'There will be a lot of spice to the contest -- there is a reason India is the only team other than England against whom Australia is keen to play a five Test series.' 'I'll watch, as I suspect most fans will -- but this one time, I'll watch with considerable trepidation and, from a fan's point of view, with the hope that the team finds its feet and that right quick,' notes the distinguished cricket commentator Prem Panicker.
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Monday.
India's batting is a major concern with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs ahead of the tour of Australia.
India were sitting pretty on 473/8 in 120 overs at stumps on the second day for an overall lead of 255 runs.
'It's one thing to talk about it, but actually we went out there (in Bengaluru) and played some fearless cricket.'
India stormed into the ICC Under-19 cricket World Cup quarter-finals after producing a clinical all-round performance to wallop New Zealand by 120 runs in their penultimate group D encounter, in Mirpur, on Saturday.
India arrived in Bengaluru seeking a big win over the 2021 champions to improve their chances of making a third successive final in June 2025, but will now need to battle to keep alive their run of 18 straight home series victories since 2012.
The likes of Yashaswi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna are on their maiden Test tour of Australia.
A spectacular seven-wicket haul by Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand dismiss India for 156 before the tourists reached 198-5 at stumps on day two of the second test in Pune on Friday to tighten their grip on the three-match series.
'Virat and Rohit not playing (Duleep Trophy) was not good for Indian cricket, nor was it good for the two players. Had they played the Duleep Trophy and had some time in the red-ball cricket, things would have been different.'
The standout performers that allowed India to maintain their upper hand over England were young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Australia's batting great Ricky Ponting on Friday said he was 'surprised' by the Indian camp's wording around Rohit Sharma's absence from the Sydney Test.
Fifteen-year-old Mumbai off-spinner Sarfaraz Khan grabbed four wickets as India Under-19 comfortably beat their Sri Lankan counterparts by seven wickets to win the 'Youth ODI' series 2-0 in Dambulla on Thursday.
New Zealand can become only the second team to inflict a series whitewash on India in their backyard.
Mitchell Santner played through the pain barrier as New Zealand secured their maiden series win in India going back to 1955 and the left-arm spinner said picking up wickets regularly in the second test had helped him persevere.
Young Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Sarfaraz Khan on Tuesday revealed he has been advised to play as per the match situation by captain Virat Kohli in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
Team India has done their research and have taken notes from their English rivals as the batters were seen perfecting their sweeping skills.
Premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah was on Friday named vice-captain of India for the upcoming three-match home Test series against New Zealand, strongly indicating his possible elevation to the leadership role when the team travels to Australia from next month.
India were still staring at a daunting challenge despite a much more assured performance in their second innings, trailing by 125 runs at the close with Sarfaraz Khan on 70 not out after Virat Kohli fell for the same score on the day's final ball.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against Australia in Perth?
Team India registered their biggest winning margin in the history of Test cricket during the third Test against England at Rajkot on Sunday.
The team's remarkable feat of hitting 28 sixes in this match established a new record for the highest six-count in a single Test match
India captain Rohit Sharma is confident that his team will bounce back from the eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru.
India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins in Rajkot on Thursday.
'Obviously, he's a guy who has scored 9,000-plus Test runs, which is pretty mind-blowing, but for us it was a huge wicket.'
Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch said that Alex Carey and Rishabh Pant, two left-handed wicketkeeper-batters will be extremely important for their respective sides during the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
Skipper Rohit Sharma asserted that the 'three hours' on Day 2, when they collapsed for a lowly 46 in the first Test against New Zealand.
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Wednesday.
Padikkal made a classy 65, including 10 fours and a six. His play on the off-side oozed elegance associated with left-handers.
Virat Kohli spent about 45 minutes in the nets and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah bowled full tilt as the Indian cricket team on Friday began its preparations
India batter Shreyas Iyer was on Tuesday added to the Mumbai squad for their next Ranji Trophy game against Andhra to be played in Mumbai from January 12-15.
Reeling at 156 for six at stumps on the fourth and penultimate day, South Zone were staring at a heavy defeat
Musheer Khan, younger brother of Sarfaraz Khan (9), saved his side from a total collapse with an innings of rare maturity that belied his 19 tender years.
Sarfaraz Khan and Washington Sundar hit half-centuries as India scored a 79-run victory over Ireland in their opening ICC Under-19 World Cup Group D match at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, in Mirpur, on Thursday.
The selectors announced India's teams for the tour of South Africa.
India's emphatic win over England was a tailor-made series for the debutants. The absence of key players gave India the perfect opportunity to test their bench strength and boy, did the youngsters grab the chance with both hands!
Four players from Mumbai's squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament have tested positive for COVID-19.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav became the first Indian bowler to register a hat-trick in the ICC Under-19 World Cup before the defending champions struggled to a five-wicket victory over minnows Scotland while chasing a paltry target of 88.
'Bumrah is not the right option for captain.' 'All the pressure to deliver is on his shoulders. So taking on the mantle of captain will be added pressure.'
They'll wait to make a call with him up until the morning of the Test match, said India's bowling coach Morne Morkel.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances