'India in their home conditions are a different beast and they have started unsurprisingly strongly - I see them as favourites to win the competition at this stage, no matter what happens in Dharmsala (on Sunday),' writes Ross Taylor in his column for ICC Media Zone.
India's pace talisman Jasprit Bumrah's absence will certainly hurt India, but the team's quality batting and spin bowling make them title contenders alongside South Africa and Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Kane Williamson has stepped down as New Zealand Test captain and has been replaced by Tim Southee.
Williamson's elbow injury kept him out of a Test match in India in December and home series against South Africa and Bangladesh.
Kolkata Knight Rogers and the Punjab Kings will do battle at the I S Bindra cricket stadium in Mohali on Saturday, April 1, afternoon.
Bangladesh are looking to complete a sweep after winning the opening match of the two-Test series by 150 runs in Sylhet.
New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has attributed his stellar success away from home in the last three years to adapting quickly to foreign conditions and honing his craft with the old ball.
Resuming on the fourth day in the second Test at 140 for 5, New Zealand folded up for 167 in the second innings after India set them a mammoth 540-run target.
Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy made 86 and collaborated in two half-century partnerships to help Bangladesh finish day one of the first Test against New Zealand on 310-9 in Sylhet on Tuesday.
Woeful India dismissed for 46 as New Zealand pacers run riot
The presence of a host of experienced batters and bowlers, Latham said, makes India a formidable opponent.
England were in a strong position to win the second Test against New Zealand and level their two-match series as they extended their lead to 231 runs when bad light stopped play three overs early on the third day at Hagley Oval on Sunday.
One of the reasons why bowlers are rarely considered captains is because they are more susceptible to injuries than batters, argues Vishal Menon.
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to kick off in Pakistan, marking the country's first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.
IMAGES from the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup played between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
New Zealand will firmly bank on their potent batting line-up to ward off Bangladesh's capable spin attack on a slow Chepauk pitch on Friday.
Tom Latham will captain the team for an entire series for the first time in place of Kane Williamson, who suffered a recurrence of an elbow injury in India and will miss both Tests.
A spectacular seven-wicket haul by Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand dismiss India for 156 before the tourists reached 198-5 at stumps on day two of the second test in Pune on Friday to tighten their grip on the three-match series.
Stead said paceman Tim Southee was also in contention after recovering from a fractured thumb.
New Zealand face England-beaters Afghanistan aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact
Kane Williamson has stepped down as captain of New Zealand's white-ball teams
New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson joined Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar as only the second bowler in T20I history to bowl each of the allotted four overs as maidens, returning figures of 4-4-0-3. Zafar recorded 4-4-0-2.
Kane Williamson declines New Zealand 'forced' Neil Wagner to retire
India captain Rohit Sharma is confident that his team will bounce back from the eight-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the first Test played between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore batters overcame some nervy moments after leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga spun his way to a four-wicket haul to register a three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders.
India's cricketers face one of their biggest tests in recent times, when they take on New Zealand with their T20 World Cup hopes on the line.
"The guys knew spin was going to play a big role in this part of the world, everyone's preparation was different. They (the tail-enders) showed a lot of courage in the first Test.
England are an ageing side alright, but few will dare to bet against Jos Buttler's men successfully defending their World Cup title in a few weeks time.
Chapman, Astle picked in New Zealand T20 World Cup squad; Veteran Ross Taylor ignored.
Saud, who forged a 150-run partnership with Sarfaraz Ahmed for the fifth wicket, was unbeaten on 124, which included 17 fours.
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was taken to hospital on Monday after being hit on the head by a bouncer from New Zealand's Tim Southee but was reported to be doing "fine".
Southee, who with fellow stalwart Kane Williamson was playing his 100th Test, said he thought the contest had been a great advert for the longest form of the game.
New Zealand's hopes of levelling the T20 series against India with victory in the final match on Tuesday have taken a blow with captain Kane Williamson opting out of the match for a medical appointment.
This crushing defeat is a major wake-up call for Team India. They now face the real possibility of losing a home series for the first time in over a decade, warns Harish Kotian.
Mitchell Santner, etched his name alongside the legendary Daniel Vettori in the annals of cricket history
IMAGES from Day 5 of the third and final Test between England and New Zealand in Headingley on Monday.
Chasing 142 for a win in the dead rubber, Bangladesh never looked comfortable as they lost two wickets in the first over, thanks to brilliant bowling from skipper Southee.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand?
Kusal Mendis and captain Dimuth Karunaratne handed Sri Lanka a strong start in Day 1 of the first Test against New Zealand.
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