Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag when the two sides kick-off their Champions Trophy campaign in Karachi on Friday.
Fresh from their morale-boosting win over LSG, and bolstered by the return of India wicketkeeper-batter K L Rahul, Delhi Capitals will look to build on the momentum when they take on formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL match in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
Durban's Super Giants pip Pretoria Capitals
Aiden Markram replaced Temba Bavuma as T20I skipper of the South African national side.
South Africa will be without limited-overs stalwarts Hashim Amla and JP Duminy for their white-ball tour of Australia next month but welcome back all-rounder Chris Morris from injury.
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme struck a belligerent half-century to steady New Zealand in the second Test on Saturday after South Africa's seamers torched the home side's top order during a see-sawing Day 2 in Christchurch.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami took three wickets each as the tourists bowled South Africa out for 191 to claim an emphatic 113-run victory just after lunch on the fifth day of the first Test in Centurion on Thursday.
England won the toss and put South Africa in to bat only for a shower to sweep in and put a stop to proceedings
India's solitary ODI series win in the Rainbow nation occurred in 2018, emphasising the need for a strong beginning from Ruturaj Gaikwad and B Sai Sudharsan.
South Africa won the first Test in Durban by 220 runs, where they bowled Bangladesh out for 53 in their second innings.
Images from the 3rd ODI between India and South Africa at the Boland Park Stadium in Paarl on Thursday.
Bavuma has replaced Dean Elgar as skipper in the longest format, though the latter remains part of a much-changed squad.
The second day's play in the third Test between England and South Africa at The Oval will not take place on Friday following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Thursday.
South Africa have named three front-line spinners in their squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman but left out opening batsman Janneman Malan.
Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took 6/135 but the touring side struggled with the bat as they limped to 139 for five at the close on day two of the second and final Test against South Africa on Saturday.
Kagiso Rabada grabbed a five-wicket haul before K L Rahul rallied India to 208/8 on a rain-hit Day 1 of the first Test.
Aiden Markram handed South Africa a strong start, but fell just four short of his ton as West Indies fought back on the opening day of the second Test.
Virat Kohli has upper back spasm, hopefully will recover for next Test: K L Rahul
Verreynne relieved much of that pressure with a sparkling, unbeaten 136 that put his team in the box seat
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said they are mulling over whether to select a specialist batsman or all-rounder at number six for the opening one-day international against India on Wednesday.
Rahane set for county stint with Leicestershire post-IPL
Fast bowler Duanne Olivier has been recalled for South Africa's home Test series against India, a reward for excellent domestic form from a player who shot to prominence four years ago before taking up a Kolpak contract.
Johnson sidelined for Aus tour of UK
All about IPL 2025 which kicks off on March 22, Saturday.
After fast bowler Khaled Ahmed (2-59) had South Africa opener Sarel Erwee (24) caught by wicketkeeper Litton Das, Taijul claimed the next three wickets.
Pakistan ended their campaign in the ICC Under-19 World Cup on a winning note, defeating England by seven wickets in Fatullah on Friday to finish fifth in the 16-nation tournament.
South Africa's Quinton de Kock rediscovered his batting form with a career best 141 not out as the tourists seized control of the first Test against a wilting West Indies at the close of play on day two in Saint Lucia on Friday.
It is a second Test century for middle-order batter Bavuma in his 56th match
On Sunday, Sussex batted first on a small county ground at Hove, and were 9/2 inside first four overs when Tom Clark (104 off 106 balls) and Pujara joined forces to add 205 runs for the third wicket.
South Africa lost two wickets after tea but extended their lead over New Zealand to 211 runs by the close of Day 3 to leave the second Test delicately poised, in Christchurch, on Sunday.
South Africa will be led by captain Quinton de Kock as they come off a 2-0 home series win over Sri Lanka that concluded on Tuesday.
World No 1 India may feel they have never had a better chance of winning their first ever Test series in South Africa.
South Africa bowled poorly in the first hour, but still managed to reduce the visitors to 54 for three as Sri Lanka gave their wickets away with injudicious stroke-play.
India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test in Johannesburg from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the Rainbow Nation.
Rajneesh Gupta lists the South African players's T20 Internationals records updated after the game against Bangladesh.
Rabada, the number one ranked Test bowler, could still play if he succeeds in his appeal against an International Cricket Council (ICC) decision to award him three demerit points for his reaction to dismissing Steve Smith in the second Test.
South Africa completed a sweep of their two match series against Sri Lanka as they strolled to a 10-wicket win on the third day of the second Test on Tuesday.
The selectors have added uncapped batsman Raynard van Tonder, seamer Lutho Sipamla and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius to the squad.
Patidar or Rinku set for debut; India look to seal series
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