Indian cricket in 2022 was chaotic, to say the least and messy at most of the time both on and off the field.
The national selectors did well to deliver a loud and clear message as they sought to kickstart the transition in the Indian T20 team.
A round-up of the first day's play in the Ranji Trophy matches across the country, on Tuesday.
Brilliant centuries from Smriti and Harmanpreet were backed by courageous bowling performance as India beat WI by 155 runs.
India will be hoping to repeat their success of two years ago when they registered their first-ever Test series win in Australia, while the hosts would be keen to avenge that loss.
Not just Virat's but India's best-ever T20 knock, says Rohit
Veteran India off- pinner Harbhajan Singh on Tuesday rejected the perception that he is jealous of Ravinchandran Ashwin, saying the Tamil Nadu bowler is a "legend in making".
Batting great Rahul Dravid feels with 'impactful' Steve Smith and David Warner back in their ranks this time around, India will face stiff challenge in their Test tour of Australia later this year. The disgraced duo of Smith and Warner missed India's historic away Test series win over Australia in 2018 because of their one-year bans for their involvement in the infamous ball-tampering episode in South Africa.
Regular match practice, something Cheteshwar Pujara was not able to get due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is the reason for the India batter's consistent run in the English County Championship, reckons his father and coach Arvind Pujara.
Hafeez represented Pakistan in 392 international matches in which he scored 12,789 runs and took 253 wickets.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919) continued to lead the batting charts, with the Australian duo of Steve Smith (891) and Marnus Labuschagne (878) rounding up the top three.
Despite the length of his service in the international game, having made his debut in 1999, Shoaib remains one of the fittest members of his squad. It's clear that sheer vanity plays a part in him having maintained such high physical standards.
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is being considered for the test side in the Ashes series against England starting in November, selector Allan Border said on Thursday.
A rejuvenated Pakistan brought their campaign back on track as they rode on Umar Akmal's scintillating 54-ball 94 to register a 16-run victory over tournament favourites Australia in the ICC World T20 in Mirpur on Sunday.
Veteran Indian pacer Irfan Pathan says the country's rise as a fast-bowling powerhouse is, for him, the highlight of the year while former batsman V V S Laxman picked the away Test triumph over Australia as his "favourite moment" of 2019. The trio of Umesh Yadav (23), Ishant Sharma (25) and Mohammed Shami (33) picked 81 wickets in Tests this year, averaging less than 20.
'Right now I think Finchy (Aaron Finch) is doing a great job, Painey is doing a great job. So, that gives Pat Cummins the opportunity to learn and watch and sit back and see how he feels about that role and experience a few different things'
India's stand-in-captain Virat Kohli is facing baptism by fire in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane next month, but former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin feels the result of this one match should not be the basis for passing a judgement on his leadership skills.
Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin shared his reaction and also had a message for Kohli.
"I always believed that I would get another chance. I didn't know how to be honest as the Indian pacers were doing well over the past three to four years. I was getting inspired watching them, to be honest."
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the opening Test against England?
Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami says he has found his 'rhythm' during the now-suspended IPL and feels the upcoming UK tour will be a successful one for the team if it is able to replicate the stellar performance of the last six months.
India captain Kohli will leave after the opening Test in Adelaide as he has been granted paternity leave by the BCCI to be with his actor wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child in early January.
A summary of Ranji Trophy matches played on Thursday.
His consistent run in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League notwithstanding, Suryakumar Yadav did not feature in India's white-ball squad named for the series against Australia on Monday.
'It's one more distraction that Kohli doesn't need but he is, of course, capable of leading his side to a victory in the second Test to quieten things down a bit.'
The Indian Premier League 2022 Player Auction came to an abrupt halt after auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapsed on stage.
Young opener Shubman Gill is looking in good rhythm and should continue to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, former India batsman VVS Laxman said on Tuesday.
Smarting from opening game losses, a good batting display will be high on the agenda for South Africa and defending champions West Indies when the two teams lock horns in a Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Tuesday.
A look at the possible vice-captain candidates for the Test series in South Africa.
Gunning for yet another Grand Slam title, India's old war horse Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek have been seeded fifth at the Australian Open and they will open their campaign against Czech pair of Lukas Dlouhy and Lukas Rosol.
James Anderson might have torn apart India's batting line-up in the opening Test in Chennai but the veteran England pacer doesn't expect reverse swing be a factor in the third day-night Test with the pink ball, starting in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Bianca Andreescu rolls to first-round win at Strasbourg.
West Indies spinner Fabian Allen on Wednesday moved into the top 10 of the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings after featuring in his team's fine showing in the ongoing five-match series against Australia.
Shah believes that under the present BCCI leadership, it will have a strong, beneficial and constructive representation at the ICC.
Mike Hussey will play his final Test against Sri Lanka next week and retire from international cricket at the end of the Australian summer, the veteran batsman said, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
