Travis Head played down concerns over his fitness after appearing to struggle with a potential groin issue
Padmakar Shivalkar was distinctly unlucky that his best days in the 1970s coincided with that of Bishan Singh Bedi's prime.
While India has had a smooth passage to the quarter-finals, Ravi Shastri's claims of India retaining their title seem a tad premature, if not far-fetched. Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com looks at the lighter side of things.
Team India coach Ravi Shastri has rubbished all talk of Dhoni retiring.
England captain Jos Buttler defended his team's training schedule during their white-ball tour of India.
For Shastri, India's recent successes in Test cricket have often been defined by the stubbornness and resilience of the tail-enders.
As India continues to struggle in the series, the pressure is mounting on Rohit to rediscover his rhythm and lead from the front.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has attributed the national team's defeat in the fourth Test in Melbourne to 'poor shot selection on either side of the middle session' on Day 5.
"I will be running as a sportsman," said Ravi Shastri, cricketer and former manager of the Indian team, while talking to rediff.com about his low-key participation in the Olympic torch relay ceremony in Muscat, Oman on April 14. He refused to speak on the controversial issue of the Chinese crackdown in Tibet and the protests that have marred the Olympic torch relay in London, Paris and San Francisco.
'I think it will be terrible for all those countries who worked so hard to get the Test status.'
Former India batter Yuvraj Singh believes players struggling for form should return to domestic cricket, regardless of their national team stature, amid the debate over Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing Ranji Trophy.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri advice to Konstas was to focus on his "strengths".
Ravi Shastri guided India to back-to-back series wins in Australia and his short advice to current head coach Gautam Gambhir is to "stay calm" over the course of five Tests Down Under and avoid knee-jerk reactions.
Rishabh Pant's absence from India's ODI playing XI has sparked debate, with many questioning the team's strategy of promoting Axar Patel ahead of the explosive wicketkeeper-batter. While Axar's contributions in the first two ODIs against England have been lauded, critics argue that Pant's potential impact in crucial phases of the game cannot be overlooked. The team's reliance on a left-right batting combination has also been questioned, with some questioning the effectiveness of placing KL Rahul at No. 6, a position perceived as unsuitable for his style of play. Former players and experts have weighed in on the matter, highlighting the complex situation and raising concerns about the long-term implications of these tactical decisions.
India, came into the tournament after a disastrous bilateral series, is onfident of winning.
Harshit Rana's debut as a concussion substitute became a central talking point, overshadowing India's series-clinching 15-run victory and its unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
'We were not thinking about a series win because we were just bowled out for 36.' 'The mood in the dressing room was a bit down. Ravi Bhai organised a team dinner. He arranged for karaoke, he started singing. He sang old Hindi songs. Everybody joined in.'
In her now-deleted post, Mohamed said Sharma is "fat for a sportsman". "Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!" she said.
The 51-year-old maestro effortlessly adapted to the new sport, delivering powerful hits and captivating the crowd with his skills.
'The captain of a country doesn't opt out of the final Test match of a series, a final-deciding Test match.'
'Completely acted wrong': Kohli shock as star avoids ban for 'ridiculous' clash with Aussie teen'
Ravi Shastri is tipping the side he had coached to continue their recent dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Mohammed Shami is set to compete in the last two Tests of the ongoing series against Australia with his playing kit already headed Down Under
Gambhir was named India Head Coach in July after the end of Rahul Dravid's tenure.
Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane joined the bandwagon of Indian players, who have attributed Team Director Ravi Shastri for bringing about a turnaround in team's fortunes with his technical inputs in the ongoing ODI series after their dismal show in the Test matches.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Shubman Gill has also confirmed his availability for Punjab's upcoming Ranji Trophy sixth-round fixture against Karnataka, set to begin on January 23.
Virat Kohli's career was hanging by a thread after a disappointing showing with the bat in Australia.
Paine's comments stemmed from a recent media interaction where Gambhir took issue with Ricky Ponting's remarks on Virat Kohli's struggling form, saying that the Australian legend need not be concerned about Indian cricket.
'We all knew he was dangerous, but that first shot he played off Jasprit Bumrah, that cover drive, off the front foot.' 'It told me that this is a player in prime, prime form.'
Delhi's young batter Priyansh Arya smashed his way into the record books by smashing six sixes in an over during the Delhi Premier League match on Saturday.
Shastri said India's coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir will have to ensure that the players are in a "good state of mind" going into the five-Test affair starting on November 22 at Optus Stadium in Perth.
I was really surprised when he wasn't flown out even halfway through the series, two Test matches in.'
Gautam Gambhir's position as India's head coach is under scrutiny following a string of disappointing results and reports of discontent within the team.
Former coach Ravi Shastri has backed India to win the Boxing Day Test, saying the visitors have exploited Australia's "brittle" top order to have their "nose ahead" in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
'I want him to get out there, smash it, try and win this Test match.'
Can the young trio of Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Akash Deep leave a mark in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series?
'It's not really up to Rohit Sharma.' 'The chairman of selectors has the power to do what's best for Indian cricket, so it's not so much about Rohit himself deciding what should be the future.'
'He devoted his entire life for the betterment of Mumbai cricket and cricketers.' 'Even when he left for the Elysian Fields, he was in harness as mentor/advisor to the MCA.' Hemant Kenkre mourns the passing of Mumbai cricket icon Milind Rege.
Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant must remain injury-free and in top form if India are to achieve a historic hat-trick of series wins in Australia, said former captain Ian Chappell.
MCC President Mark Nicholas said the views were not to suggest Test cricket was unwarranted, and that cricket needed money to sustain itself.
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