Australia's T20 World Cup campaign hangs by a thread after shock defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, with injury setbacks and controversial selection decisions -- including Steve Smith's omission -- drawing sharp criticism.
Ricky Ponting is of the opinion that the Indian team should be focusing on playing their best XI rather than trying to get the matchups right, when they face Zimbabwe in their next Super Eight clash on Thursday in Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the must-win match against Zimbabwe on Thursday?
India head coach Gautam Gambhir praises Sanju Samson's explosive batting and ability to win games in the powerplay overs.
Though he hasn't made a big impact with the bat yet, Rinku Singh has good experience at Eden Gardens. He has played 25 IPL matches here, scored 540 runs in 23 innings, and has a strike rate of 157.4. Will the team management back him as a finisher in this must win game?
Indian cricketer Rinku Singh's father, Khanchand Singh, passed away in Greater Noida after battling advanced-stage liver cancer. Rinku had returned home from the T20 World Cup to see his ailing father and rejoined the team before their match against Zimbabwe.
India are looking to create history, as they aim to become the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup, while England will be aiming to reclaim the title they last won four years ago.
India begin their Super 8 journey against South Africa at the Narendra Modi stadium in a thrilling clash where a single mistake could change the course of the semifinals.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan?
India will kickstart their campaign on September 10 against the UAE. Media reports suggest that Gill could make his return to the T20I team, possibly as vice-captain.
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the first Test against England?
'Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available at that point (and) so was Abhishek. (But) Abhishek's performances clearly make it hard to leave him out. Plus, his bowling (left arm spin) is handy.'
'Jaiswal has an avg of 36 & a strike rate of 164 in T20Is and he got dropped for Gill who has avg of 30 and a strike rate of 139.' 'There is no place for merit anymore.'
Andrew Flintoff's 17-year-old son Rocky and fit-again pacer Chris Woakes were on Wednesday named in England Lions squad for the two four-day games against India A at home.
The Zimbabwe Select XI were 125 for nine in their second innings, just 18 runs ahead with only one wicket remaining.
Disgraced batsman David Warner's hopes of playing in the third Ashes Test looked slim on Friday after he failed in both innings of Australia A's tour match against a Zimbabwe Select XI in Harare.
The touring Indians beat Zimbabwe's Select XI to post their second victory on the tour.
Current senior selector Aaqib Javed and former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq are in fray to replace Gary Kirsten as Pakistan's new white ball coach after the former Proteas batter stepped down
The duo rallied the Indians from 26 for 3 without further loss on the opening day of the four-day match against Zimbabwe Select XI in Harare.
His return to form will be welcome news for Australia whose top-order batsmen have failed to fire in two successive defeats by England in the five-Test Ashes series.
Abhishek Sharma, who slammed a 46-ball century in the second T20I against Zimbabwe, might have to make way for Yashasvi Jaiswal for the third match on Wednesday.
Speaking about the injured Mohsin Khan, coach Andy Flower said he had written Khan off from the Lucknow Super Giants' playing XI for the season.
'I am not a Shubman Gill hater but I feel Ruturaj is a better option because he has scored runs in tougher situations.'
India also play a one-day tri-series involving New Zealand on their tour of Zimbabwe starting later this month.
After Sanju Samson was included in India's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka great and Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara believes the 29-year-old will succeed in the upcoming global showpiece if he wins the race to be first-choice wicket-keeper for Men in Blue at the prestigious event.
Star all-rounder Kieron Pollard will lead the Trinidad side whereas Darren Sammy will lead the Caribbean Select XI.
The squad includes representatives from seven nations for the games, which will have international status, in Lahore on September 12, 13 and 15.
Will India pick Dinesh Karthik or Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel or Yuzvendra Chahal for the semi-final game on Thursday?
Rishabh Pant could bring some much-needed firepower to the batting order.
Help coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli in selecting India's best 11 for the first Test against the West Indies.
Ahead of the second Test, West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite said they would like to stick to the same batting line-up.
No Indian cricketer figures in the ICC's World Cup XI, which is dominated by runners-up New Zealand rather than champions Australia.
He was expected to script a new chapter of hope in the sporting history of Jammu and Kashmir but it ended up being a case of so near yet so far for Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parvez Rasool, who was not included in the Indian team for any of the five One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe.
It was debated if KL Rahul, Rohit and Kohli are the ideal No. 1, 2, and 3 in the shortest format and the answer received from most quarters wasn't exactly in the affirmative.
Rishabh Pant's disappointing outing against Zimbabwe isn't a cause of concern for head coach Rahul Dravid, who hinted that the flamboyant left-hander could start in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England at Adelaide on Thursday.
AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn make their long-awaited return to the South Africa Test squad for the day-night four-day Test match against Zimbabwe to be played at St. George's Park, Port Elizabeth, from December 26 to 29.
Some of the game's leading players have left their mark on the World Cup. Check out who they are.
BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla on Saturday attempted to downplay the non-inclusion of off-spinner Parvez Rasool in any of the five ODI games against Zimbabwe, saying the team management takes a final call on the playing XI depending on the wicket condition and composition.
A look at the players who could make it to India's provisional squad for the World Cup.
India have only themselves to blame for their below-par showing in the Asia Cup as they struggled to put up consistent performances with both bat and ball.
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