The first Test, beginning in Chennai on Thursday, is expected to be played on the red-soil trampoline which often offers good purchase to pacers, but the black-soil composition is more likely to assist the spinners.
'Sundar is the front-runner behind Ashwin right now. He's done well in whatever limited opportunities he's got and I feel he will get his due first before going to anybody else.'
If one has to analyse Ashwin the cricketer, it is very difficult to ignore Ashwin, the person, who had a very independent mind and a brain that probably ticked 24x7. He believed in de-construction of his art and became craftier one ball at a time.
The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.
Delving further deep into the chances of the Harmanpreer Kaur-led side, Sthalekar said India have the wherewithal to beat Australia, their nemesis in global events over the years
Here is a look at likely retentions for some teams.
'What they bring to the table (can) never be written off.'
The right-hander feels that keeping India's relatively inexperienced pace attack, aside from Jasprit Bumrah, on the field for as long as possible could be the key for the hosts in the five-Test series beginning in Perth on Friday.
Arisa Trew, 14, led a pack of teenagers who swept the podium of the women's park skateboarding competition at the Paris Games on Tuesday
Ravichandran Ashwin's form will decide the fate of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, said former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who wouldn't want the team's premier spinner to 'over-plan' against Australia.
At the start of the auction on Sunday, Punjab Kings had the highest funds at Rs 110.5 crore, which decreased to Rs 10.9 crore before Day 2 on Monday.
Australian cricket legend Ian Healy is shocked by the team management's decision to include two off-spinners -- Nathan Lyon and young Todd Murphy -- who have almost similar action.
ndia will not get a better opponent than New Zealand, which is not a fancied side like its Trans-Tasman neighbour. But the two-time runners-up are as tough as nails.
Cummins is thriving in a lighter workload at the T20 World Cup, free from the pressures of T20 captaincy.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has moved up a spot to seventh.
Australia bring an ageing squad and a few players short of fitness to the T20 World Cup but will have the same easygoing confidence
Former Australian coach John Buchanan on Thursday congratulated Jay Shah on becoming the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and expressed hope that the incumbent Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary will be able to make all three formats of international cricket a priority for all in the age of T20 franchise cricket.
New Zealand on Monday named a strong squad, which includes five spin bowling options
Indian men's hockey team set for first real test against Belgium
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane concentrated hard as his unbeaten 86 off 197 balls took Mumbai to 237 for four against Rest of India on a weather-curtailed opening day of the Irani Cup.
David Warner took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt message for the Sri Lankan fans, thanking them for hosting Australia 'during what is an extremely difficult time'
Himanshu Singh said the confidence stemming from his experience of bowling against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the pre-season net sessions in Chennai is now reflecting in his outings in the Ranji Trophy.
Australia captain Pat Cummins said his team is not fretting over its spin combination as it has enough options to support veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the four-Test series against India.
In-form Sri Lanka right-hander Kamindu Mendis is another player on the move, with the 26-year-old improving five places to 11th and reaching a new career-high rating after he scored another century in the second Test of his side's recent series with New Zealand.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the second Ashes Test in Adelaide with a side injury, Cricket Australia said on Monday.
Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the rubber, starting Tuesday, late on Saturday night after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Players who were bought at unexpected price tags...
A picture of a Socceroos fan holding up a sign saying, "Give us a public holiday", was widely shared on social media.
Cricket commentator Kishore Bhimani was one of the most recognised English voices of the 1980s.
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between Australia and South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
'If he couldn't plan a successful strategy for a home series, how will he manage in a more challenging away series?', asks veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
Since hockey's introduction at Commonwealth Games 24 years ago, World No.1 Australia have been the most dominant force, having won all six gold medals till date.
'Pathum Nissanka is easily one of the best batters to have come out of Sri Lanka in the recent past and he has delivered once again,' he tweeted with an applause emoji.
The national selectors want all the players to be available for the Duleep Trophy ahead of the two Test series against Bangladesh next month.
The Duleep Trophy wwould have given the senior duo much-needed match practice ahead of the Bangladesh Test series next month, believes Sunil Gavaskar.
India announced their final squad for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup with the injured Axar Patel dropped from the final squad and Ravichandran Ashwin making his way into the 15-member team.
Carlos Alcaraz secured his passage into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over Nuno Borges.
It will be quite a role reversal with Australia being the proverbial underdogs in Thursday's semi-final of the Twenty20 World Cup against a red-hot Pakistan who have displayed rare consistency to set alight the tournament.
The 38-year-old made his international debut in 2010 in an ODI against Australia in Visakhapatnam and his last India game was also a 50-over match, against Bangladesh in 2022.
