Check out the images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between Australia and India played at Sydney Cricket Ground.
The needle clash, expected to be watched by a capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, looks set to raise the curtains on the decade-old T20 League in grand style after a formal opening ceremony.
Australia captain Steve Smith won his second Allan Border Medal on Monday, becoming the fifth player to claim the country's highest individual cricket honour more than once.
David Warner slammed a whirlwind 50-ball 92 to set up a comfortable 15-run win for Sunrisers Hyderabad over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League match, in Hyderabad, on Saturday.
After the gruelling league phase of the ongoing IPL, the stage is set for the play-offs with CSK and MI clashing against each other for a place in May 12 final.
Images from Wednesday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, in Chennai.
"Our team's score of 148 was not sufficient. Because of grass on the pitch we decided to bat first after winning the toss with a hope that the ball will come straight to the bat and we would be able to make a big score," RBC's Stuart Binny, who scored an unbeaten 18, told reporters on Monday.
However, Australia have tasted victory once at this stadium against New Zealand on February 25, 2011, when they won by seven wickets in the Group A match of the World Cup.
Yuvraj Singh made a sensational return to international cricket, blasting his way to an unbeaten 35-ball 77 as India beat Australia by six wickets in a high-scoring one-off T20, in Rajkot, on Thursday.
Mumbai Indians have arguably the best death-overs exponents in Jaspreet Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, while boasting an explosive all-rounder in Hardik Pandya.
'The control over shots he has... never seen before for a young talent like him.'
India vice-captain Virat Kohli's temperament was once again tested after the batsman was hit by a Mitchell Johnson return throw which resulted in the two players getting into a verbal duel.
Australia have called batsman Shaun Marsh into their squad for the opening Test of the four-match series against India, which was pushed back to next week after the death of Phillip Hughes.
Rilee Rossouw smashed a sparkling 78 off 50 balls to drive a youthful South Africa side to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday in the first of three Twenty20 internationals.
Before the players goes under the hammer in Chennai, here are a few batsmen who are expected to pique the interest of the franchises on Thursday.
Their path to the semi-finals looking relatively easier in comparison, Australia will fancy their chances when they lock horns with a struggling Pakistan side whose hopes hangs by a thread in the ICC World Twenty20, in Mohali, on Friday.
'We leave it up to the players to decide whether or not they want to participate and request NOCs'
Royal Challengers Bangalore batting has been on fire with captain Virat Kohli leading the charge with a record-breaking spree but leggie Yuzuvendra Chahal feels his side's bowlers have also played a crucial role in the team's turnaround.
10 all-rounders who may leave a mark on the World T20.
Humiliated in their previous face-off this season, table toppers Rajasthan Royals will be desperate to seek revenge against a resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore in Wednesday's Indian Premier League match in Bengaluru.
Australia comfortably chased down a modest target set by South Africa to win the third Twenty20 international by six wickets at SuperSport Park and take the series 2-0 after the first game was washed out.
Sachin Tendulkar led the cricketing world in applauding Sri Lankan veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who bowed out of ODIs after their team's World Cup quarter-final loss to South Africa in Sydney.
Brendon McCullum struck a quickfire fifty before Ravindra Jadeja produced a brilliant spell of 4-11 as Chennai Super avenged its defeat over Rajasthan Royals with a 12-run win to virtually secure its place in the play-offs of the Indian Premier League in Chennai on Sunday.
Captain Rohit Sharma led from the front with an unbeaten half-century to help Mumbai Indians down Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets, in the Indian Premier League, in Pune, on Saturday.
Bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan was called into the England squad for the Ashes series on Monday and will be available for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide this week.
Australia spin legend Shane Warne feels if Michael Clarke is fit he should replace George Bailey in the side.
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane struck fluent centuries as India fought back bravely before a flurry of late wickets allowed a sloppy Australia to take a slight edge on stumps on Day 3 of the third Test, in Melbourne
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke will headline Hong Kong's Twenty20 Blitz this month as he pursues a comeback in cricket's shortest form. Clarke, one of the top batsmen of his generation, will star at the four-team tournament from May 28-29 in a rare appearance since his retirement last year. "While I have never been to Hong Kong before, I have heard so much about what a great place it is for sport," he said in a statement from organisers on Wednesday. "I can't wait to meet my team-mates and experience the city, while also hopefully contributing to the game of cricket in Hong Kong which I know has been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years." Injury-plagued Clarke, 35, retired last August after playing 115 Tests for Australia, 47 as captain, and 245 one-day internationals, but only 34 T20 internationals.
Hard-hitting left-hander Chris Gayle will return to the West Indies squad for their tour of South Africa after recovering from a back injury.
AB de Villiers combined with Mandeep Singh for a game-changing partnership as Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminated Rajasthan Royals following a crushing 71-run victory, in the Indian Premier League in Pune, on Wednesday.
Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has slammed his country's selectors after the failure of the Australian batting line-up.
Australian cricket captain George Bailey was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his teammates were docked 10 per cent of their earnings for maintaining a slow over-rate during their ICC Champions Trophy opener against England in Birmingham.
All set to defend their cricket World Cup crown in less than a month, India will get their preparations underway with the aim of finding the right combination for the marquee event.
Shrugging the off-field controversies, Hardik Pandya was in his element in IPL-12, scoring 402 runs at a strike-rate of 191 plus and 14 wickets apart from 11 catches.
Dhoni has led the CSK to eight finals but he was far from a contended skipper.
Chennai Super Kings's experience proved to be the difference in the all-important IPL Qualifier 2 game against a young Delhi Capitals.
Ravichandran Ashwin believes India has a grip on the second Test against Australia and a couple of quick wickets in the morning session on Friday, Day 3, could put them in command.
A miffed Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir slammed his team after a stunning batting collapse which resulted in their 10-run loss to Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in Ahmedabad.
Adorable pictures of the tots having a good time, adding cheer to the tournament.
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com explains how Dhoni's victory can help you at the workplace.
