India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained the team's rationale behind playing an all-rounder at No 8 rather than fielding a specialist bowler.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2025 after Game 39.
Responding to India's squad selection for the home series against West Indies, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan opined that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could have been rested for the series in order to groom a young fast bowler.
'Captaincy for India is slightly different to captaining a franchise or any state side; it comes with its own responsibilities and the pressure.'
An injury-plagued India could be forced to depart from their preferred template when they takes on a reinvigorated England in the fourth Test starting in Manchester on Wednesday.
Shubman Gill had fired a verbal salvo at Zak Crawley during the Lord's Test after he and his opening partner Ben Duckett arrived 90 seconds late to the crease.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes India is in "safe hands" and has "enough talent" to trounce England, but it will all come down to how the young-looking squad will leave a mark in the series on a territory known for being "tough".
Pacer Anshul Kamboj has been added to the India squad in England as cover for Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Friday said star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was still recuperating from a back injury and that the team was waiting for him to be cleared by the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Skipper Shreyas Iyer led from the front on his debut for Punjab Kings with a scintillating knock, while Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler fought bravely for Gujarat Titans.
In a video shared on BCCI's X handle, the playing were seen performing intense drills as they prepped ahead of the opening Test against England.
Karun Nair has managed only 131 runs across six innings at a below-par average of 21.83, in the first three Tests against England.
The Indian cricket team's upcoming tour of England will be an examination for new Test leader Shubman Gill, and his success as captain will depend on his own batting performance, reckons former India selector Saba Karim.
Shubman Gill's return to his former IPL home was the stage for a batting masterclass. His near-flawless 90 off 55 balls, brimming with elegance, control, and quiet authority.
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill did not forget to mention that they were 15 runs short while batting, as the net run-rate did not witness a quantum leap despite their 35-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Rahul Tewatia's entertaining cameo of 36 from 18 balls was the turning point for the Gujarat Titans.
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
The Indian Test team in near future won't have any player wearing the jersey No.18 that belonged to legendary Virat Kohli for the last 14 years
For the fourth-placed Titans, Shubman has also found a perfect foil in left-handed B Sai Sudharsan as opening partner. On his part, Sudharsan has topped the charts for the Titans with 504 runs in 10 matches at 50.40 and a strike rate of 154.12 with five half-centuries.
A delighted Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill credited his team's strong start to the IPL season to a collective effort, with everyone chipping in.
After the proceedings began with light warm-up and catching, the action shifted to the nets where all batters had long stints in the nets while the other pace bowlers too put in the hard yards.
'...I thought Test cricket was gone. To be back involved is really cool and I've got to try and enjoy each day that I get.'
Yashasvi Jaiswal, once the toast of Indian cricket and Rajasthan Royals' poster boy, now finds himself in a worrying form slump in the ongoing IPL 2025
Soon after gently rolling his arm over in the field of play, Akash Deep cut a forlorn figure as uncapped Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna bowled full tilt at India's first outdoor training session ahead of the fourth Test.
Despite having an impeccable domestic record and a decent start to his international career, he was not picked for the England tour as selectors preferred Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair over him.
As India went into the second Test against England on Wednesday without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, former players and coaches questioned the thinking behind resting the world's best bowler when they trail 0-1 in the series.
Shubman Gill's return to form will provide a big boost to Gujarat Titans as they square off against table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders in their must-win IPL game in Ahmedabad on Monday.
GT not worried about Buttler's absence in playoffs, confident others will make big impact: Wade
India will ponder whether they want to include Washington Sundar, who is quite handy with the bat or Kuldeep Yadav, who is a much better wicket-taking option.
India pacer Akash Deep was on Tuesday ruled out of the fourth Test against England due to a groin injury, and captain Shubman Gill said uncapped fast bowler Anshul Kamboj is close to making his debut at Old Trafford.
Pace great James Anderson believes the new-look Indian team will prove to be a strong opposition for England in the upcoming five-Test series.
India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is up and running in Beckenham, putting in the hard yards before the upcoming five high-stakes Tests against England, slated to kick off on June 20 at Headingley.
The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin has opened the door for other spin all-rounders to step up, and Vidyut is confident that Washington Sundar could be the one to watch.
The Indian team management has decided to retain Devdutt Padikkal, who was part of the India A team, as a backup for the senior team in Australia.
IPL 2025 recap: From Kohli and RCB conquering final frontier to decline of champions
IMAGES from the IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad on Saturday
'Those who are very good at playing along the ground are also very good at playing in the air in same direction.'
Will Jacks reached his half-century in 14.2 overs and brought up his 100 in 16 overs!
The BCCI has also named one inter-squad for a three-day match slated for December 20 to 22.
England head coach Brendon McCullum believes India have arrived well-prepared and full of belief for the upcoming five-match Test series
