After impressive scores against New Zealand, Australia and West Indies on docile Indian conditions, Cheteshwar Pujara has a chance to prove himself on the challenging tracks of South Africa, writes Bikash Mohapatra.
Maharashtra government has given the go-ahead to Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to allow 100 per cent seating capacity for the upcoming India-New Zealand Test at the Wankhede Stadium, beginning December 3.
India captain KL Rahul said he trusted his batting unit to do the job for the side despite losing seven wickets while chasing a modest 145 on day four of the second and final Test against Bangladesh.
Bumrah, Chahar, Kaul get their first dose of COVID vaccine.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Somerset seamer Jack Brooks apologised to Cheteshwar Pujara for his role in nicknaming the India Test specialist "Steve" during his time at Yorkshire.
Statistical highlights of the opening day in the second and final Test between India and South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid can feel the pain Cheteshwar Pujara is going through. The batting icon also had a tough time proving he was good enough for One-Day Internationals after being categorised as a Test specialist in the early part of his career.
India captain Rohit Sharma on Friday said his team was not brave and lacked application in the third Test against Australia in Indore.
Sheldon Jackson top-scored for Saurashtra with a 44-ball 64 as they overcame a late challenge from Kerala to win by nine runs and set up a last eight clash against Mumbai.
CSK's official Twitter handle posted a video in which the likes of Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Robin Uthappa, Cheteshwar Pujara can be seen paying a tribute to all frontline workers.
Dravid insisted his team is not feeling any pressure going into the World Test Championship final against Australia.
Cheteshwar Pujara hit his second century of the series before India captain Virat Kohli declared their first innings closed at 443 for seven after tea on day two of the third Test against Australia on Thursday.
'30th April bole toh aaplyaa rohit caa brthdde!'
Kohli's meeting would be about motivating his teammates
The Indian team is training hard ahead of their departure for the series in the West Indies. Led by skipper Virat Kohli, India will be playing a 4-match Test series in the Caribbean.
Ishant Sharma and his pace colleagues wreaked havoc with the pink ball to put India in charge of their maiden day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were spotted at the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the largest National Parks in Maharashtra.
A crestfallen India captain Virat Kohli's defence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane lacked conviction, as he put the ball in the selection committee's court regarding the future of the two out-of-form senior batters.
Having tasted instant success in Test cricket, India's latest batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara tells Harish Kotian he's keen to break into the ODI team too.
Like all cricketers, Krunal had been confined to his house in Vadodara since March 25, when the centre enforced a nationwide lockdown to curb the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
'Rahul needs to play county cricket, but will he skip the IPL?'
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 4:
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara says they are confident of claiming a historic first Test series win in South Africa, led by their potent fast bowling attack on the lively Highveld wickets where the first two of three Tests will be played.
England will have to set a record for the highest successful fourth-innings chase if they are to win the third Test against India after the dominant tourists declared at 352 for seven with Virat Kohli making 103.
The Indian team landed in South Africa for the Test series, starting on December 26.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India in Galle, on Wednesday.
The last time Cheteshwar Pujara batted at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad, he scored 159, his maiden hundred. Seven months later, he returned to the venue and outdid the effort with a double ton. Bikash Mohapatra reports.
Rohit's 162-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane dragged the hosts back into the contest, before England dismissed both in the final session.
Rohit Sharma completed a century in each innings in his maiden Test as opener as India pressed for victory in the first Test against South Africa by setting the touring side a daunting target of 395.
India will now lock horns with South Africa for three Tests and three ODIs, beginning December 26.
Ajinkya Rahane has been retained in India's Test squad, to be led by Virat Kohli, for the South Africa series later this month.
Can this Indian side, which has shown character and courage after the debacle in the first Test at Adelaide, stun the Aussies at their favourite hunting ground?
Former coach Ravi Shastri termed Ajinkya Rahane's Test comeback as a reward for his impressive domestic show.
Resuming on the fourth day in the second Test at 140 for 5, New Zealand folded up for 167 in the second innings after India set them a mammoth 540-run target.
Arun Lal's "very poor pitch" comment on the opening day drew a sharp rebuttal from the Saurashtra Cricket Association on Wednesday after its curator, Mahendra Rajdev, said the Bengal coach erred in his judgement by jumping the gun in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final in Rajkot.
New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hailed Tim Southee's leadership qualities after the fast bowler claimed a five-wicket haul on Friday in his country's first Test against India in Kanpur.
Cheteshwar Pujara hit an unbeaten century to guide Saurashtra to the Ranji Trophy final after they outclassed Karnataka by five wickets in the semi-final in Bengaluru, on Monday.
Playing under the inevitable shadow of the now-retired Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli handled both the Kiwis and weight of expectations well in the first Test, says Haresh Pandya.
Back in the squad for the Test series against New Zealand, Cheteshwar Pujara is determined to perform and contribute to India's winning cause.
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