New Zealand on Monday named a strong squad, which includes five spin bowling options
The West Indies selection panel on Wednesday included Sunil Ambris in place of Smith, who had scored two fifties in the nine innings that he played on his comeback for the Sri Lanka Tests following a gap of three years.
Devon Conway had suffered a fractured left thumb during the T20I series against Australia in February and had undergone surgery for the same.
Simon Doull lambasted Indian batters for their poor batting performance against spinners Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips during the second Test
New Zealand will have to keep India under pressure for the rest of the first Test to emerge on the right side of the result.
Kane Williamson is a doubt for the Test series against India due to a groin injury sustained in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
'It's one thing to talk about it, but actually we went out there (in Bengaluru) and played some fearless cricket.'
Off-spinner Nishan Peiris picked up a six-wicket haul on debut as Sri Lanka crushed New Zealand by an innings and 154 runs.
Tom Latham and Kane Williamson led New Zealand's fightback with sparkling half-centuries as the Black Caps reached 255-4 on the rain-hit second day of their opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle
India were in danger of suffering their first home test loss to New Zealand since 1988, despite Sarfaraz Khan's 150 and Rishabh Pant's 99, when the tourists bowled them out for 462 on the fourth day of their rain-interrupted series opener on Saturday.
While this may not secure qualification outright, it would certainly keep them in contention. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead drew inspiration from the inaugural WTC cycle in 2019-21, when New Zealand won six consecutive matches enroute to securing the title.
The 30-year-old Hyderabadi, has so far taken 80 wickets in 30 Test matches but 61 of those scalps have come in 17 away Test matches in three of the SENA countries (South Africa, England, Australia).
Woeful India dismissed for 46 as New Zealand pacers run riot
A spectacular seven-wicket haul by Mitchell Santner helped New Zealand dismiss India for 156 before the tourists reached 198-5 at stumps on day two of the second test in Pune on Friday to tighten their grip on the three-match series.
Images from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between India and New Zealand, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin chipped away at the wickets to leave New Zealand reeling on 171/9 in their second innings at stumps on Day 2.
Washington Sundar made a dream return to Test cricket with a sensational spell of 7/59 against New Zealand, in his first Test since March 2021.
New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson joined Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar as only the second bowler in T20I history to bowl each of the allotted four overs as maidens, returning figures of 4-4-0-3. Zafar recorded 4-4-0-2.
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday.
A turner in Pune exposed the soft underbelly of Indian batters' technique against slow bowling but as per the current team's philosophy, it has decided to take the bull by its horns by asking for a turner where the ball might turn at right angles from first hour.
India 'A bowlers found it tough to contain the West Indies 'A' batsmen and the Caribbean men rode on skipper Devon Smith's resolute hundred to force a draw in the four-day match between the two sides in Surrey.
Actor Mohit Raina gets ready to move on.
IMAGES from the Day 1 of the third Test played between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday
'We are virtually playing with our 'B' team. Those who are criticising Dhoni don't know the sacrifice that he is doing for this team.'
IMAGES from Day 4 of the first Test played between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, on Saturday.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 1st Test played between India and New Zealand in Bengaluru, on Friday.
India has only minor concerns, but New Zealand's troubles across batting and bowling departments are more pronounced.
The 50-year-old breast cancer survivor runs topless to help erase the stigma around the disease
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand?
New Zealand can become only the second team to inflict a series whitewash on India in their backyard.
The complete list of players sold in the IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scoring centuries in the same game is the first instance of two Kiwi batters scoring a century each in a World Cup match. It was also the first time two Kiwi batters scored a century each on World Cup debut.
Images from the T20 World Cup Group C match between the West Indies and New Zealand in Trinidad on Thursday.
CSK had some good news on the eve of the match with Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana being declared fit from a hamstring injury.
Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to the IPL 2024 title, could be headed for the players' auction after failing to make a breakthrough in negotiations, while K L Rahul is also unlikely to be retained by LSG.
The talent is in plenty in this squad and if this machine runs smoothly, a sixth IPL trophy will be at touching distance for Thala and Co.
After a stunning manifestation of his talent with an unbeaten 123, New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra on Thursday said he did not expect to bat at No. 3, but coming out at that position gave him the freedom to play with aggression.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra smashed rapid unbeaten centuries to set up New Zealand's successful pursuit of a 283-run victory target, which came with 13.4 overs to spare.
Two weeks ahead of the upcoming IPL, defending champions Chennai Super Kings were left to fret over another injury concern as pacer Matheesha Pathirana has suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain on his left leg.
Images from the T20 World Cup match played between New Zealand and Uganda in Tarouba, Trinidad, on Saturday.
