South Africa's two-test series success over Sri Lanka on Monday catapulted them to first place in the World Test Championship and put them firmly on course for next year's final in what would have been unthinkable less than a year ago.
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Friday acknowledged that Sanju Samson has been going through a lean phase without doubting the quality of the struggling batter, and reiterated the team management's support for him.
'I am where I have to be and whatever is written in my destiny no one can take that from me.'
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad termed his team's tour of India "a very successful one" and expressed hope that the two teams meet once again in the final of the next year's T20 World Cup.
India beat South Africa by seven wickets on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the T20 series after their bowlers skittled the tourists for 117, with Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh's performance setting up the platform for a dominant win for the hosts in Dharamsala.
Gupta highlighted that a packed Lord's during the previous edition's final between Australia and South Africa, despite the absence of India and hosts England, was a landmark moment for the global governing body.
'I just go with the flow. I try to perform and be consistent as much as possible. Then whatever happens, happens. It's all God's plan.'
Former England captain Nasser Hussain slammed the International Cricket Council for its decision to exclude Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup for their refusal to play in India.
With three league games still to be played, the former champions would need outright victories in all their remaining fixtures to harbour any realistic chance of making it to the knockout stage.
India cricketers, along with coach Gautam Gambhir, visited Shri Jagannath Temple in Odisha's Puri on Tuesday to seek blessings ahead of the first T2OI of the five-match series against South Africa, set to be played on the same day at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium.
England faces Nepal in their T20 World Cup opener, hoping to shift focus from off-field issues surrounding captain Harry Brook. Nepal aims to make an impact after a strong showing in the previous edition.
India has a strong spin attack, my favourite team in T20 WC: Ganguly
New Zealand aims to regain their form against a formidable Afghanistan in their opening Group D match of the ICC T20 World Cup. Key players and strategies are under scrutiny as both teams seek a strong start in the tournament.
Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel urged India to include the in-form Ishan Kishan ahead of Sanju Samson
Mandhana's rating of 811 points did not change this week, while Wolvaardt dropped eight points from 814 to 806 after South Africa's victory over Ireland.
This was Virat Kohli's 84th century in international cricket only behind Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the world record with 100 hundreds.
Pak cricket fraternity questions seriousness of touring teams after depleted Aussies lose 1st T20I
Hardik Pandya is only the fourth Indian to complete a century of sixes in T20 Internationals.
India have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur.
Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc is once again giving husband goals to all the men out there.
In this rivalry, numbers fade and national pride takes centre stage.
Aakash Chopra has questioned the India team management's handling of allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The former India opener asked if the selectors and team management are on the same page about how, or even when, Nitish should be used.
The Namibia match could be a God-sent opportunity for an out-of-form Sanju Samson to get into run-scoring mode after a string of failures that saw him lose his place to Ishan Kishan, who is going through a purple patch.
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy reflects on years of waiting, breaking a Sir Richard Hadlee record and finally making his World Cup debut at 31.
Kapil backs India in T20s, stresses focus on Test cricket
India all-rounder Axar Patel was on Monday ruled out of the remaining two T20 Internationals against South Africa due to illness with the BCCI's selection committee naming Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement.
The Indian men ruled white-ball cricket, while South Africa ended decades of hurt by winning the World Test Championship at Lord's. Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted their maiden IPL title, though the celebrations were dimmed by a deadly stampede. Above all, it was India's women who won a billion hearts by finally adding an ICC World Cup trophy to the cabinet.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former men's skipper Rohit Sharma headline the list of sportspersons to be honoured with Padma awards this Republic Day.
Even as the focus remains on the T20 World Cup which is less than a month away, Kohli and Rohit will hog the limelight in the three ODIs over the next seven days.
'We are fully focused on this series. Every series is important. Individually for these players, there's a lot at stake.'
Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube to play two matches for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy
'He's the guy who can win you games with bat and ball. He can bowl in any situation, he can bat anywhere in the line up.'
Hardik Pandya and girlfriend Mahieka Sharma made for a picture-perfect pair at a friend's wedding, both donning matching red outfits as they celebrated the festive occasion together.
Form and familiarity favour India in T20 World Cup
'I think any experience in the sub-continent is valuable.'
The Netherlands delivered a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Namibia to 156 for 8 in their T20 World Cup Group A match, despite a recovery in the middle overs by the Namibian side.
Australia pace spearhead Pat Cummins says his injury-forced withdrawal from the T20 World Cup was also driven by a desire to be completely fit for the upcoming Test season.
'In India, it is our tradition that if the team plays well, everyone is quiet, but as soon as the team plays poorly, we get on top of the coach.'
'India-Pakistan match, if it does not happen, no big deal. Honestly, for a long time now, the actual game has never lived up to the hype and the drama we built up before the match.'
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