Despite the challenging build-up, Gambhir said he is "extremely confident" of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The players will hope to be as confident as they prepare for the fight to keep their World Test Final chances alive.
Smith said the IPL has helped him get used to play alongside rival international players and he is eager to play alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been leading Sussex this season.
Ever since he has come back into the Indian team last year in October last year, Varun Chakravarthy has proved to be unstoppable, picking up 27 wickets in 10 matches
By avoiding the follow-on and standing firm against Australia's aggression, India ensured that they stayed alive in the series.
Cameron Green's injury could open up the door for Cameron Bancroft's Test recall in the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India next month.
Rohit Sharma's decision-making has come under intense scrutiny, especially after the team's failure to contain Australia's innings in the first session of Day 2.
Australia batsman Steve Smith scored a half-century before pacer Mitchell Starc bagged a hat-trick to rip through the Netherlands top order in a rain-affected warm-up game in Thiruvananthapuram
Cheteshwar Pujara will get a chance to sneak peek into Steve Smith's preparations ahead of the high-profile World Test Championship final, starting June 7, as the former Australian skipper gears up to play three English county games for Sussex this month.
Though Australia have dominated the rain-hit Test, time will most likely deny the hosts.
Steve Smith hasn't enjoyed an ideal start in his new role as as opener, with 171 runs from four Tests at an average of 28.
Seasoned Australian batter Steve Smith has spoken glowingly of Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, calling the Indian arguably the best fast bowler across formats.
Sanju Samson's technical weaknesses against express pace along with Rinku Singh's dip in form and fitness issues will be a concern for India
ICC chairperson Jay Shah has been inducted into the newly formed World Cricket Connects Advisory Board, an independent group that will discuss the future of cricket at the Lord's on June 7 and 8.
India's batters will need to fire on all cylinders when they come out to bat and former India spinner Harbhajan Singh lists key strategies the visitors will need to adopt to claw back into the game.
Travis Head has been a thorn in India's side, hitting three centuries and two fifties in his last seven innings against them.
Brydon Carse took six for 42 before England comfortably chased down their 104-run victory target in the first Test against New Zealand
Former Australia opener David Warner on Tuesday said he is willing to come out of retirement and play against India in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, if the home team needs him in the opening slot.
Almost half of the Australian team currently playing in the T20 International series in India will return home after the third match in Guwahati.
India will look to extend lead against England
With the T20 format set to be played at the LA 28 Olympics, Smith sees himself playing the shortest format of cricket in the next four years.
'We know Dinesh Karthik will be here this year which is fantastic and it's great for the tournament.'
'We've got some areas we can improve, there's some growth within the team and there's two obvious ones.'
Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has mounted a spirited defence of David Warner.
Selectors will likely opt for another batter to cover for all-rounder Green in the India series and possibly an opener if Steve Smith is restored to the number four spot.
Steve Smith scored an unbeaten 85 to guide Australia to 339/5 as England wasted favourable bowling conditions on the first day of the second Ashes Test.
'So there was some good fight there and they got some rewards late in the day. So yeah, I think both teams will be pleased with their efforts.'
It means the inaugural World Test Championship winners face a tough ask to qualify for next year's one-off Test in June 2025, with two wins against England and several other results also needing to go their way if they are to reach the Lord's decider.
A deflected late strike from Lisandro Martinez earned Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 victory at Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Travis Head played down concerns over his fitness after appearing to struggle with a potential groin issue
Australian pacer Peter Siddle reminisced about his famous partnership with Steve Smith in 2019 at Edgbaston against England in the Ashes series ahead of Smith's 100th Test appearance.
Nasser Hussain hailed Pakistan's debutant batter Kamran Ghulam for his century during the second Test against Three Lions at Multa
Harry Brook matched the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's career-high of 898 rating points in the ICC Test batting rankings.
Virat Kohli's refusal to make changes in his batting to overcome a weakness outside the off-stump has seen his average drop from the 50s to 48.13, says former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar.
Images from Day 2 of the 'Pink-ball' second Test between Australia and India in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Indian batters' inability to grind it out against a relentless Australian pace attack in testing conditions left the team precariously placed at 51/4 at the end of a rain-marred day three.
Under this scholarship, first-year MBBS students from government colleges are eligible to receive monetary assistance of up to Rs 1,00,000 per year for a duration of up to 4.5 years, covering academic expenses incurred towards their MBBS degree.
England captain Jos Buttler is confident that the upcoming T20I series against India will not impact their preparation for the Champions Trophy.
Eden Gardens will host the first game of the five match T20I series between India and England on Wednesday.
Images from Day 5 in the fourth Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.
'I've been bowling here for the Melbourne Stars, I know the pitch, I know the length.'
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