Statistical highlights from Day 1 of the opening Test between India and New Zealand in Auckland on Thursday.
'At the moment he's in incredible form and to play the way he has done in such tough conditions, so alien to us as England batsmen, is incredible.'
Raring to go in the IPL, a fit-again Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Ishant Sharma feels T20 is easier for fast bowlers than ODIs with the problematic four-fielder rule not being there in cricket's shortest format.
'We have got the bowling to take 20 Australian wickets on 1 run less than what India has scored.'
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar has advised India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to be more flexible while deciding the playing eleven.
Opener Prithvi Shaw smashed six fours in the first over in a stunning batting display on his way to a blistering 82 as Delhi Capitals crushed Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in the IPL, in Ahmedabad, on Thursday.
India take on a war-ravaged-but-resilient Afghanistan in their first ever Test match, in Bengaluru, on Thursday.
The 26-year-old's three scoreless IPL innings follow another first-ball duck for Perth Scorchers and a five-ball nought for Australia against India.
It was CSK who denied Delhi a top-two spot in the league standings with a crushing 80-run win at Chepauk and the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side stands in their way again, only the stakes are much higher.
Coming from a country where high-scoring batsmen are worshipped and spin bowlers adored, Ishant Sharma has learnt the hard way that patience was the key to success for an Indian fast bowler.
Up against Delhi Capitals, RCB will need to address their middle-order woes, to return to winning ways, in what could be touted as a battle of equals.
In case of Umesh, he bowls a fuller length, gets that lethal outswing going his way at 140 clicks but the question is, if India can afford to play a bowler, who has a propensity to bowl too many boundary balls.
Mohit Sharma to replace the lanky pacer
India had two bowlers - Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma - in the top five, and three (R Ashwin) in the top six.
Bowling was considered India's weak link before they arrived in South Africa but pacer Ishant Sharma said it has been the key to the team's success in the ongoing opening Test in Johannesburg.
Hashim Amla has praised pacer Ishant Sharma, who led a devastating exhibition of seam bowling to bring India back into the first Test.
Images from the second day's play of the first Test between South Africa and India at the New Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The Indian team has decided to take the positives from India's 0-2 ODI series defeat against South Africa.
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has already informed its members that no tickets would be put on sale for the first two Tests between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as both the games will be played behind closed doors.
India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test in Johannesburg from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the Rainbow Nation.
More than the runs scored, it is the manner of his dismissals that is causing frustration, considering that the Indian cricket establishment has invested heavily in the 21-year-old from Rourkee.
As coach Ricky Ponting pointed out, he would expect a better "on his feet" thinking from the young captain.
Eyeing a maiden IPL title, the fancied Delhi Capitals will face another litmus test in the form of a Kolkata Knight Riders unit brimming with optimism when the two sides lock horns in the Qualifier 2 match in Sharjah on Wednesday.
'They've played really good, tough, hard Test match cricket day-in and day-out. India have won all the big moments in every Test match and Australia have fallen short. That's been the difference between the two teams.'
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane hit unbeaten half-centuries to put India in firm control, on Day 3 of the first Test against West Indies in Antigua, on Saturday.
Indian pacers Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron arrived late at the Gabba on the fourth morning of the second Test against Australia even as their teammates were dramatically collapsing out in the middle, according to a report.
Indian speedster Ishant Sharma has been fined 15 percent of his match fees for breaching ICC's 'Code of Conduct' during the second cricket Test between India and Australia while Steve Smith was fined 60 percent for his team's slow over-rate.
Mayank Agarwal, who struck a double century in the first Test against Bangladesh in Indore, jumped one place to 10th with 700 points.
Attributing his recent success to tweaking his bowling grip, India speedstar Umesh Yadav said the modification gave him more control and improved his consistency to ball outswingers.
Rajneesh Gupta previews Game 3 in IPL 12: Mumbai Indians vversus Delhi Capitals.
Ishant Sharma is not alone in his testing times. The Delhi medium pacer finds solace in the comforting words of teammate Suresh Raina.
The three-day practice game will give a chance for the players who are already in the West Indies to shift from limited overs to the five-day format.
Saha said that they haven't yet checked how much movement is on offer as far as pink ball is concerned.
Having missed out on the recent World T20 and Asia Cup action, lanky pacer Ishant Sharma is fit and raring to go for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the seventh edition of IPL, starting April 16, in Abu Dhabi.
Rohit (left hamstring) and Ishant (side strain) are at the NCA undergoing rehabilitation, but the BCCI is yet to announce when the duo would reach Australia.
Gangling India paceman Ishant Sharma was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for gesturing towards the pavilion after dismissing Australian batsman James Pattinson during the third day's play in the fourth Test in New Delhi.
Rishabh Pant was hit on the left elbow while batting on Day 3 of the third Test against Australia at the SCG on Saturday and was taken for a scan.
India's bowling attack will be lead by Bumrah and will be supported by Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, and Sharma.
Having made a commendable comeback from the brink of a series defeat, India will look to increase their stranglehold on hosts England to draw parity when the two teams square off for the fourth Test, in Southampton, on Thursday.
Seeking to regain form, Indian pacer Ishant Sharma is keen to make an impression in favourable English conditions during the Champions Trophy starting on Thursday.
