The pitch, left unwatered for nearly a week, appeared dry and brown with faint traces of grass, conditions that could bring reverse swing and variable bounce into play later in the match.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
KKR, CSK to engage in bidding war in IPL mini-auction with big purse in hand
The Proteas arrive high on confidence, having fought out a hard-earned 1-1 draw in Pakistan last month under challenging conditions.
Ahead of the mini-auction, scheduled to be held in Doha on December 26, the 10 franchises have released their list of retained and released players.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be assessed but it would be "silly" to put them on trial in each and every ODI that they play from hereon, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said.
Speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, Mukund, who represented India in seven Tests from 2011-17, said: "I think Shubman has it in him to become an all-format captain, but I do not think India should have an all-format captain anymore."
The former CSK stalwart also noted that Axar Patel's consistency over recent years positions him as a natural leader within the DC core. But the trickier decision, according to Raina, concerns veteran opener Faf du Plessis, who endured a lean run with just 202 runs from nine games.
Dravid fully understood what the younger crop of players were going through after the loss in the final, following a dominant 10-match win streak, saying that he went through such emotions when India lost to Australia in the 2003 World Cup finals, and it hurts a lot when something comes really close and players miss out on it.
'It is the responsibility of all Muslims to follow the rules of Shariat. Fasting is obligatory in Islam. If a person does not keep a fast intentionally, he is considered a sinner according to Islamic law.'
A cleric in India has sparked controversy by calling cricketer Mohd Shami's daughter's Holi celebration "illegal" and "against Shariat".
Rishabh Pant was ruled out for nearly three months after he fractured his foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July.
In a wholesome moment that warm the cockles of one's soul, Virat Kohli touched Mohammad Shami's mother's feet and sought her blessings.
Mohammed Shami has etched his name in the record books, becoming the fastest Indian and the second-fastest bowler in the world to claim 200 wickets in ODIs
The Indian team management has not asked for a rank turner for the opening Test of the two-match series against South Africa beginning at the Eden Gardens on Friday, Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said on Monday.
Shami's run in the tournament concluded with nice scalps in five matches, averaging 25.88.
Sack Gambhir before he damages any more careers, if you must. But it cannot stop there. The project ahead must be bigger, more ambitious, and far more urgent: Rebuilding the spine of Indian cricket from the grassroots up, and giving the Test team the seriousness it deserves. Only then will Indian cricket stop lurching from one crisis to another and begin, once again, to imagine greatness, suggests Prem Panicker.
A district-level investigation has named several individuals, including relatives of India cricketer Mohammed Shami.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played on Monday.
One quiet moment stood out amid the jubilant scenes -- Mohammed Shami stepping off the stage just as his team-mates began spraying champagne.
Returning to the national side after a 14-month injury lay-off, Shami displayed promising signs, bowling at full tilt for over an hour.
Mohammed Shami has taken 13 wickets in five matches in ICC ODI knockout games -- the third most wickets by an Indian bowler.
'Whatever Shami did was right, and there is no need to pay attention to these things. He should focus on the final match and forget all these things.'
Past is past, focussed on leading Bengal now: Abhimanyu Easwaran on India snub
As many as 16 wickets fell on the opening day as visitors Hyderabad were left reeling at 88/6 after bundling out Jammu and Kashmir for 170 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match in Jammu on Sunday.
Kaif also questioned Gill's tactical choices on debut, especially the call to leave out Kuldeep -- a bowler capable of turning games in Australia's own backyard.
"Actually, he can surprise you with his pace. Just the other day in the nets, he hit me straight in the back. So, yeah, all of these things make him a very good bowler to play against.
'Will any coach think of keeping out Rohit and Kohli from the ODI team? That means there is something going on within the team against the two players.' Manoj Tiwary, who played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India, said iconic players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli deserve greater respect.
Surpassed Zaheer Khan to become India's highest wicket-taker in ICC ODI tournaments with 60 scalps, including 55 in World Cups.
In a high-pressure clash against India in the Champions Trophy semi-finals, Steve Smith seemed to have destiny on his side.
'What Shami does is hit the seam and move the ball off the deck. It is dangerous as batsmen will not be able to guess easily which way the ball is going to move.'
Ajinkya Rahane hits 159 in Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh
Mohammed Shami has conceded that operating as India's lone front-line pacer after coming back from a lengthy injury layoff is a heavy "responsibility", even as he tries to regain his "rhythm" to suit the team's needs in the ongoing Champions Trophy .
'I don't have any hopes (about making a comeback to the Indian team).' 'If they pick me, I will try to perform and give my 100 percent.'
Pat Cummins captured the sentiment perfectly, calling this potentially the 'last chance' for fans Down Under to witness these legends in action. With both stalwarts set to be 39 and 40 respectively by the 2027 World Cup, every appearance carries added significance. Ro-Ko have been the heartbeat of Indian cricket for over 15 years. Their return brings an emotional lift to the team and raises expectations for the series against the world champions.
At 37, the numbers behind his all-format dominance reveal not just longevity but an unmatched hunger for excellence.
Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar has come out in support of Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami after he was criticized for not observing roza (fast) during the month of Ramzan. Shami was spotted consuming an energy drink during the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final match against Australia, which led to criticism from some quarters. Akhtar, known for his outspoken views, urged Shami to ignore the negativity and praised his performance in the game.
The 34-year-old not being picked for the first two T20s raised questions over his fitness but Kotak said the veteran pacer has no issues on that front.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy Group A match played between India and Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai on Thursday.
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