It will be a test of wits between Pandya brothers Hardik and Krunal when defending champions Gujarat Titans clash with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Former champions Kolkata Knight Riders will look to strike a perfect balance under the astute leadership of Eoin Morgan when they open their IPL campaign against a consistent Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals will need their under-performing Indian batters to deliver when they take on the mighty and versatile Gujarat Titans in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Young opener Matt Renshaw (60) and experienced Shaun Marsh (66) battled hard against the Indian spinners and their fighting half-centuries consolidated Australia's position in the match but Virat Kohli's captaincy left a lot to be desired.
With seven overs to go and two new batters at the crease, it was MI's game for the taking. Instead of going for the jugular, some poor bowling allowed GT a passage back into the game.
'The way he kept on this pitch with so much turn and bounce was a credit to him for working so hard.'
Wriddhiman Saha was effusive in his praise for India's new Test captain Virat Kohli and said the team was all fired up under the elegant Delhi batsman.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha says he will be "under pressure" to perform if he makes the playing eleven in the decisive third Test against Sri Lanka, starting Friday, after the freak injury to Wriddhiman Saha opened the door for him after a "long wait".
Rohit bats in the middle order in the longest format but has never really flourished as a Test batsman.
Indian opener Murali Vijay will miss the second Test against West Indies due to a thumb injury and will be replaced by Lokesh Rahul, skipper Virat Kohli said ahead of the match that begins at Kingston's Sabina Park later on Saturday.
Their nothing to lose attitude has kept them afloat for a play-off berth and Kings XI Punjab wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha said his team will look to employ a similar approach in their do-or-die IPL encounter against Rising Pune Supergiant.
Spin great Anil Kumble congratulated New Zealand's Ajaz Patel, who matched the Indian's feat of taking all 10 wickets in an innings in Test cricket.
India's new record-holder wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has described Mahendra Singh Dhoni as 'the hero of the country' and said the former skipper taught him to be patient and handle pressure situations.
Mumbai rode on Abhishek Nayar's scintillating 47-ball 76 to record a comfortable five-wicket win over Saurashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 tournament for west zone, in Vadodara, on Wednesday.
India will hope the return of regular captain Virat Kohli proves to be the difference for the hosts against New Zealand when the world's two top-ranked Test sides clash in the second and final match at the Wankhede Stadium from Friday.
India skipper Virat Kohli says the much improved batting performance by the lower order batsmen, particularly wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, was the biggest gain of the West Indies series, which they won 2-0.
Left-arm pacer Thangarasu Natarajan earned his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad after he was named as the replacement for the injured Umesh Yadav for the last two games against Australia.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel picked up five wickets to help India grab a handy 49-run first-innings lead on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Sourav Ganguly has gone against the Board's constitution by attending every selection meeting since taking over the BCCI president, said the Indian Express revealed on Friday.
Virat Kohli's maiden double century was followed by Ravichandran Ashwin's third ton in Tests as India piled misery on a listless West Indies bowling attack to declare at 566 for 8 on day two of the first Test at Antigua on Friday. The West Indies in reply, lost their opener Rajendra Chandrika (16) with pacer Mohammed Shami forcing his outside edge to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. The home team were 31 for the loss of one wicket at stumps with Kraigg Brathwaite (11) in company of night-watchman Devendra Bishoo (0).
Check out the early reaction of fans on Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
VVS Laxman said that the English experience would help the cricketers do well in the gruelling Australia tour that precedes the World Cup.
With the wickets of Wriddhiman Saha and Ravichandran Ashwin again in a single over, Hazlewood became the 18th Australian bowler to reach 200 Test scalps.
Images from Day 3 in the second Test between India and New Zealand, in Mumbai on Sunday.
One of the most consistent teams in the Indian Premier League over the last few years, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be one of the teams to watch out for in IPL 2021.
The unbeaten streak of table-toppers Surisers Hyderabad would be up for a test when they take on third-placed Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League contest, in Mohali, on Thursday.
Suresh Raina and Yusuf Pathan also wished their former India teammate.
BCCI said in a statement there are "no serious concerns" and that India's batting mainstay would be able to participate in the ongoing contest which marks Ranchi's debut as a Test venue.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been suffering from viral illness for the past two days, rendering him doubtful for the opening Test against South Africa, starting in Cape Town, on Friday.
'Everyone in the contingent will be undergoing 14-day quarantine in India'
'The calendars are incredibly packed, and particularly this year after COVID, Boards from around the world and trying to get as many competitions and as many Test matches in as possible'
Although the SunRisers lost wickets, Jason Holder ensured they reached the target in just 14.1 overs.
The Indian team for Australia classified by IPL franchise.
Considering Hardika Pandya's heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern, the BCCI said on Friday.
Just when it looked like Maxwell was ready to up the ante and take on Rashid again, Padikkal's error of judgment cost the team big.
PHOTOS of the IPL 2023 final between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday.
India team continued to be dogged by injuries as young all-rounder Hardik Pandya was Sunday released from the Test squad due to a blow on the shoulder, sustained during a training session. Lokesh Rahul and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha were also forced to miss the third Test due to injuries but the BCCI is expecting the young opener to regain fitness before the fourth Test, scheduled to begin from December 8 in Mumbai.
Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir was dropped while India's medium pacer Bhuvaneswar was recalled to the 16-man squad for the next three Tests against England.
Named as a replacement player for injured Murali Vijay in the Indian squad for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, young Karun Nair said that the call up was a dream come true for him and will boost his confidence.
PHOTOS of the IPL 2023 match between Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Thursday.
