'I had said earlier that Ajinkya Rahane would be looked at as a third opener but that situation can change because he has batted at No. 4 in a World Cup (in 2015) before. These conditions are such that you get to play fast bowling throughout the innings so he becomes a strong candidate for No. 4'
The India Test vice-captain has scored just three hundreds and eight fifties from 48 innings since 2016.
Shikhar Dhawan has always had the uncanny knack of producing goods when the chips are down which he attributes to his 'big heart' and the 'backing' he has got from skipper Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble.
The susceptible technique of Indian batsmen in seamer-friendly conditions was thoroughly exposed as Sri Lanka comfortably beat India by seven wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series.
India's spinners were thwarted by a splendid display of ultra-defensive batting by England before the hosts took control dismissing rival skipper Alastair Cook on an engrossing fourth day of the second Test in Visakhapatnam.
Indian opener Rohit Sharma said that the team will not only be thinking of Pakistan's ace pacer Muhammed Amir, who has made a successful comeback after being suspended owing to match-fixing, but the team has a plan to counter all bowlers from the arch-rivals. "I have played him before but also other bowlers. We are preparing for each individual and not just about one. We have to be well prepared and we are up for the challenge. We are not thinking too far ahead and doing everything possible we can to win games," Rohit said on the eve of India's Asia Cup T20 match against Pakistan. Rohit also praised the selectors and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for giving him the confidence when he had a string of low scores at the start of his international career. "If any individual knows that he has the backing of the team, that's when he opens up and expresses himself better -- gets the performance going," Rohit told mediapersons in Fatullah on Friday. "For us also, we have been playing with the squad for a while which shows that we have a good bunch, which is ready to take up the challenge at any given point of time. That's a good sign and we are very proud of that.
Here is a fact-box on Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday. He was 25.
Ajinkya Rahane said the key to his success was keeping a blank mind and playing one ball at a time.
A near-perfect series for Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra may not be a regular in India's limited overs set-up but he is relishing the role of a senior spinner in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, in the absence of the rested Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. After not getting a game in the Test series, Mishra has made it count in the one-dayers by picking up three wickets in both Dharamsala and Delhi. "The experience (of helping youngsters) has been good so far. Whenever they ask me, I give them tips. Even in the game, they ask me during meetings and I try to help them as much as I can. I am really enjoying this role and I feel it is my duty to support the youngsters," said Mishra on the eve of the third ODI against New Zealand in Mohali on Sunday.
Alastair Cook's side next travel to India, the world's top-ranked team, before hosting South Africa and West Indies in 2017 ahead of their ultimate challenge in a tour of Australia.
Rajasthan Royals batsman Ajinkya Rahane credited his mental preparation as the key to his success in Tests, One-Day Internationals and the ongoing Indian Premier League, in which he is the leading run-getter till date.
A cricketing rivalry that transcends beyond the realms of 22-yards will be reignited when India and Pakistan square off in a World Cup encounter that could have fascinating sub-plots with rain gods threatening an anti-climactic twist.
The partnership between Rahane and Pujara hurt us, concedes Australia captain Steve Smith
It will be difficult for Australia's besmirched cricketers to reclaim their reputations when the dust settles on the ball-tampering scandal but the episode is nonetheless a chance for the team to reclaim some of its lost principles and values, feels former batsman Michael Hussey.
'The West Indies' pace battery was lethal.' 'Watching Gavaskar, Gaekwad, Amarnath and Vengsarkar play against those bowlers I learnt so much.' 'Everybody was getting hit.' 'Someone got hit on the fingers, someone on the chest, someone on the face, but they all showed guts.'
Penpix of the Sri Lanka squad for the 2015 cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
One of the finest fast bowlers in current times, Mohammed Amir would be pitted against the talismanic Virat Kohli in what could turn out to be a battle primarily between India's vaunted batting line-up and against Pakistan's potent bowling attack.
Sachin Tendulkar added yet another feather to his cap on Wednesday when he was inducted as one of the latest honourees to the Bradman Foundation. Former Australia captain Steve Waugh was the other cricketer to enter the Bradman Hall of Fame alongside Tendulkar during a gala dinner, at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground.
Karnataka youngster K L Rahul on his elation at being selected for the upcoming Test series against Australia and how he worked on his technique to improve his batting skills.
Cheteshwar Pujara is confident that his scoring touch will return in the upcoming Test series against Australia in Adelaide.
Not impressed by Australia's dominance in the summer of 2015 with Test wins against New Zealand and a lackluster West Indies, former pacer Geoff Lawson believes that India will make "tougher opponents" in the upcoming ODI series starting January 12.
It has been raining runs for Rohit Sharma and he had little hesitation in calling 2017 the 'best year' of his decade-old international career.
India bowled with a lot of perseverance to restrict England to 268 for 8 despite a defiant 89 from Jonny Bairstow on Day 1 of the third cricket Test in Mohali on Saturday.
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar's tryst with Australia and "The Don" continues as the legendary batsman will be inducted as a Bradman Honouree along with former Test captain Steve Waugh at a gala dinner in Sydney on October 29.
All-rounder Stuart Binny stamped his class by hitting a sparkling unbeaten century as Karnataka took firm grip of the Irani Trophy match against Rest of India (ROI) with a 189-run first innings lead in Bangalore on Monday.
'Ravi Shastri told me he would go miles, and pay, to enjoy Vishy make 20 than to watch someone scoring an inelegant, laborious, 200.'
Left-arm seamer Samad Fallah exposed the poor technique of Bengal's batsmen with some incisive swing bowling to put Maharashtra in the driver's seat on the first day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final in Indore on Saturday.
"A lot of credit goes to him (Praveen Amre) because he really works hard on me before the game and we practice good technique and skills. Yesterday also we worked on my skills," said Iyer after DD's 37-run win at the Feroz Shah Kotla, in New Delhi on Thursday.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Sunday
Australia have employed former India all-rounder Sridharan Sriram as a coaching consultant to help with their troubles playing spin bowling in the leadup to their tour of Bangladesh.
McCullum, 37, played for the two-time IPL champions in two separate stints and also represented Trinbago Knight Riders, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise that is owned by the same parent company Red Chillies Entertainment.
There are some batsmen reputed, respected and feared for what they are: Destructive! They are the game-changers. It is not bats, but bludgeons that they wield.
The top order failed to fire in difficult conditions, but the bowlers stood out, not only performing with the ball but scoring vital runs as well.
Cheteshwar Pujara's debut for Derbyshire County Cricket Club, for which he has recently signed a contract to play in the remainder of the English County Championship, has been delayed simply because he has not yet been granted a British work visa. Consequently, he hasn't reached England and missed Derbyshire's crucial ongoing Division II match against Worcestershire at Derby in LV County Championship.
MS Dhoni knows how to win World Cups and that goes quite a long way.
Opener Aaron Finch knows he's the one Australian batsman struggling for runs ahead of Thursday's World Cup semi-final against India but, ever confident, thinks a big innings is just around the corner.
'When Hardik was dropped from the Zimbabwe tour, coach Sanjay Bangar called, telling him to work hard and not lose focus.' 'This really motivated Hardik to do better and he emerged one of the star performers during India A's tour of Australia.'
Revealing New Zealand's strategy that has outwitted Indian bowlers in the ongoing ODI series, batsman Ross Taylor said the Kiwis have focussed on denying wickets to the visiting side's spinners to wear out the rest of their attack.
Harish Kotian/Rediff.com assesses the Indian side after the 2-1 series triumph in Sri Lanka.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances