'Having interacted with Ajinkya Rahane, I know he has a very smart brain and he is balanced.'
The fifth Test match between England and India, which starts in Manchester on Friday, is doubtful after Team India's support staff tested positive for COVID-19.
India's assistant cricket coach Sanjay Bangar feels competence, not nationality, should be the sole criteria while judging a coach and criticism should never be based on whether the person is an Indian or not.
FIXTURES (Start at 14.40 local, 0910 IST, 0340 GMT)
With only two training sessions possible under lights before the day/night Test at the Eden Gardens starting November 22, the Indian team is trying to make most of the time at their disposal.
Scroll down for images from the training session held on Wednesday.
India batter Mayank Agarwal is keen to pick newly-appointed national team head coach Rahul Dravid's brain once again, having had an enjoyable experience with the approachable Karnataka stalwart while playing for India 'A'.
'He's a seriously special player and he comes out and takes that momentum away and that's his attitude every time he bats.'
Will it be a foreigner from among the 57 applications received for job? Is it a race between Anil Kumble, Ravi Shastri, Sandeep Patil and Venkatesh Prasad?
'He just needs a breather. Go and get some time with your family.'
Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell has slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India for "muzzling" commentators over the controversial DRS and said he won't be working under the terms of BCCI during the seven-match ODI series between India and Australia, starting Sunday.
The fifth and final Test between India and England, which was suspended due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the visitors' camp last month, was on Friday rescheduled to July next year.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday denied reports that Ravi Shastri has been appointed coach of the Indian cricket team, saying that the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) is still deliberating on the matter.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who was among the top-order batsmen who failed to click in the five-Test series against England that India lost 1-3, has sought permission to play in the remainder of the English county season and will be allowed to do so by the Board.
Former Bangladesh cricketer Shakil Kasem, in a column, referred to Team India as the World Cup's overrated and over-hyped minnows.
The BCCI is set to try out the 'Super Sub' rule in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament next month.
Ending speculation about coach Duncan Fletcher's role in the five one-dayers against England, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the Zimbabwean will stay as "boss" of the team until the 2015 World Cup.
Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid has said that he would have preferred to wait till the end of India's England tour to make changes to the support staff as such decisions could be "tough on everyone concerned".
Shastri hails Siraj for overcoming every hurdle in Australia
Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has not only backed under-fire skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni but also gave a thumbs up to BCCI's new move of appointing Ravi Shastri as the Team Director.
Kohli can be seen trying the Bottle Cap Challenge and Shastri's voice can be heard in the background.
According to reports, the BCCI's cricket advisory committee, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, has asked Dravid about his interest in the big job.
'By this logic no one should care about each other because every situation is someone's internal affair,' Patiala-born Sandeep Sharma tweeted before deleting his tweet.
With key players -- KL Rahul (thigh) and Shreyas Iyer (lower back) yet to prove their fitness, the BCCI top brass and selectors could opt for safer options that gives them an opportunity to check all available players in the five (six if they reach final) Asia Cup games in Sri Lanka.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the WTC final against Australia?
Hardik Pandya flew to Chennai to join the Indian team ahead of the four-Test series against England.
Former India cricketer-turned commentator Ravi Shastri believes the 50-overs World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand next year, would be a very open tournament because of the surfeit of limited overs cricket, including T20 events like the Indian Premier League.
The Indian cricket team celebrated India's 72nd Independence Day by hoisting the tricolour in London on Wednesday.
In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell played down the role of a coach in any team, saying "if a coach is to be inflicted on a captain, it should be someone with whom he is comfortable".
R Sridhar recalls 'Ravi ship' and more
Asserting that the Indian cricket team does not require "more coaches" than what it already has right now, Director Ravi Shastri has said he might just be there "longer" than expected.
The legendary Kapil Dev feels Virat Kohli's admission of his team not being brave enough in the T20 World Cup loss to New Zealand is a "very weak statement" and head coach Ravi Shastri along with mentor Mahendra Singh Dhoni should step up to lift the players' morale.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday said it will take a call on India and Bangladesh's upcoming tours to the island nation later this week. India was scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in June-July for three ODIs and as many T20Is while Bangladesh was due to visit in July-August for a three-Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship.
The BCCI on Sunday distributed the remaining installment of its one-time benefit payments to the country's 20 former international and domestic players ahead of the IPL final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
'To go across 3 states and win Ranji trophies is a remarkable achievement and a true reflection of his dedication and commitment to the job. Well done Chandu'
'Thank you @incredibleindia for all the wonderful memories'
India underwent a full member training session
Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh will be among a host of former stars in the India Maharaja team which will take part in the inaugural edition of the Legends League Cricket (LLC), starting on January 20 in Oman.
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