From India's entry to the Oscars to the foodie flamboyance of Bollywood's first family to Srikant Tiwari's hope for a hat-trick and Korean entertainment in deeply dark mode, it's raining OTT goodies this week.
India will be accorded a tough welcome to Australia as the Optus Stadium pitch for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been prepared to offer "good bounce and pace"
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be.
'We still prepare the pitch the exact same way every time to try and get the same good carry, pace and bounce that the Gabba is known for.'
There'll be some deterioration, grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce, but in terms of big snake WACA cracks, unfortunately I don't think the weather is going to get us there, says pitch curator Isaac McDonald.
Thakur asserted that India remain very much in the game despite trailing Australia by 296 runs.
South African stand-in captain Aiden Markram said home side Pakistan were well within their rights to prepare extreme turning wickets for their two-Test series, which starts in Lahore on Sunday, as they did last year to beat England.
Djokovic will open his US Open campaign against Leaner Tien on Sunday.
Abhimanyu Easwaran made the future path all the more tough with his second duck of the match, while Sai Sudharsan concluded his lukewarm preparation for the South Africa Test series with an underwhelming 23 off 38 balls.
Arshdeep Singh has enough experience to understand that the Indian team management is trying different combinations looking at the bigger picture, bowling coach Morne Morkel said.
'I think it's an ongoing process, just continuously putting in hours of work and speaking to people that have played in these conditions, have done well in these conditions.'
'Everyone knows what is at stake, and the approach and mindset that we need in these matches.'
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed disappointment with the Eden Gardens pitch, lamenting the lack of assistance for spinners after his team's second loss at home.
Suryakumar Yadav-led India ready for Aussie challenge as T20 World Cup preparation begins.
Jemimah Rodrigues rose through the ranks in Mumbai to become one of the key batters for India, but the journey wasn't easy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board in a bid to attract more crowds to the Test match have for the first time announced free entry for several enclosures.
With recent matches indicating that chasing teams have fared slightly better, the toss-winning captain may opt to bowl first.
'Yes, the playing conditions still vary over time. But you're still in control of what sort of works for you on a pitch. So, you might play on a new hybrid pitch for one game.'
Star India pacer Mohammed Siraj, who devastated the West Indies batting lineup with a four-wicket haul on the opening day of the first Test on Thursday, said that he was overjoyed to bowl on a green-top wicket after a long break.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli admitted that the aggressive Australian cricketing environment tested his resilience, but felt that standing up to it while playing a bold brand of cricket toughened his mind and shaped his career path, besides influencing his growth as an individual.
Shubman Gill said he could not have asked for a better all-round performance from his team after they hammered the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test.
'First, develop the ability to sell -- to persuade, negotiate and close. Second, understand the financial mechanics that determine where value pools and how profits are captured,' says Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal.
stroked 69 not out off 53 balls to steer India to a famous five-wicket victory in the title clash, dedicated his knock to "all the Indians".
With stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sidelined, it will be a test of character for the Salman Agha-led Pakistan side.
Under pressure, the BCCI announced that the final to be played from September 11-15 will be broadcast live.
Winning the Asia Cup was the "best reply" to an aggressive opposition, middle-order batter Tilak Varma said.
Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday with a 9-1 hammering of Armenia that included hat-tricks from both Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.
The development of the pitches has been undertaken by Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions, led by renowned Adelaide Oval head curator Damian Hough.
New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra believes adapting to the conditions will be key to success in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai.
After Operation Sindoor, the Army and Navy now view the IAF as not a supporting arm, but the spearhead of India's warfighting capability, capable of decisive outcomes across domains, explains Air Commodore Nitin Sathe (retd).
'You can't make art with a point of view of fear. You have to present the truth.' 'That's why such films are not being made these days.' 'You never put the truth in the script because you fear you might offend somebody.'
'It's about the huge privilege even if you are not getting the chance (to play), you are (still getting to be) with the squad. How many get to be with the squad and how many (get to) play Test cricket?'
'Should players and administrators be telling the curators how to prepare the pitch and what sort of pitch they want? It is the greatest bit of rubbish I have ever heard'.
With Fatorda buzzing and continental football back where it belongs, the Gaurs will hope to make a statement and prove they belong among Asia's elite.
New Zealand called up two local left-arm wrist spinners to bowl to left-handers Tom Latham and Michael Bracewell at their nets in Dubai on Saturday.
India allegedly switches semi-final pitch without ICC approval.
West Indies are not in a good position in terms of their Test status but the touring party will try to emulate what New Zealand did to dominate India last season, said captain Roston Chase.
The Indian team under Gautam Gambhir's coaching has been about multi-skilled cricketers, and Washington Sundar feels blessed that he is one of them.
Gambhir has taken over from Rahul Dravid at a time when the team is gradually embracing a transition phase, and in that context, he wanted the team to follow a result-oriented approach.
Most pitch curators are possessive about the main square on a cricket field but Lee Fortis, the chief curator at The Oval, takes that obsession to a sacrosanct level.
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