Smith, who is back in action after serving a one-year ban for his role in the ball-tampering scandal, has been made the leader of the team once again. The announcement was made ahead of Royals' clash against Mumbai Indians in Jaipur.
There is a definite spring in Ajinkya Rahane's steps after he ended a 17-Test run of not scoring a hundred, a number which has proved to be lucky for him.
Dhawan has been in remarkable form in the ongoing IPL season so far, managing to score 525 runs from 14 matches, including two back-to-back centuries.
Rahane, who had scored just 10 in the first innings, struck a patient 119 off 260 balls, hit 14 boundaries and shared a 257-run stand for the third wicket with Sam Northeast
Prithvi should bat just like he does for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, said Rahane
Sachin Tendulkar feels that the partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja might have taken the game away
Shaw's lack of attendance at crucial training sessions, particularly after poor performances, coupled with a lax approach to fitness, has alarmed the Mumbai team management and led to tough choices.
Rahane repeated his answers in a loop which was all about 'playing to your strengths and backing each other'.
Premier middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan, wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel and pacer Yash Dayal are set to be released from the Indian team for the Irani Cup in case they are not selected in the playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh, starting September 27 in Kanpur.
The unbeaten Mumbai duo added 185 runs for the fourth wicket to rescue the hosts who looked in dire straits at 39 for three in the morning session after opting to bat in Ranchi.
Rahane, who led India to their greatest overseas Test series victory in Australia recently, also said that there is no room for complacency against a quality side like England in the series, starting here on Friday.
Ajinkya Rahane act as Nick, while Nick as Ajinkya and pull each other's leg!
Newly-appointed Rajasthan Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane is excited to lead the side in the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning next month.
Australia's mouthwatering clash with India sees the two behemoths of the modern game go head-to-head in five tests over six weeks with the tourists eyeing a third straight series triumph Down Under.
The Indian Test cricket specialists posted pictures of them on 'daddy duty' as they took their children for a stroll around Sydney.
A look at the best catches of the match.
A century would have been nice but what mattered more was playing according to the demands of the situation.
Rahane was not ready to take a backward step when faced with difficult questions.
Kohli believes that both have been on the same page and know how this team functions.
India will need to bat 90 plus overs on the final day of the third Test and score another 309 runs with Pujara and Rahane aiming to save the match
Ajinkya Rahane hailed Ravindra Jadeja's contributions in the longest format
'Ajinkya played a crucial role in telling me that I was overthinking it. That innings in Sydney really set the tone for me.'
After waiting nearly three years for a first-class hundred, Iyer's form has surged; his century in October broke that dry spell, and now he's added two more in quick succession.
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane hit a solid 81 as India recovered after a few early wickets to reach 203 for six at stumps after they were put into bat.
Opening the innings, Shubman Gill scored a 65-ball 45 on debut before he nicked an outswinger from Pat Cummins.
IMAGES from the IPL 2022 opening game between CSK vs KKR in Mumbai, on Saturday
Ajinkya Rahane cherishes the time when he played with Sachin Tendulkar during his debut.
While Cheteshwar Pujara scored 4, 12 not out and 9 in the three innings he batted on the ongoing England tour, Ajinkya Rahane managed just 5 and 1 in the two innings he played.
Spinner Shams Mulani (5/71) and Himanshu Singh (4/77) wreaked havoc by sharing nine wickets between them as defending champions Mumbai crushed Odisha.
Ajinkya Rahane has signed for Hampshire in the English County Championship. He will feature in matches throughout May, June and the start of July, subject to visa clearance. He becomes the first overseas player from India to sign for the county.
Coming into the Test series, Rahane's form was a subject of widespread debate but he silenced his critics with scores of 81 and 102 in India's 318-run win over the West Indies in North Sound on Sunday.
One of the highlights of the series so far has been Ravichandran Ashwin's duels with Steve Smith and Tendulkar explained why the senior off-spinner enjoyed an upper hand.
Aiden Markram stroked a half-century to steer Sunrisers Hyderabad to a comfortable six-wicket victory against Chennai Super Kings.
Ajinkya Rahane made it very clear that the undisputed leader of this side is Virat Kohli and he is happy filling in when required.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane reveals India's game plan going into the final day of the third Test against Australia.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were part of India's Test team till earlier this year, but were left out of the tour to South Africa, the selectors pinning hopes on youngsters Shubman Gill and Yashawi Jaiswal to produce the goods in challenging conditions.
David Miller's outstanding fielding effort earned Gujarat Titans an early wicket.
Time is running out fast for the Mumbai right-hander with India having just 17 ODI matches before the 2019 World Cup in England next year.
Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian together claimed six wickets for only 23 runs to put Mumbai within sniffing distance of the Irani Cup triumph despite Abhimanyu Easwaran's heroic 191.
