They stand on the opposite ends of IPL's success spectrum but there is little to separate between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in the tournament's 13th edition as they head into a blockbuster Qualifier 1 match, in Dubai, on Thursday.
Images from Monday's Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, in Abu Dhabi.
Mumbai Indians had roared back to form after thrashing RCB by five-wickets in the last game, there are problems aplenty for DC.
Chahal, who has been an automatic choice in the limited overs format has not played any first-class cricket since December 2016 (against Haryana in Ranji Trophy), but the Indian team management and especially skipper Virat Kohli has indicated that he wants the wiry leg-spinner for five-day matches also.
India's T20 squad will undergo a major transition in the next two years with senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin gradually eased out, BCCI sources said.
Krunal kept bowling tight lines, giving away only singles in his overs.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, in Dubai, on Monday.
'There is a huge amount of talent in our squad but talent alone does not get you far. It is about execution'
Avesh stepped up whenever called upon by Pant and finished with figures of 3 for 34.
Flavour of the season Rahul Tewatia didn't prove to be third time lucky in what turned out to be an incredible death overs performance by the Delhi Capitals pace attack in their 13-run victory against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL match, in Dubai, on Wednesday.
Delhi Capitals star players Rishab Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane have started their preparations for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Thursday tried to steer clear of the controversy surrounding the national selectors' decision to not send a replacement for injured opener Shubman Gill in England, saying it is a matter for the selection committee to consider.
It is understood that Indian cricket is finally ready to move beyond Karthik. In 2019, World Cup ended his 50-over career and 2022 might just witness his international T20 swansong.
'We have a number of match-winners, so it's very difficult to go up the order'
While Prithvi Shaw made his Test debut in October, Shubman Gill earned a maiden call-up for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand.
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar reminded Ravi Shastri that India had won Test series in West Indies and England, a day after the under-fire coach claimed his side has better overseas record than teams of the last 15-20 years.
Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals, in Abu Dhabi.
Delhi Capitals' new skipper Rishabh Pant says walking out with Mahendra Singh Dhoni for toss in their IPL opener was a special moment for him, as the Chennai Super Kings talisman is his "go-to man".
Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill slammed centuries as India U-19 crushed their English counterparts by 230 runs in the fourth One-dayer to take a 3-1 lead in the five-match series, in Mumbai on Monday.
Their home is, not surprisingly, teeming with visitors who are received by the proud father and Azma Khatun, the mother of the 22-year-old.
Both the Indian and Australian players are scheduled to leave for Sydney on Monday.
Left-arm pacer Thangarasu Natarajan earned his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad after he was named as the replacement for the injured Umesh Yadav for the last two games against Australia.
Check out the early reaction of fans on Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
A big win on Saturday will not only will boost Delhi's morale after the 80-run hammering at the hands of CSK but it could also propel the side to the second position in the eight-team standings.
A win for either side will help it consolidate its position at the top and also seal a spot in Qualifier 1.
'KL Rahul should play at number five and Rishabh Pant should play at number six. Jadeja and Ashwin should play at number seven and eight and then three seamers. I will want to go in with five bowlers.'
The opening round of Ranji Trophy matches will begin from February 17 following a five-day quarantine and the squad size, including support staff, has been capped at 30.
India has a talented squad of young players who have played exceptionally throughout the course of the tournament
A confident Delhi are coming off two back-to-back victories against Royal Challengers Bangalore and a strong Kolkata Knight Riders outfit.
The Indians expectedly dominated the Under-19 World Cup team announced by the ICC on Sunday, with five players from the triumphant side making it to the world eleven.
In charge of a house in complete disorder, Virat Kohli will hope that Royal Challengers Bangalore play in the manner that defines his cricket when they meet Delhi Capitals in the IPL match in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Ajinkya Rahane said he enjoys opening the batting in the shortest format but he is also ready to explore a potential "finisher's role" with Delhi Capitals having several options at the top of the order during the upcoming Indian Premier League in the UAE.
Delhi Capitals does not stand for what happened in the last over against Rajasthan Royals, asserted assistant coach Shane Watson, adding that the players have to accept umpire's decision and it is completely "unacceptable" for someone to enter the field of play.
Indian captain Virat Kohli on Saturday said he has "no idea exactly what's happening" when asked about the legendary Rahul Dravid being in line to be the team's head coach after the T20 World Cup.
In what comes as the biggest positive for Indian cricket in recent times, former captain Rahul Dravid has agreed to take over as the head coach of the men's team.
Gavaskar said Pant will give India more flexibility in the first Test, the only day-night game, to be played in Adelaide.
The odds will be stacked heavily in favour of India when the title contenders, with an eye on securing a knockout berth, meet minnows Papua New Guinea in the ICC U-19 World Cup, in Mount Maunganui, on Tuesday.
Workload management of pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be the focus when Mumbai Indians take on a renamed Delhi Capitals in their first match of the 12th Indian Premier League in Mumbai on Sunday.
Kuldeep Yadav, among all the players in this team, has more experience of playing with pink ball and the kind of revolution he produces, he could make it difficult for batsmen to spot the black seam of the pink kookaburra under lights.
Gujarat opener Priyank Panchal is likely to lead India 'A' in three four-day 'Tests' against New Zealand 'A'
