will take charge as full time India white ball captain in the upcoming series against West Indies
Since Dhawan is not part of the Test squad, the Delhi left-hander would like to finish the Caribbean assignment on a high.
Gayle has been named in West Indies' 14-man squad for the three One-day International series (ODIs) against India.
Ajinkya Rahane smashed his third ODI hundred as India produced a dominating display to beat West Indies by 105 runs in the second one-dayer in Port of Spain on Sunday.
West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor, revelling in his return to the Test arena after a nearly five-year absence, made up for lost time with a devastating spell in the second Test against New Zealand on Monday.
Pointing out that Ajinkya Rahane has the quality to open and play in the middle-order, India captain Virat Kohli insisted that he could see the former providing greater balance to the side than anyone else.
Skipper Virat Kohli said it was his turn to step up and take responsibility after the fall of early wickets in the second One Day International against the West Indies, which India won, riding on his 42nd hundred in the format.
The World Cup disappointment will continue to linger but Kohli will fancy his team's chances in the series, notwithstanding the return of the swashbuckling Chris Gayle.
Bangladesh know the odds are stacked against them beating India in Thursday's World Cup quarter-final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. If history and current form are any guide, India should win in a canter.
A formidable India will fancy their chances of taking an unassailable 2-0 lead against a weakened West Indies when the two sides lock horns in the third game of the ongoing five-match ODI series, in North Sound, Antigua, on Friday.
A look at how India have fared in their World Cup opening games.
'Being Indian cricketers, expectations are something that you always expect and I hope I can live up to the expectations'
Shreyas Iyer's superb form in the ODI series against the West Indies has impressed India captain Virat Kohli, prompting him to declare that the Mumbai batsman can be a "regular feature in middle order" if he continues taking responsibility like he did during the third match, in Port of Spain, on Wednesday.
Images from the second One-Day International between India and the West Indies, at Port of Spain, on Sunday
