The T20 WC champions will look to enter this phase with clarity of intent as they refine roles, streamline combinations and settle the XI that will carry the weight of expectations in front of home crowds.
Bazball is in the firing line, with former players and pundits decrying the high-risk game on Australia's spicy pitches.
Ayush Mhatre made a free-flowing hundred but bad light and rain robbed India U-19 of a potential memorable win as their second Youth Test against England ended in a draw in Chelmsford on Wednesday.
For India, the battle is no longer about proving skill or form, but about crossing the elusive final hurdle that has so often tripped them -- including in this very tournament.
The Indian team's heavy reliance on all-rounders will be tested by a plucky Australia in the second ODI but the spotlight will continue to stay firmly on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom would look to turn back the clock with series-saving knocks in Adelaide on Thursday.
Shami's four-wicket burst sets up Bengal's eight-wicket win over Uttarakhand
Abhishek Sharma's scintillating 75 was beautifully complemented by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as India comfortably hammered Bangladesh by 41 runs to enter the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Wednesday.
'They're those little moments as a squad that I think have got us across the line to four wins this series.'
Jemimah stars in India's comprehensive eight-wicket win against Sri Lanka in first women's T20I
I didn't look at this IPL as 'make or break' season, says R Sai Kishore
'From our perspective, we have to change the way we play but also sticking to some of the key principles of Test cricket. We will try to be competitive for long, long periods of time.'
The left-arm spinner shared a 45-second video of himself bowling in the nets at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Steve Smith returns to action in the Boxing Day Test against England as Australia opted to include four fast bowlers in their 12-man squad.
Virat Kohli moved up to No. 4 in the latest ICC rankings with a match-winning hundred against South Africa in the first ODI at Ranchi boosting his ascend.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav admitted that he is "bad with DRS" appeals after his hilarious banter with senior pro Rohit Sharma formed a nice, little subplot of India's series-clinching victory against South Africa in the third ODI in Visakhapatnam.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Mullanpur on Sunday
Australia spin bowler Matthew Kuhnemann was cleared to resume international cricket on Wednesday following an independent assessment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.
Group C promises one of the most competitive battles at the T20 World Cup, with former champions England and West Indies joined by ambitious sides Scotland, Nepal and debutants Italy.
India will look to reprise their home template of big first-innings totals and sustained spin in the short two-Test series against South Africa beginning in Kolkata on Friday.
Yuvraj, Azhar pay tribute to Bishan Singh Bedi
The 24-year-old, who played his last Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in September, has been included alongside regular spinner Nathan Lyon for the Jan. 4 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
For a bowler this effective to be sidelined repeatedly, there must be either a very specific tactical reason -- or something unspoken within the dressing room dynamics.
Former captain Rohit Sharma highlighted Arshdeep Singh's effectiveness with the new ball and in the death overs.
Senior batter Virat Kohli's awesome genius in 50-over format was on full view during his 52nd hundred that guided India to a strong 349 for eight against South Africa in the first ODI of the three-match series in Ranchi on Sunday.
Opener Musheer Khan (112) and veteran Siddhesh Lad (100 not out) hit centuries to rally Mumbai to 289/5 on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Himachal Pradesh.
Insipid India A go down to Bangladesh A in Super Over of Rising Asia Cup semifinals
Sam Konstas has been added to Australia's list of contracted players in a huge vote of confidence for the two-Test opener.
"Came here to give myself every chance to play just as batter": Stokes after being ruled out of Oval Test
Brits ton, Mlaba's four-for power South Africa to commanding win over New Zealand
Their spinners might have come a cropper in the loss to Rajasthan Royals, but that will not deter Deccan Chargers skipper Kumar Sangakkara from opening the bowling against Kolkata Knight Riders with tweakers in Kolkata on Sunday.
Kishan's statement knock, Surya's welcome fifty give India 2-0 lead
India crushed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs inside three days in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, in Ahmedabad, on Saturday.
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar struck unbeaten centuries as India staged a superb fightback on the final day to draw the fourth Test against England.
'He has been benched so many times that he has lost a bit of rhythm.'
Jammu and Kashmir's Shubham Khajuria struck a fighting, unbeaten century to rescue North Zone, but South Zone remained favourites to progress to the Duleep Trophy final, in Bengaluru on Saturday.
All-rounder Axar Patel was named vice-captain of the squad, which also saw the return of in-form Ishan Kishan, who pipped Jitesh Sharma as the second wicketkeeper behind Sanju Samson.
India's strategy of playing two fast bowlers, one pace bowling all-rounder, and three spinners could possibly come in handy on this surface.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 3rd Ashes Test in Adelaide on Sunday.
Sri Lanka are still 518 runs behind and will need a Herculean effort to avoid the follow-on even though more rain is forecast for Saturday.
Shubman Gill struck his 10th Test century, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets as India dominated Day 2 of the second Test against West Indies, in Delhi, on Saturday.
