Mohammed Shami's much-awaited return to top-flight cricket did not receive too many supporting signals during the seasoned pacer's nearly hour-long stint of varying intensity at the India nets here on Friday. Despite working hard on finding his bowling rhythm, Shami never really hit his flowing peak. While he was expected to feature in the playing 11 during India's first T20I against England at Kolkata on Wednesday, the management decided to delay his comeback. Shami's rhythm and sharpness gradually hit a higher gear but the whole picture was one of rustiness, raising questions about his current form and the decision to select him for the series against England and the Champions Trophy.
The Punjab spearhead cleaned up skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (5) with a ripper before inducing an edge from Siddhesh Veer (0) to the wicketkeeper in the very next over.
In India's last ODI series against Sri Lanka, Rahul kept wickets in the first two matches, scoring 31 and 0, while Pant played the third game but managed only 6 runs. India could opt to include both players in the XI, but that would likely come at the expense of Iyer.
The left-hander clobbered eight sixes and five fours in his scintillating 79 off 34 balls as India chased down a modest 133-run target in 12.5 overs.
'Five spinners, Siraj ignored for Rana, and Jaiswal dropped. Brain-faded captain and coach combo!'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's first Most Valuable Player Index for IPL 2025.
India's Abhishek Sharma has surged to the second spot in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for batters after a stunning 135-run innings in the fifth and final T20I against England.
Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten half-century to steer India to a thrilling two-wicket victory against England in Chennai on Saturday.
Successful in keeping opponents and vitriol at bay so far, India will have to rise above traditional bugbear New Zealand and a rigmarole of emotions surrounding stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to reclaim the Champions Trophy after 12 years in Dubai on Sunday.
'Bring out the speed guns, the pace battery has arrived,' BCCI captioned a video posted on its X handle.
Hyderabad FC posed some threat in the second half with Manoj Mohammed pulling a goal back, but it wasn't enough as Asheer Akhtar and Mohammed Bemammer scored late goals to have NEUFC seal all three points at home.
All-rounder Shams Mulani starred with the ball to spearhead India A's remarkable recovery against India D on Day 1 of the Duleep Trophy match.
The official said Sukhvinder's brother Satpal possibly transferred Rs 2.50 lakh from Canada to his cousin Jitu Singh alias Jita in Gwalior to facilitate the November 7 killing.
India take on Bangladesh in the first of the three-match T20I series in Gwalior, on Sunday.
Mohammed Shami's first white ball outing since 2023 World Cup final was below par but Bengal survived a fine all-round effort by Arshdeep Singh
Kuldeep Yadav has taken 25 wickets in 43 innings when he bowled between overs 40 and 45 since 2015.
'The stakes are too high and it would have been a complete embarrassment had Bumrah broken down in a match.'
With an aggressive mindset and intense training sessions, India looks set to make a powerful statement when they step onto the field, observes K R Nayar, the veteran cricket writer, from Dubai.
India's Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has seen both ends of the spectrum with high of Champions Trophy and low of six Test losses and he'll have tough choices to make once the new two-year cycle comes around with the new season.
After a disappointing showing in the Test series in Australia recently, the Indian team is eager to make a fresh start in the T20 format.
Given India's batting collapses in the last two matches, key changes to the playing XI are anticipated.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer led from the front on his debut for Punjab Kings with a scintillating knock, while Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler fought bravely for Gujarat Titans.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was on Saturday expectedly picked in the India squad for the Champions Trophy and pacer Mohammed Shami returned to national fold
While India are on a high after a measured six-wicket win over a sprightly Bangladesh, Pakistan are evidently tense after the 60-run loss in the tournament-opener to New Zealand.
'When you are scoring runs and taking wickets, everyone is standing with you.' 'But the real test is to realise who is with you during your tough times.'
Mystery spinner bowls in nets as India prep for three-match ODI series vs England.
Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi's three wickets helped India secure a 3-0 series victory against Bangladesh in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The barren run of skipper Rohit Sharma and the selection conundrum that Virat Kohli's possible return poses are the towering obstacles in India's quest for a series win against England in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.
It is understood that Yashasvi Jaiswal has a bright chance of making it to the ODI squad. His inclusion would ensure a left-handed batter in the top four.
Young Arshdeep Singh is getting better continuously, and the left-arm seamer has attributed this to his ability to keep things simple and stay level-headed in pressure situations, which has helped him evolve into a death-overs specialist.
India is facing form concerns and selection dilemmas as they enter the final phase of their Champions Trophy preparations.
He went past Virat Kohli, finishing most T20I matches with a maximum a total of five times.
Sanju Samson will look to continue his domination of the bowlers but India need more stability in the top order
Captaon Suryakumar Yadav, all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, the only member from the Test side, will be hoping for a strong outing so that India can apply some balm over the wounds from their recent home series defeat against New Zealand.
Chahal, thrilled to join the setup, shared his excitement about working with Ponting and teaming up with Shreyas Iyer, the likely captain of the franchise.
The IPL 2025 auction was a spectacle of astronomical bids and shattered records.
Earlier, India B were all out for 282 in their first innings in reply to D's first essay of 349.
Former India all-rounder Suresh Raina feels middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav will be sorely missed in the upcoming Champions Trophy, as he could have provided the 'X-factor' in Dubai, where Rohit Sharma's side will play all its matches.
Virat Kohli's form in focus as India eye ODI clean-sweep over England
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