Their campaigns wobbling after a string of defeats, bottom-rung teams Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans will be desperate to arrest the slide and get back to winning ways in their Indian Premier League match in Mullanpur on Sunday.
Zimbabwe used eight bowlers in their attempt to restrict their opponents, but there was no reward against the India openers.
India opener Murali Vijay is relieved that his off-the field friendship with KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan has helped him deal with sensitive selection matters with ease.
Having regained his form with two unbeaten knocks in the league stage of the cricket World Cup, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has gained two spots to be placed eight in the latest ICC batting rankings.
Having given ample demonstration of his appetite for notching up big scores, India's batting sensation Shikhar Dhawan on Tuesday said he has become mentally strong, and that his shot selection has got better in the past one year.
'I hold Rohit Sharma in very high regard & am a big fan of his, but I have NEVER DISCUSSED him in any interview.'
With most of the power-hitters in isolation after Krunal Pandya's COVID-19 positive case, India could score just 132 for 5 on a slow track. Sri Lanka chased down the total with two balls to spare and won by four wickets.
Young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was on Wednesday brought in as standby for the injured Shikhar Dhawan in India's World Cup squad.
'I feel the boys are young, but they played maturely'
With Shikhar Dhawan back in form in the shortest format, the Indian team management and captain Virat Kohli will have the headache of picking from three in-form openers
I really like the look of Shikhar Dhawan. He's a talented, aggressive opener, says former Australia captain Ian Chappell.
Opener Mayank Agarwal has been added to the squad.
Two Indian batsmen are now in the top five of the ICC ODI rankings, with Virat Kohli remaining at number three and opener Shikhar Dhawan climbing up the ladder to fifth after earning four places in the latest list issued on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli is the highest run-getter in the IPL with 6844 runs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma's wedding reception in New Delhi on Thursday.
Paceman Kane Richardson claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to script India's spectacular collapse and bowl Australia to a 25-run victory in the high-scoring fourth one day international on Wednesday. Three batsmen struck centuries in the 671-run match between the world's top two one-day teams but it was Richardson's (5-68) incisive bowling that clinched the contest, while also earning him the man-of-the-match award. Chasing 349 for victory, India were cruising at 277 for one before losing their last nine wickets for 46 runs to succumb to their fourth successive defeat in the five-match series. Opener Shikhar Dhawan (126) and Virat Kohli (106) featured in a 212-run stand for the visitors before the wheels came off India's chase at Canberra's Manuka Oval.
Punjab Kings batters to face different challenge against Gujarat Titans
K L Rahul introduced us to the 'back benchers' of the Indian team posting a picture of Hardik Pandya, Mayank and him occupying the rear seats of the team bus.
Images from the IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings at Mohali on Tuesday.
Before facing the might of Shaheen Shah Afridi in Asia Cup, a morning session with deliveries moving both sides, albeit with a gentle pace, would be decent enough extended net session for Rahul.
Mayank Agarwal was on Sunday ruled out of the IPL game against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a toe injury.
India opener Shikhar Dhawan, on Tuesday, said the selectors have picked a 'very strong side' for the the ICC World Cup starting May 30 in the United Kingdom.
The Elite list is set to comprise only three players ---skipper Virat Kohli, his limited overs deputy Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.
Opener Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan slammed centuries to help India humiliate Sri Lanka by a huge margin of 169 runs in the first One-Day International in Cuttack, on Sunday.
'We have learnt a lot of things. Especially when we played in Kolkata (during first Test against SL) and in Dharamsala (first ODI)'
In David Warner's absence, Shikhar Dhawan lead from the front.
Like Kohli did, Rahul took 53 innings to cross the 2,000 run mark.
Fit-again India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is attempting to make his comeback by taking part in the D Y Patil T20 tournament, starting in Mumbai, on Monday. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are also on their road to recovery after sustaining injuries.
Former selector Sarandeep Singh called Rohit-Dhawan the 'best option' despite skipper Virat Kohli's recent interest in the slot.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the cornerstone of the Indian batting line-up in Tests, featuring in 103 matches in which he scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries.
Former India captain and team director Ravi Shastri said Cheteshwar Pujara, who was not picked up by any of the teams for this year's Indian Premier League, deserves to be compensated handsomely considering his contributions to the Test team's success this home season.
The team includes four Pakistanis, three Indians, three Englishmen and one Bangladeshi, with Kane Williamson of New Zealand as 12th man.
The first game in the five match T20I series between India and the West Indies will be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, starting 2000 IST.
Top India batsman Shikhar Dhawan saw it as a historic day of celebration, while former cricketer Mohammed Kaif reminded the country of its culture of peaceful coexistence as sportspersons reacted to the bhoomi pujan ceremony for a temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
Senior batsman Shikhar Dhawan proved his form and fitness in style before the South African series as he led India 'A's strong reply against Bangladesh 'A' with an unbeaten century on Day 1 of the only unofficial Test.
IPL: Comeback-man Pant the highlight as Delhi Capitals take on Punjab Kings
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI in the second T20 International against England on Sunday?
Statistical highlights of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Sri Lanka, in London.
In awe of Virat Kohli's meteoric rise, Indian Team Director Ravi Shastri on Thursday said the swashbuckling batsman seems like a mirror-image of West Indian great Viv Richards.
