Former captain Kapil Dev said the Indian team with its right balance of youth and experience along with the "unmatchable" duo of Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will definitely reach the World Cup semi-finals.
The Board, however, did not clarify the reason behind granting leave to the veteran cricketer.
Bhajji, Afridi among 8 ambassadors for ICC Champions Trophy
Paula Badosa survived a stiff challenge from Victoria Azarenka in the Indian Wells final, while Cameron Norrie battled back to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili.
For Dhawan, 'balance on and off the field' is very important, in theory and in practice
Virat Kohli, who was part of the India squad which won the ICC Champions Trophy four years ago, believes his side is in an even better position to rule the world this year as he prepares for his first major competition as captain.
Veteran Yuvraj Singh made a comeback to the Indian team, while Virat Kohli took over the captaincy from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for the forthcoming three-match ODI and T20I series against England, starting in Pune, on January 15.
India will next play mighty Australia on Sunday.
Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha and young opener Prithvi Shaw are unlikely to be picked for the remaining Tests in Australia as India look to ring in wholesale changes after the batting debacle in Adelaide.
Former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni should bat at No 5 in the upcoming 2019 World Cup.
If reports are to be believed, former Australian batsman could be team's stand-in coach for their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, scheduled to be played in February.
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth on Friday
While praising young Prithvi Shaw, who cracked a Test century on debut in Rajkot in the opening Test against the West Indies, India discard Gautam Gambhir asked people to think hard before comparing the diminutive Mumbaikar to his former opening partner, Virender Sehwag.
India may soon see a new set of oil barons with lesser-known companies venturing into crude oil and natural gas production. These new kids on the block have come up through a mix of entrepreneurial grit and backing from oil industry veterans. Nippon Power, South Asia Consultancy, PFH (Poddar Family Holdings) Resources and Chennai-based Adbhoot Estates could be the first ones to start production from blocks awarded during the first round of Discovered Small Field (DSF-1) auctions. Adbhoot is in a 50:50 joint venture with the Bombay Stock Exchange-listed Hindustan Oil Exploration Company that has some five oil producing assets and over 10 blocks across the country.
A look back at many memorable moments in his life as Prince Charles.
With India set to host South Africa and Sri Lanka in Test series later this year, captain, Virat Kohli is sure that it is his bowling unit that will eventually make a difference.
The body language and intensity were not up to the mark, said a disappointed India skipper Virat Kohli, counting the many errors his team committed in the massive 227-run loss to a "more professional and consistent" England in the opening Test in Chennai.
Selection committee will leave it on Kohli to decide whether he needs a break or continue playing.
Ishant is on course to become only the second Indian fast bowler, after the great Kapil Dev, to complete 100 Tests for the country.
Sri Lankan cricket and the island's once-powerful side arrive at the World Cup struggling for form under a newly appointed captain who has played a single One-day international since 2015.
The likes of Virat Kohli, David Warner will be aiming to silence their critics, while KKR's Shreyas Iyer and Lucknow Super Giants' K L Rahul will be looking to prove themselves after being the handed captaincy of their respective franchises.
Only James Anderson, Muttiah Muralitharan and Imran Khan have taken more Test wickets against India, earning Nathan Lyon significant praise from Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
Rediff.com introduces you to the athletes who have brought India glory in Birmingham.
Australia's premier all-rounder Shane Watson said that he will decide on his international future after the ongoing ICC World T20 held in India. Watson retired from Test cricket last year after Australia handed the Ashes urn back to England. "There's no doubt I'll have a bit of time to think about it (international retirement) after the T20 World Cup. I'll reassess from there," the 34-year old said. Watson admitted he was 'pleasantly surprised' when he got the call-up for Australia's T20 side to take on India in January after he was overlooked for the preceding one-day international series. With a record-breaking 124 not out in the final match at the SCG, Watson booked his ticket to the subcontinent as part of the 15-man World T20 squad.
Former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy said that Mithali Raj took the right decision by retiring from T20 Internationals as it will help her focus more on the 2021 ODI World Cup.
Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara might not have got a fairytale ending in their final ODI match of their glorious careers but the veterans smiled through the disappointment as they fondly recounted their respective journeys.
New Zealand will have their tails up and eye another upset when they resume the trans-Tasman rivalry with a strong Australian side.
It will interesting to see how the pitch behaves on Sunday.
Putting together a play about the Father of the Nation is no easy task. But when that play is a musical, the challenges increase.
Talented Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey, who recently led the India A squad to a tri-series win in South Africa, made a comeback to the team.
India women's T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur is happy to play a host of matches, something that they have missed all these years with considerable gap between two international series.
India's carefully devised plan to triumph in England seems to be coming undone with injuries to their key bowlers.
India and Pakistan were supposed to play a bilateral series this month but the planned rubber did not go ahead after the Indian government withheld permission for the same.
India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar Monday joined the players in backing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and expressed surprise that the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman is frequently criticised for his strike rate
Some of the game's leading players have left their mark on the World Cup. Check out who they are.
Sri Lanka, who won the tournament in 1996 before making consecutive finals in 2007 and 2011, enter the 2019 edition on a difficult recent run of form.
Here's a glimpse of all that happened around the world last week, in 10 images
List of players released by IPL teams ahead of next month's auction for 2020 season:
Making traditional leg-spin look attractive and effective in the opening One-day International against South Africa, India's Amit Mishra is keen to hold on to his ODI spot after an impressive return to the limited-overs field, in Kanpur, on Sunday.
Former Team India Director Ravi Shastri has applied for the chief coach's post of the Indian cricket team, staking strong claims of returning at the helm.
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