The Indian cricket team think-tank's urge to play more all-rounders in recent years has got a lot to do with the current crop of top-order batters not rolling their arms over unlike some of their illustrious seniors from the bygone era.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from first T20 match between India and South Africa.
Check out detailed statistics of the Indian team for South Africa ODIs.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was rested for the first three One-day Internationals against Sri Lanka next month and batting mainstay Virat Kohli will lead the side in his absence.
Following Monday's selection, Rajneesh Gupta presents the Test career figures of the touring party along with the players' performance against Australia.
Rajneesh Gupta previews Game 3 in IPL 12: Mumbai Indians vversus Delhi Capitals.
India 'A' registered a thumping innings and 13 runs victory over South Africa 'A' on the fourth and final day of the unofficial first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, in Rustenburg, on Tuesday.
Rohit Sharma says the South African conditions are not a problem for the Indian batsmen and the fault lay mainly in the lack of big partnerships, which he said resulted in the visitors already losing the three-match series after back-to-back defeats.
Before going into the match, he was nine-run short of the milestone figure. He got to the landmark with a half-century (54 including three sixes and two fours).
Surprised by the amount of turn his spinners managed to extract from the pitch in the third ODI win against England, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said they will have to work on delivering similar performances on tracks which may not be as helpful.
The Indian squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni departed for New Zealand from Mumbai on Sunday for a five-match ODI series followed by a best-of-two Test rubber against the hosts.
With the second Test set to start on Wednesday, here is a quick fact check on how both teams stand at the Gabba.
Images from the World cup match between India and Pakistan at Adelaide.
Indian opener Rohit Sharma has called Pakistan's tainted speedster just a 'normal bowler', while he heralded India's young sensation Jasprit Bumrah as a 'rare talent'. Incidentally, Amir had dismissed Rohit, Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina in quick successions in the Asia Cup encounter. But Rohit said that the hype around Amir was 'unjustified' and the 23-year old, who served a match-fixing ban had a long way to go before being compared with legends. "Stop talking about him already," Rohit said of Amir in Kolkata. "He isn't the only bowler, Pakistan have five other bowlers who are doing well for them. "There is just so much hype around Amir, I don't think it is right to give him too much hype after one match. He is good but he needs to prove it over and over again. "Now people are comparing him to Wasim Akram and all that. He is just a normal bowler, on that given day if he is good, he is good. It is not as if he turns up and blows everyone away."
'The good thing for India is that Virat Kohli loves the big occasion.'
Save Jasprit Bumrah, whose injury-prone body and exceptional skills demand workload management, questions are now being raised as to why the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja opted out of Duleep Trophy.
India left-hander Suresh Raina insisted that India are still a 'better side' than Bangladesh while vowing to make a strong comeback in the three-match One-Day International series after the visitors suffered a shock defeat in the first match in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Rajneesh Gupta figures out the Indian ODI and T20 sides for the South Africa series.
'Yashasvi-Tilak should be given a longer rope and encouraged to bowl as often as possible. Washington has to be in India's T20 scheme of things too.'
Adorable pictures of the tots having a good time, adding cheer to the tournament.
Considering that the tournament Down Under will be played on faster wickets, it's obvious that spinners are unlikely to play a significant role. In these circumstances, having one spinner in the playing eleven is the most one can expect, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Rohit Sharma blasted a record-breaking 209, including a world record 16 sixes, which propelled India to a 57-run victory over Australia in the seventh and final One-Day International.
Refusing to rate his match-winning ton against Bangladesh in the quarter-final, Indian top-order batsman Rohit Sharma has said the ongoing World Cup campaign is a very prestigious stage and he wants to make the most of it.
High on confidence after one of their splendid run-chases across 10 editions, Mumbai Indians will like to continue their winning momentum against a resurgent Gujarat Lions in an Indian Premier League encounter, in Mumbai, on Sunday.
India finished at the heap of Pool B after beating Zimbabwe by six wickets in their final league match in Auckland on Saturday after Suresh Raina and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni combined well to take the team across the finish line. Here are the statistical highlights of the ICC Cricket World Cup match between India and Zimbabwe.
Images from the third and final T20 International between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Suresh Raina says he wants to use the opportunity to regain his place in ODIs ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
Yuvraj Singh made it back to the Indian team for the limited overs series against Australia but seniors Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were again ignored.
India and Pakistan meet in their opening World Cup match at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday. Ahead of what promises to be a thrilling contest here's a fact-file on the teams.
Warner posted a picture upon completion in his new stubble-bald look, challenging fellow Australian teammates Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, along with Indian skipper Virat Kohli to do the same.
Chennai Super Kings will launch their Indian Premier League (IPL) title defence against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday
It will be an uphill task for the defending champs given their opponents' form and formidable line-up.
Following is a factbox on the second World Twenty20 semi-final between West Indies and India to be played at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Rajneesh Gupta previews Game 19 in IPL 12: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians.
Shane Watson's unbeaten hundred could not prevent Australia falling to a seven-wicket defeat to India in the third and final Twenty20 match on Sunday as Suresh Raina hit a four on the last ball to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the series.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni credited his bowling arsenal for the 3-0 Twenty20 series whitewash over Australia and cited the contributions of young Jasprit Bumrah and experienced Ashish Nehra as being crucial to India's win in the series.
Rewarding for his all-round show during the on-going India 'A' ODI series against Bangladesh, the Indian selectors have picked up youngster Gurkeerat Singh Mann for the three T20 Internationals and the first three ODIs for the upcoming home series against South Africa.
Former India batsman Robin Uthappa highlighted the significance of an India-Pakistan clash during a World Cup.
A stat pack of India and New Zealand's ODI careers...
