India have been served well by Shreyas Iyer in ODIs at No. 4 but with the Mumbai batter unavailable due to injury, the team management entrusted Gaikwad with the job to build the innings and he did it with aplomb, hitting his maiden century in the second ODI against South Africa on Wednesday.
Leading India D against India C in their match at the Rural Development Trust stadium, Anantapur, Shreyas played a captain's knock, taking his team out of trouble.
Rishabh Pant's place in the playing eleven is far from guaranteed, while Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy are locked in a tight contest for the additional all-rounder's slot as India confront several selection dilemmas ahead of the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.
The Mumbai batter was India's top run-getter and the second-highest overall in the Champions Trophy 2025, scoring 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60, including two fifties and a top score of 79, playing a crucial role in India's second straight white-ball title.
'Commendable' performances in a losing cause should 'never' be celebrated, said India head coach Gautam Gambhir as he took a critical view of the team's recent ODI series defeat to Australia.
Shreyas Iyer's tactical call to promote Josh Inglis to No 3 to counter Lucknow Super Giants' tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav proved vital in Punjab Kings' victory.
K L Rahul takes over the captaincy after regular skipper Shubman Gill missed the series because of a neck injury.
Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer hailed Priyansh Arya's sensational maiden IPL century, praising his fearless approach and highlighting the young opener's transformation from being 'timid' in the previous game
It's good to see Huma Qureshi help create a film which is as charming as it is empowering, without taking on the stridency that so many women-oriented films invariably adopt, notes Deepa Gahlot.
India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
Kuldeep was instrumental to India's success at the Asia Cup, topping the wicket-taking chart with 17 wickets. Chopra explained the rationale behind dropping the left-arm wrist spinner, attributing it to batting depth.
Shubman Gill might just want to be fit enough to bat, as even a half-fit skipper is seen as more effective than Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran or Sarfaraz Khan.
Anything is better than Mastiii 4, sighs Mayur Sanap.
Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant is looking to make his mark and secure a win in his team's first home game of the season.
'He had a terrific World Cup back in India (2023) where he played beautifully in the middle-order and I actually felt then that he'd almost cemented that spot and made that his own.'
Shreyas Iyer, who captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title last year, was bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping Rs 26.75 crore at the players' auctions.
Companies, particularly those that are notified as Significant Data Fiduciaries, will have to make extensive investments in data mapping, process modification, consent management tools, tools to enable Data Principal Rights, and establish a well-structured Data Privacy Officer organisation.
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.
Jharkhand''s Kumar Kushagra slams double-ton against Baroda in Ranji Trophy
Shreyas Iyer has overcome perceptions about his batting abilities and a difficult period in his career to establish himself as a key player in India's ODI team.
Playing his first game for India in more than six months, Shreyas Iyer stroked a quickfire 59 from 36 balls, to put India on course for an easy victory.
Prabhsimran's blazing ton, Iyer-Parag fifties guide India A to 2-1 series win over Australia A
This series also marks the return of two Indian heavyweights who will be seen in action for the first time in the Indian jersey since the ICC Champions Trophy Final earlier this year.
This knock was Rohit at his best, mixing patience, power, and timing with finesse.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played on Monday.
Rohit Sharma hit an unbeaten century, while Virat Kohli returned to form with a fluent fifty as India cruised to an emphatic nine-wicket victory in the inconsequential third and final ODI against Australia.
India's Anish Bhanwala endured two nerve-wracking shoot-offs in a high-quality 25m rapid-fire pistol final to clinch the biggest medal in his shooting career, a silver at the ISSF World Championships (Pistol/Rifle), in Cairo on Sunday.
Ness Wadia says bigger IPL window needed, all for Champions League revival.
It was a merry evening at Mumbai's iconic Prithvi Theatre, which is celebrating its 47th year with a 17-day theatre festival.
'The amount of respect we have for people who guard our borders and put the country first.' 'Why do they do this?' 'The chances of not coming back are so high. Still, they take that risk.' 'It's for the love of the country.'
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for Thursday's second ODI against Australia?
Shreyas Iyer's brilliant 97 not out helped Punjab Kings to an 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League (IPL) opener.
'It was good fun. I was obviously really nervous. Super stoked for the boys to get the win.'
Shreyas Iyer to collaborate with faith-tech platform 'Bhagvad Gita for All'
Rohit Sharma followed up his knock of 73 in the second ODI in Adelaide with a match-winning unbeaten 121 in Sydney to be named the Player of the Series.
Over the past few weeks, the former captain has reportedly shed 10 kg through intense training
The 26 year old rued the dropped catches, which ultimately cost India the match and the series.
'On the run, Srikant must navigate uncharted territories while confronting threats and enemies from both within and beyond the nation's borders.'
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.
With little time wasted, the fans captured the cricketers' pictures and videos on their phones, standing a mere 5 metres away and separated only by a barricade and a few security personnel.
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