With the two teams arriving in Kolkata in the next 48 hours, all roads in the 'City of Joy' lead to the Eden.
In what has been described as the start of a new innings, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, former India captain Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman joined the BCCI in a newly-constituted advisory panel to guide the Board in all matters related to the game.
The Australians found it difficult to breach VVS Laxman's defence during his playing days but on the same soil, it was Narendra Modi's speech that 'bowled' him over and he is confident that young India will achieve success under the Prime Minister's able leadership.
Former India batting ace VVS Laxman says Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an amazing person and a very good captain.
Dravid had defended himself saying he has taken leave of absence from India Cements and he has nothing to do with the Chennai Super Kings. As per Rule 38 (4) of BCCI constitution, no individual can hold more than one post at the same time.
Harbhajan Singh has been picked for the Chennai Test and becomes the ninth player to play 100th Test matches for India.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's mind wanders in several directions while he is batting but he manages to keep the focus by humming songs even when the bowler is running in from the other end.
Apart from Kapil Dev, the panel comprises former women's captain Shantha Rangaswamy and former men's coach Anshuman Gaekwad.
Raj Thackeray's public meeting earlier this week was clearly in preparation for the 2014 assembly elections. By reiterating that for him Maharashtra was the lone religion, he showed he was toeing neither the Hindutva line, nor the Marathi Manoos for electoral prospects, writes Sanjay Jog.
Paying glowing tributes to VVS Laxman, who quit international cricket on Saturday, selection committee chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth said that the batsman should have got more recognition for his match-winning performances for the country.
Former cricketers Chandu Borde and Bapu Nadkarni expressed surprise over VVS Laxman's decision to draw curtains on his brilliant career after being picked for the home Test series against New Zealand.
An old social media post by India pacer Ishant Sharma lent credence to former West Indies captain Darren Sammy's allegation that a racist nickname was used to address him during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad for which he is now demanding an apology. The two-time T20 World Cup-winning West Indies captain, while commenting on the protests over African-American George Floyd's death in the US, had spoken about being called 'Kalu' while he was in India.
Gibbs back India, England as contenders for ODI World Cup
VVS Laxman, who is recuperating from a back injury, has pulled out of Hyderabad's upcoming Ranji fixture against Bengal beginning at Eden Gardens from Saturday.
VVS Laxman praised off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who became the fastest Indian to scalp 200 Test wickets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated MC Mary Kom for winning a record sixth gold medal in the Women's World Championships on Saturday.
Fit-again Australian pacer James Pattinson believes India still boast of a "class batting line-up" despite the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and the visitors will have to work really hard to beat the hosts in their own backyard during the four-Test series.
There might be growing criticism against Sachin Tendulkar after a string of poor performances but former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu feels the senior batsman's presence is crucial at a time when the team is going through a transitional phase.
Fit-again Australian pacer James Pattinson believes India still boast of a "class batting line-up" despite the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and the visitors will have to work really hard to beat the hosts in their own backyard during the four-Test series.
His breathtaking knock included a dozen sixes and 13 boundaries as he literally toyed with the opposition bowlers.
Playing under the inevitable shadow of the now-retired Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli handled both the Kiwis and weight of expectations well in the first Test, says Haresh Pandya.
India's Under-19 World Cup triumph has confirmed that India's reservoir is inundating with bright, exciting talents, says Haresh Pandya.
Many India cricketers, past and present took to Twitter to extend birthday wishes for the spinner who has more than 600 Test wickets to his credit.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has added more fuel to the intense speculation about his strained relationship with VVS Laxman, when he revealed that he was not invited for a late night party thrown by the retired cricketer at his residence.
Back in the squad for the Test series against New Zealand, Cheteshwar Pujara is determined to perform and contribute to India's winning cause.
New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor joined a host of former and current Indian cricketers in paying tributes to VVS Laxman who retired from international cricket, saying that India would find it difficult to get a replacement of his calibre.
The cricketer-turned-commentator Shane Warne knows how to live life to the fullest.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said that VVS Laxman has sent out a "loud and clear" message to the selectors by deciding to quit international cricket with immediate effect.
India Test captain Virat Kohli has suggested Daniel Vettori's name for the position of the coach.
Sachin Tendulkar has made an expected return to the Test team while VVS Laxman, despite his woeful run of form in the series against Australia, retains his place for the NZ series.
Let's have a look at some of Rahul Dravid's finest knocks in international cricket.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram questioned if the Indian team has the bench strength to replace opening duo of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag ahead of the England series at home.
Retired batsman VVS Laxman will lead Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy Group 'A' league match against a Punjab Cricket Association team in Mohali from November 2.
With the threat of Twenty20 cricket eating into the share of the five-day formats, former India middle order batsman VVS Laxman said that it's high time that they bring in new innovation like introduction of day/night matches to sustain the legacy of Test cricket.
A list of some of sport's greatest comebacks after Tiger Woods ended an 11-year major championship drought with victory at The Masters on Sunday.
Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian batsman and only the eighth in the first-class history to hit three triple-centuries as his career-best unbeaten 320 helped Saurashtra reach a mammoth 534 for six against Railways in a Ranji Trophy Group A match, in Rajkot on Sunday.
Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary and his Mumbai counterpart Rohit Sharma are eyeing spots in the Indian middle-order which has opened up following the retirement of Test greats Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman even as they are focusing on their current jobs in the Ranji Trophy.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli's exploits with the bat in the two-Test series sweep of New Zealand will encourage India to believe they have pinpointed the right men to help carry the team through a tricky transitional period.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has paid tribute to Indian veteran VVS Laxman, who recently retired from international cricket, saying that the game will be poorer without one of the finest players of this generation.
India finally confront the tricky transition problem that has been on the horizon for quite some time when they launch the two-Test series against New Zealand this week.
