There was optimism mingled with conviction in VVS Laxman's tone and tenor as the batting great today predicted the start of an era of prolonged dominance by the current Indian Test team, akin to the great West Indian and Australian sides of the past. As the long home season begin with the Kanpur Test against New Zealand, India are seeking to become the numero uno side in Test cricket and Laxman, who called captain Virat Kohli a "trendsetter", felt achieving the number one status will just be the beginning of a long journey.
India captain Virat Kohli says the responsibility of leading the team motivates him to push his limits in testing conditions which eventually helps him score big Test hundreds.
Sourav Ganguly on Friday used the oft-repeated remark 'cricket is a captain's game' before saying 'man-management and situation-understanding skills' make good coaches, apart from skills.
The 42-year-old batsman played 31 Tests and scored 1,944 runs, at an average of 34.11. He has five hundreds and 11 fifties in the longest format, with 212 his highest score.
India will tour the West Indies for a five-ODI series starting June 23 followed by a lone Twenty20 match on July 9.
A total of 62 players were sold at the auction for the 13th edition with the eight franchises spending a total of 1.403 billion rupees ($19.73 million). Australia's Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy ever in the Indian Premier League when the Kolkata Knight Riders paid a staggering Rs 15.50 crore ($2.18 million) for the fast bowler in Thursday's auction in Kolkata on Thursday.
While current coach Anil Kumble is an automatic entry into the process, the others in the fray are Australian Tom Moody and Englishman Richard Pybus.
With Anil Kumble's contract ending after the ICC Champions Trophy, the Board of Control for Cricket India on Thursday invited applications for the post of head coach for the senior men's team.
The Indian team is unlikely to get a new coach anytime soon with the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee member Sourav Ganguly today saying it will take another couple of months to find a suitable candidate for the high-profile position. This means the team will be without a full-time coach during its tour of Zimbabwe beginning June 11. "It will happen in the next couple of months. I am not too sure if it happens before the Zimbabwe tour because it is not too far away," said Ganguly, who is on the advisory panel, alongside Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman. Post the short tour of Zimbabwe, India travel to the West Indies for a four-match Test series in July-August. Since Duncan Fletcher's departure, India played under the guidance of team director Ravi Shastri, whose tenure ended with the World T20 in March-April.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Monday backed Rahul Dravid as one of the best candidates to coach the Indian cricket team.
Sporting fraternity hails Sindhu's historic World C'ships gold
Not really impressed with the preparation that India will have going into the Test series against Australia, former captain Sourav Ganguly has said a couple of two-day practice games are just not enough.
Sachin Tendulkar has categorically refuted all allegations of Conflict of Interest levelled against him, claiming to have neither "received any compensation" nor of held any decision-making role in IPL franchise Mumbai Indians.
Here are the statistical analysis at the end of the four-match series between India and Australia.
In a letter written to Rai, COA member Edulji accused the chairman and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri of breaking rules while appointing Ravi Shastri as the men's team coach in July last year.
Cheteshwar Pujara stood firm to guide India to 151 for three at stumps on Day 3 for an overall lead of 166 runs.
Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly revealed on Friday that India skipper Virat Kohli is open to the idea of playing day-night Tests. His comments come following a meeting with Kohli, in Mumbai on Thursday, during which the idea was floated.
Sourav Ganguly will have his hands full during his nine-month tenure
Statistical highlights on Day four of the opening cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, in Kolkata on Sunday.
All excited about shaping the next generation of cricketers, newly-appointed India A and under-19 coach Rahul Dravid said he has landed the job he was always interested in and would now look to give his best to it.
India's Test side have struggled away from the subcontinent in recent years and new coach Anil Kumble has put top priority on building a team that can travel with confidence.
Anil Kumble on his plans for India's cricket team after being named coach.
Virat Kohli should resolve the row amicably with the concerned scribe.
Senior Board of Control for Cricket in India functionary Rajeev Shukla says the decision to give Team Director Ravi Shastri an extension till the 2016 World Cup was based on his good performance and rapport with the players.
It will come as little comfort to India after going 2-0 down in the four-match Test series against Australia but the young touring party have already put on a much better showing than the much vaunted 2011-2012 vintage.
'Ravi Shastri's contract has ended. We are looking at a full-time coach.'
Check out the statistical highlights on Day 1 of the second Test between India and New Zealand.
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Wednesday said that the 2001 Test series in India, which was won by the hosts, was one of the most remarkable series that he has ever played in. The 41-year-old right handed batsman walked down the memory lane and talked about the historic 2001 India-Australia series, saying: "2001 series was probably the most remarkable Test series I have played in.
The Virat Kohli-led team must take inspiration from the last trip to Sri Lanka, in 2010, when India beat Sri Lanka by five wickets, thanks to hundreds from Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman.
From Chandu Borde and Salim Durani -- the architects of India's first Test victory at Eden Gardens -- to Sourav Ganguly, the stadium's rich history was hailed as the Cricket Association of Bengal began its 150 years' celebrations of the stadium with a book and documentary launch on Thursday.
Former Australian great Greg Chappell feels that coaching Indian cricket team for two years was a "bit more complicated" than he would have apprehended as there are "so many layers to life in India". "It was perhaps a little bit more complicated than anyone could have imagined. There were so many layers to life in India, let alone cricket. That was pretty hard to expect anyone to master, particularly an outsider," Chappell told ESPN Cricinfo in an interview.
India skipper Virat Kohli and his predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among the top players who are retained by their respective Indian Premier League franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore and comeback outfit Chennai Super Kings respectively.
Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody has expressed unhappiness at the way the target for Royal Challengers Bangalore was revised under Duckworth/Lewis method.
Top officials of the environment ministry, Delhi Development Authority and municipal commissioners also stayed away from the deliberations.
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli insists that the team, whose best finish over the last seven editions of the IPL is runners-up in 2009 and 2011, can will the title this time.
With a tally of 19 wickets in the series so far, Moeen Ali is the second highest-wicket taker from both sides after team mate James Anderson, who has 21 dismissals to his name. Incidentally, only three spinners have taken more wickets against India outside Asia.
Stressing on the fact that most of the Indian batsmen's form has been a big factor in India's success so far, former batsman VVS Laxman expects them to fire on all cylinders during the quarter-final stages as well.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 1:
Former chairman of national selection committee Sandeep Patil called Yuvraj Singh 'God's gift' to Indian cricket but said form and fitness will hold the key to the seasoned campaigner's participation in the 2019 World Cup.