IPL 2026 will be more about tracking the performance of those 20-odd players who are going to be in the mix for the 50-overs World Cup.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Virat Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit Sharma paved the way for India's victory in the series-opener in Ranchi.
Former players Irfan Pathan and Venkatesh Prasad have questioned the Indian team's muddled approach, lack of stability and the increasing reliance on all-rounders.
Senior India pace bowler Zaheer Khan and prolific batsman Cheteshwar Pujara left Mumbai by an early morning flight to South Africa along with three other players well ahead of the two-Test series against the hosts.
Italy's World Cup drought continues after a playoff loss to Bosnia, while the Czech Republic and Sweden secured their spots in the tournament with dramatic victories over Denmark and Poland, respectively.
Shafali Verma, whose blazing 87 and two key wickets powered the country to its maiden ICC Women's World Cup title, was named in the ICC Player of the Month shortlist for November.
'India will have to use him carefully. If they want him to bowl three overs early, then Arshdeep Singh has to partner Bumrah in the death overs.'
Already through to the quarter-finals, hosts India blanked debutants Brazil 4-0 in their final Pool B match of the Squash World Cup in Chennai on Thursday.
Opener Ajinkya Rahane's classy 92 went in vain as India slumped to a four-wicket defeat against South Africa in their fourth 50-over match of the Emerging Players Tournament in Brisbane, on Sunday. This was India's third 50-over defeat in the tournament. The Badrinath-led Indian side had also been beaten by the Australian Institute of Sports on July 23.
AB de Villiers scored an unbeaten 79 as South Africa trounced Scotland by 130 runs in their opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Oval on Sunday. Chasing a huge 212 to win after South Africa amassed 211 for five, Scotland were all out for 81, the seventh lowest in Twenty20 internationals and second worst in the Twenty20 World Cup following Kenya's 73 against New Zealand in Durban two years ago.
Images from Day 3 of the third Test between South Africa and India, in Cape Town, on Thursday.
Rishabh Pant is set to bat at number three for Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming IPL season, a strategic move aimed at revitalising his form and securing a spot in India's T20 plans. With a hefty price tag and the pressure to perform, Pant's success in this role is crucial for both his team and his international career.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between South Africa and Australia in Port Elizabeth on Monday.
Harmanpreet Kaur has become the most capped international player in women's cricket history, surpassing Suzie Bates during the second T20I against Australia in Canberra.
India face a tough spin challenge from England in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, as both teams aim for a perfect game in the high-pressure knockout.
In India's first innings, only Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 97 balls) and Washington Sundar (48 off 92 balls) could contribute substantially as the home team suffered a batting collapse after starting the day at 9 for no loss.
Tilak Varma posted some pictures and videos on his social media, showcasing his rehab process as he prepares to make a return to Team India ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup.
IMAGES from the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa in Dharamsala on Sunday.
'The Government of India could aggressively promote developmental projects that will alleviate poverty particularly in communities where South Africans of Indian origin and our black brothers and sisters live as neighbours.'
Now in 16 ODIs against South Africa, the spinner has taken 36 wickets at an average of 17.58, with a strike rate of 21.3 and an economy rate of 4.95.
Ian Bell came of age as an England batsman on Friday with a monumental 199 on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Lord's.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson's brilliant spell of bowling helped Australia make a strong comeback and seize the initiative by the end of Day 2 in the first Test against South Africa at the WACA in Perth on Thursday. Johnson registered his best figures in Test cricket as he claimed seven for 42 to leave South Africa reeling at 234 for 8 at close.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that his side was "completely outplayed" by South Africa in the first one-dayer in Durban.
South Africa won the second Test against Bangladesh by an innings and 48 runs on Friday after three middle-order run-outs contributed to the visitors' feeble second innings 131 all out.
India, who need 354 runs to win, were reduced to 38 for 2 on day four of the second Test.
Records were shattered at Centurion as South Africa pulled off the highest successful run chase in T20s to hand West Indies a six-wicket loss.
A video showing Gautam Gambhir and Hardik Pandya engaged in an animated chat after the defeat in the second T20I vs South Africa has gone viral.
Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube to play two matches for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy
India overpowered South Africa by 16 runs in a high-scoring contest in the second T20 International in Guwahati on Sunday to register their first-ever T20 home series victory against the Proteas.
'It was more about taking it step-by-step, not just throwing out what I think straight away to the team. We are busy rebuilding as a limited overs team, especially ODIs. Twenty20 I think we know what is going on.'
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test, played between South Africa and India at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Tuesday.
South Africa finished their engagements with five points from as many games.
Gautam Gambhir slammed critics who had advocated for split coaching for Team India after the recent Test series defeat against South Africa
Ravi Shastri believes India too will "take off" in next month's T20 World Cup if their explosive opener Abhishek Sharma fires, while Kevin Pietersen hailed the lefthander as a "proper star".
Kohli promised to up the ante in the remaining three games.
Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan is focusing on versatility and adaptability for the upcoming IPL season, drawing lessons from his recent experiences with the Indian Test team and overcoming a rib-cage injury.
Right from the moment England captain Alastair Cook won the toss, his team did no wrong. The hosts humiliated South Africa as they handed them a crushing seven-wicket-defeat with 75 balls to spare in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, in London, on Wednesday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed his maiden ODI hundred to power India to a 2-1 series win after they thrashed against South Africa by nine wickets in the third and final ODI.
India's formidably consistent match-winners have a date with history in the New Year when they take on an out-of-sorts South Africa in the second Test in Johannesburg from Monday in pursuit of a coveted first-ever series win in the Rainbow Nation.
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