England batter Joe Root defended fellow teammate Jamie Smith for his dismissal in the first innings of the final Sydney Test
Led by Shubman Gill, a defiant India put on a mentally strong and technically disciplined response to keep the series alive with England 2-1 up. While there were plenty of positives to take forward, a few concerns continue to linger as the series heads to a decider at The Oval.
There is less seam movement at Edgbaston compared to Leeds: Jaiswal
In every Test match Root plays, the prolific right-hander continues chasing legends and breaking records - and more milestones could be within reach during the second Test against India at Edgbaston.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed a T20-style 86-ball 113, while Vedant Trivedi made a patient 140 as India Under-19 took a commanding 185-run lead against Australia Under-19 on Day 2 of the first Youth Test.
India will have a final opportunity to check their game in pressure situation when they face Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai on Sunday in what would be a dress rehearsal ahead of the marquee Women's World Cup semifinals against Australia next Wednesday.
India's second day against the West Indies began in heartbreak as Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 175
'The wicket was a little spicy, so I was having a lot of fun batting.'
Here's a roundup of all Ranji Trophy matches played on Day 1 on Wednesday.
Rahul now has the most centuries by an Indian opener.
K L Rahul and B Sai Sudharsan struck sublime hundreds as India A registered a stunning five-wicket win over Australia A while hunting down a target of 413 to seal the two-match unofficial Test series 1-0, in Lucknow, on Friday.
Suryavanshi, who was called up to India's U-19 squad after a standout performance in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL), needed only 52 balls to get to three figures.
Cowper played 27 Tests for Australia between 1964 and 1968, scoring five centuries including a 12-hour 307 off 589 balls
Even as the focus remains on the T20 World Cup which is less than a month away, Kohli and Rohit will hog the limelight in the three ODIs over the next seven days.
The Indian men ruled white-ball cricket, while South Africa ended decades of hurt by winning the World Test Championship at Lord's. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted their maiden IPL title, though the celebrations were dimmed by a deadly stampede. Above all, it was India's women who won a billion hearts by finally adding an ICC World Cup trophy to the cabinet.
At 37, the numbers behind his all-format dominance reveal not just longevity but an unmatched hunger for excellence.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the third Test match, played between England and India at Lord's, London, on Saturday.
Jasprit Bumrah takes a fifer at Lord's and goes past Kapil Dev for most five wicket hauls in away Tests.
Shai Hope becomes first batter to hit hundred against all Test-playing nations
Virat Kohli's batting a plus but lots of areas need improvement, says Shubman Gill
The One-Day International format will struggle for survival and relevance after the 2027 World Cup once its bonafide greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma decide to call time, says former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Earlier, Mukesh bowled with venom, taking three wickets to help India crawl back into the contest as England Lions stumbled to 333 for five at lunch on Day 3.
The senior duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma went full throttle in India's practice session on the eve of the India vs South Africa first ODI in Ranchi.
Sudharsan made the most of the 'life' and went on to score a patient 50, his maiden Test half-century.
Root said that it is amazing being a "second fiddle" to Brook and watching his fine shotmaking from the "best seat in the house".
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the fifth Test against England?
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma feels facing an Indian side with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is nothing new.
India crushed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs inside three days in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday.
Joe Root scored his 37th Test hundred on Friday to go past the tally of former India skipper Rahul Dravid and contemporary Steve Smith.
Expect nothing less than hostility, fire and close contests as Ben Stokes' England come armed with their Bazball philosophy to try and get the better of a depleted Australia.
Rishabh worked on his defence after Australia failures, says childhood coach Devender Sharma
Steyn, however, argued that once the draw had been secured, personal milestones should have been secondary to the spirit of the game.
'I definitely believe the kind of form he is in, the way he is batting, it will strengthen the Indian batting line-up.'
Gill said he has been training to use his feet against the spinners from a very young age, and kept adding new layers to the skill with time.
'It's exciting to be part of the game when he's at the crease'
Yashasvi Jaiswal: Have selectors told him where he stands in white ball cricket?
With two days still to play, England are firm favourites to secure the win in Manchester, one that would seal victory in the five-match series with one test still to come.
Narayan Jagadeesan blended caution with aggression in right proportions during his undefeated knock of 148 as South Zone were comfortably placed at 297 for three against North Zone on the opening day of the Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI-CEG ground in Bengaluru on Thursday.
South Africa's Temba Bavuma struck his maiden Test century in quick time (102 off 148), and in so doing, became the first black South African to crack a Test ton.
'So there was some good fight there and they got some rewards late in the day. So yeah, I think both teams will be pleased with their efforts.'
