'I guess the thinking going into the last Test, we wanted to strengthen the batting'
Jasprit Bumrah, who captained India in Perth, returned with excellent match figures of 8/72 as India crushed Australia by 295 runs.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, is the other Indian giving Bumrah company in the top-10, having climbed a spot to be joint-ninth.
'What they bring to the table (can) never be written off.'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2025 after Game 39.
Gambhir's tenure officially begins when India play three T20 internationals and three ODIs in Sri Lanka starting on Saturday in Pallekele.
Ashwin's performance earned him praise and humour from fans online. Many playfully acknowledged his transformation from a renowned bowler to a reliable middle-order batsman.
'...whether he is a top player or not, it doesn't matter.' 'If I go by a player's name I won't be able to bowl at my best.' 'For me he is just a batter, and my only focus is where I need to land the ball.'
When a few fans called out his name, he instructed the security team to let them approach.
The iconic MCG won't have the bounce of Perth or the seam movement of Gabba but it will still be pace-friendly with 6mm of grass covering
Pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and the others found it difficult to generate the expected bounce on the used pitches. Reports indicate that deliveries barely rose waist-high, even when the bowlers hit the deck hard.
'Imagine Thala & Thalapathy in this field together!' -- a nod to the iconic duo's immense popularity.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the third Test against Australia in Brisbane?
'They haven't done a lot wrong. That's without some of their stars actually performing in that final.'
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has called for an improved performance from India's batting unit in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, saying the lack of runs from the top-order builds pressure on the lower-order.
Jasprit Bumrah is also the second fastest Indian along with Ravindra Jadeja to complete 200 wickets in Test cricket.
'Five spinners, Siraj ignored for Rana, and Jaiswal dropped. Brain-faded captain and coach combo!'
India's Abhishek Sharma has surged to the second spot in the ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for batters after a stunning 135-run innings in the fifth and final T20I against England.
India won their seventh ICC trophy, while registering their third Champions Trophy triumph.
'I was just doing my gloves when I got the little shoulder charge, but it happens in cricket.'
Rohit Sharma smashed his 32nd ODI century -- a 90-ball 119 -- to guide India to a four-wicket victory over England.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 2nd Test played between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur, on Tuesday.
Images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Langer remains hopeful for Kohli's comeback, saying, "I just hope, if this is the last time (Kohli) is out here, people enjoy it because he is a superstar."
Shubman Gill dispelled all doubts about his thumb injury with a stylish fifty even as skipper Rohit Sharma kept cards close to his chest by coming in at No. 4 in India's curtailed pink-ball warm-up game against Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on Sunday.
Bumrah leads a competitive field, including South African speedster Kagiso Rabada (856) and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood (851).
Despite often flying under the radar in discussions about India's all-round options, Axar Patel brings a rare skill set -- a spinner, who bashes spin with his bat, while being a reliable left-arm spinner.
'I think Rohit should play aggressively. You saw how he batted in the ODI World Cup -- he was attacking even in the final. So, I believe his approach will remain the same.'
Key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to consider stepping away from the Test format to make way for a new generation of talent.
'Certain formats require a certain skill set and whenever we look at these kinds of players, if the talent is there, then you don't want to shy away from blooding them.'
Families will not be accompanying the Indian cricket players heading to Dubai on February 15 for the ICC Champions Trophy as the BCCI's new travel policy comes into effect for the first time with this tournament.
India needed Rohit Sharma to open, Washington Washington's variation at MCG: Abhishek Nayar on axing Shubman Gill
'Kanpur #TeamIndia hit the ground running ahead of the 2nd #INDvBAN Test.'
'The stakes are too high and it would have been a complete embarrassment had Bumrah broken down in a match.'
Dhoni's fans can now look forward to seeing him captivate the crowd at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Images from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between India and New Zealand, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
RCB handed CSK a 50-run thrashing -- their biggest defeat at home in the IPL.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was on Saturday expectedly picked in the India squad for the Champions Trophy and pacer Mohammed Shami returned to national fold
India claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead over England after captain Rohit Sharma's rapid hundred secured a four-wicket win in the second one-day international on Sunday.
It seems Team India is balancing pre-tournament preparations with exploring the vibrant city.
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