'Since we cannot trust the net bowlers about their exposure to COVID, it would be ideal to go with a large contingent as we can be assured of all the players' safety as they will be in a bio-secure environment.'
Sarfraz Ahmed will continue as Pakistan captain at the World Cup in May despite serving a suspension for breaching the anti-racism code, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani said on Tuesday.
Former opener Sunil Gavaskar predicted an India win by a 4-0 or 3-1 margin, depending on the weather, adding that the visitors would emerge victorious anyway as England is depleted without the likes of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.
All that's transpired on and off the cricket pitch on Wednesday.
BCCI recommended India pacers Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and women's team player Poonam Yadav for the Arjuna award.
Navdeep Saini didn't get a chance to share the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah in his six international games and no wonder he is excited at an opportunity to pick the brains of India's pace spearhead during the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. Saini, has so far played an ODI and five T20 Internationals but Bumrah has either been rested or was out due to his stress fracture on lower back during these games.
"Definitely, we all do believe that we have the team that can do well in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. It is important to start well. The preparations part will be really important as it will provide us with the momentum," Rahane said at the India Today Conclave in Mumbai.
PM Modi also called for a strong action plan for combating extremism.
India is ready, after battling the pandemic for two years, to travel once again.
Mohammed Shami says his love for cricket helped him battle the off field problems that pegged him back a few months ago as he made an impressive comeback
Opening batsman Prithvi Shaw, who had suffered a left ankle injury while attempting a catch in the practice game against Cricket Australia XI has been ruled out of the ongoing four-Test series against Australia.
Following is a fact file on the first Test match between Australia and India in Adelaide and how the teams have performed at the Adelaide Oval over the years:
India 'A' will play a one-day tri-series involving Australia 'A' and South Africa 'A' followed by two four-day matches against the hosts.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah earned his maiden call-up to the Test squad, while Parthiv Patel made a comeback for the three-Test series in South Africa.
India will continue to target Australia's under-pressure openers Alex Carey and Aaron Finch as they seek to add a one-day series win to their first ever Test series victory in the third and final match in Melbourne on Friday.
'...the one that turned the match firmly in India's favour was the Johnny Mullagh medal-winning contribution from Rahane. The captain's century came at a time when India could easily have faded to a two-nil deficit, and it was this performance that gave his team the conviction that victory was attainable.'
As a mark of respect for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terrorist attack, the Indian team sported special Army caps during the third ODI against Australia in Ranchi on Friday.
India would have been better served with a frontline spinner in their side, pace spearhead Mohammed Shami said.
But the focus will be on 19-year-old Gill, who has broken into the Indian Test squad for the three-match series against the Proteas, starting on October 2 in Visakhapatnam.
Wriddhiman and Hanuma Vihari are the two Test specialists who have been included in the 'A' squad to prepare for the two-Test series starting late August.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to release the 'Playing Conditions' for the WTC final. Also, before boarding the flight to London, for the England tour, every male and female member needs to carry six RT-PCR negative results.
The Taliban knows that Washington holds the key, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 2nd Test between West Indies and India in Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday
Rohit Sharma's 119 laid the foundation for India's chase
In a tweet, Modi said India is 'delighted to welcome' the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Australia-bound Mohammed Shami defied BCCI's instruction of not bowling more than 15 overs in the Ranji game against Kerala.
Shikhar Dhawan has been named as the replacement for the injured Murali Vijay for India's upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka.
A dominant India posted a massive 649 for nine before their bowlers chipped away at the wickets to leave West Indies reeling on 94 for six at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test in Rajkot.
'I don't really think about it -- I play my best when I focus on what's ahead of me; the next game, the next series - whatever it is'
Cricket South Africa will appoint a team manager, who will select his own coaching staff and captains in the three formats of the game.
After his cricket career, Chetan Chauhan twice served as a Member of Parliament and also worked for the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) in various capacities.
Opener Murali Vijay and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will be looking to get into the groove in India 'A''s last first-class engagement, against England Lions at the County Ground in Worcester, starting on Monday.
Mohammed Azharuddin feels that all cricket boards should come together to redraw the international calendar as the COVID-19 pandemic has ensured that the current schedule is irredeemable.
Kolkata Police, which is investigating Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), has written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India to seek information of the route of his last match in South Africa.
India produced a clinical bowling performance, led by Mohammed Shami, to restrict Australia to 236 for seven
Even as a security delegation arrived from Pakistan to assess the security arrangements for their team ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, former skipper Inzamam ul Haq has said they have never felt unsafe in India.
