India's cricket team has embarked on a journey to Dubai for the upcoming Champions Trophy, aiming to secure another global trophy after their T20 World Cup triumph last June.
Magnificent fifties by openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt guided RCB to a comfortable seven-wicket win over defending champions KKR.
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.
'Certain formats require a certain skill set and whenever we look at these kinds of players, if the talent is there, then you don't want to shy away from blooding them.'
The opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth marked a big moment for two young Indian talents, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made their Test debuts.
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.
Jaiswal and Rahul ended the day unbeaten on 90 and 62, as the hosts failed to take a wicket in two sessions, a dizzying change of pace from day one when 17 wickets tumbled.
The 31-year-old didn't find a place in the squad against England because of Reddy's recent exploits.
Harshit Rana celebrated with his father Pradeep after earning a maiden call-up to the Indian ODI team.
India captain Rohit Sharma played down concerns around his fitness after a crucial group A match of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan. Despite a brief period off the field during the Pakistan innings, Rohit assured that his hamstring was "okay." Meanwhile, Virat Kohli's century led India to a six-wicket victory, putting them on the verge of a semifinal berth.
It may be hosting an ODI for the first time since December 22, 2019, but Cuttack has always served up belters and it may be no different this time.
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Monday.
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.
Buoyed by their win in the first Test in Perth, the Indian cricket team arrived in Canberra for the mid-series two-day game against the Australia Prime Minister's XI on November 30 and December 1 ahead of the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide on December 6.
Rohit Sharma's decision-making has come under intense scrutiny, especially after the team's failure to contain Australia's innings in the first session of Day 2.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list the 50 Most Valuable Players in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
A seemingly invincible India will be eager to sharpen their game against spin and give a run to second-line players ahead of the semi-final when they take on New Zealand in their last group match of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.
As the team prepares for the Test series, it's clear they're making the most of both their training and the local sights.
Jadeja's return along with Akash Deep replacing Harshit Rana, is seen as a bold move that could either turn the series around or backfire spectacularly.
Kapil Dev believes the injury-enforced absence of key players like Jasprit Bumrah can hamper any team and hopes India's pace spearhead will return to action soon.
In a fiery contest, Jaiswal had his moment of cheeky brilliance against Mitchell Starc, a legendary fast bowler with over 330 Test wickets to his name.
Shami last played for India in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad after which he was sidelined because of an ankle injury which needed surgery.
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.
India fight back against Australia as 17 wickets tumble on opening day
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for their first Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh on Thursday?
'What they bring to the table (can) never be written off.'
Yashasvi Jaiswal was on Saturday expectedly picked in the India squad for the Champions Trophy and pacer Mohammed Shami returned to national fold
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI against Pakistan on Sunday?
Despite the challenging build-up, Gambhir said he is "extremely confident" of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The players will hope to be as confident as they prepare for the fight to keep their World Test Final chances alive.
'The only concern they might have is around Jasprit Bumrah's fitness and what that does to the bowling attack... that's where the main challenge lies for India.'
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth, on Friday.
'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.'
'If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that.'
Dubai teenager Harshit Seth, on November 28, achieved a unique landmark of picking up a double hat-trick - a wicket of every ball in his over - in the six-team Under-19 Karwan Global Twenty20 League tournament.
'Bring out the speed guns, the pace battery has arrived,' BCCI captioned a video posted on its X handle.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy Group A match played between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai on Sunday.
India take on Bangladesh in the first of the three-match T20I series in Gwalior, on Sunday.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes K L Rahul's impressive ODI form has cemented his position as the team's first-choice wicketkeeper.
All about IPL 2025 which kicks off on March 22, Saturday.
Mystery spinner bowls in nets as India prep for three-match ODI series vs England.
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