As India is set to begin their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting from Saturday (August 15), with the first match set to take place in Galle, the squad's bowling lineup still depends heavily on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who have always been game-changers in both red-ball and white-ball formats. However, the absence of Bumrah in the series due to a fitness clearance issue from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (COE) could be a major blow to the bowling attack, putting the pressure solely on Siraj. Meanwhile, Manav Suthar's test debut against Afghanistan in June 2026 surprised selectors, offering a sign of confidence and hope for the bowling lineup besides Siraj. However, Gurnoor Brar's inclusion still remains a concern, as this will be his debut for the Test and he has not been quite impressive in the white-ball formats that he has played ODIs against Afghanistan and England.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1786702856138">IND vs SL, 1st Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a><h2>Experienced pacer Navdeep Saini opens up</h2>Amid all this, questions also arise about another pacer, Navdeep Saini, who made his debut in 2019 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli and last played his International cricket against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021. Since then, he has not been part of Team India, though he still continues to prove his skills at the domestic level and in the IPL.&nbsp;The 33-year-old pacer, who is part of Outer Delhi Warriors, has taken nine wickets in 6 matches so far in the ongoing third edition of the Delhi Premier League T20. &nbsp;He expressed his view about his way of giving advice to young cricketers as an experienced bowler at the domestic level and implementing different bowling attacks across formats and tournaments. Reacting to WION about the way he advises young bowlers, he said, "If young bowlers ask me about targeting a particular batsman with a plan, then I have a conversation and suggest accordingly." Sharing his thoughts on judgement and using different skills based on the pressure of the different formats, including DPL and IPL, the pacer from Outer Delhi Warriors said, " When we play continuously, we have different experiences of different formats. When we play DPL, IPL or any other domestic matches, then with the advent of time and experience we develop ideas of executing our skills. New players might face problems at the initial stage of the different formats, but as we gain experience, we learn to manage pressure accordingly, and we keep learning until we retire from cricket." When asked about the tough part he came across while playing for 3 different franchises in the cash-rich league: RCB, KKR and Rajasthan Royals, he responded, "While playing for three different franchises, the tough part was playing on RCB's ground as it is very small and a flat pitch, which made me think a bit while planning and bowling. However, I enjoyed playing at RCB as I didn't face much trouble while delivering balls."&nbsp;&nbsp;Towards the end, when asked about who is the one batsman that he found the toughest to bowl to. His answer was not Virat or Steve Smith or Joe Root but Rishabh Pant.

Navdeep Saini, who made his debut in 2019 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli and last played his International cricket against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021. Since then, he has not been part of Team India.

As India is set to begin their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting from Saturday (August 15), with the first match set to take place in Galle, the squad's bowling lineup still depends heavily on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who have always been game-changers in both red-ball and white-ball formats. However, the absence of Bumrah in the series due to a fitness clearance issue from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (COE) could be a major blow to the bowling attack, putting the pressure solely on Siraj. Meanwhile, Manav Suthar's test debut against Afghanistan in June 2026 surprised selectors, offering a sign of confidence and hope for the bowling lineup besides Siraj. However, Gurnoor Brar's inclusion still remains a concern, as this will be his debut for the Test and he has not been quite impressive in the white-ball formats that he has played ODIs against Afghanistan and England. Also read: IND vs SL, 1st Test: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Experienced pacer Navdeep Saini opens up Amid all this, questions also arise about another pacer, Navdeep Saini, who made his debut in 2019 under the captaincy of Virat Kohli and last played his International cricket against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021. Since then, he has not been part of Team India, though he still continues to prove his skills at the domestic level and in the IPL. The 33-year-old pacer, who is part of Outer Delhi Warriors, has taken nine wickets in 6 matches so far in the ongoing third edition of the Delhi Premier League T20. He expressed his view about his way of giving advice to young cricketers as an experienced bowler at the domestic level and implementing different bowling attacks across formats and tournaments. Reacting to WION about the way he advises young bowlers, he said, "If young bowlers ask me about targeting a particular batsman with a plan, then I have a conversation and suggest accordingly." Sharing his thoughts on judgement and using different skills based on the pressure of the different formats, including DPL and IPL, the pacer from Outer Delhi Warriors said, " When we play continuously, we have different experiences of different formats. When we play DPL, IPL or any other domestic matches, then with the advent of time and experience we develop ideas of executing our skills. New players might face problems at the initial stage of the different formats, but as we gain experience, we learn to manage pressure accordingly, and we keep learning until we retire from cricket." When asked about the tough part he came across while playing for 3 different franchises in the cash-rich league: RCB, KKR and Rajasthan Royals, he responded, "While playing for three different franchises, the tough part was playing on RCB's ground as it is very small and a flat pitch, which made me think a bit while planning and bowling. However, I enjoyed playing at RCB as I didn't face much trouble while delivering balls." Towards the end, when asked about who is the one batsman that he found the toughest to bowl to. His answer was not Virat or Steve Smith or Joe Root but Rishabh Pant.

Fast bowler Navdeep Saini, who debuted in 2019 under Virat Kohli's captaincy, has been out of the national side since his last international appearance against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021.

WION Exclusive: 'We keep learning until we retire from cricket': Navdeep Saini opens up on importance of adapting as a cricketer

With just days remaining for the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in Navdeep Saini as an injury replacement for Harshit Rana. The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. Rana, who missed India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph with a right knee ligament injury, was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season recently.<h2>Navdeep Saini replaces Harshit Rana at KKR</h2>Speaking about joining the side, Navdeep said: “Joining KKR feels special—there’s an emotion attached to the franchise that you can’t quite put into words. For me, this opportunity is a fresh start. The last few years had their ups and downs, but I never stopped believing in my hard work, and this feels like the reward for staying the course."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Harshit Rana had suffered a knee strain during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. After this, the right-arm speedster underwent knee surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation, with no confirmation about the return of the Indian speedster by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. Meanwhile, Khejroliya replaces the injured Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat-based franchise. The left-arm pacer, who has six IPL wickets to his name, has previously featured for GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will join GT for Rs 30 Lakh.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a> Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026 season: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani. Gujarat Titans squad for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Luke Wood.

The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Navdeep Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. 

With just days remaining for the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in Navdeep Saini as an injury replacement for Harshit Rana. The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. Rana, who missed India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph with a right knee ligament injury, was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season recently. Navdeep Saini replaces Harshit Rana at KKR Speaking about joining the side, Navdeep said: “Joining KKR feels special—there’s an emotion attached to the franchise that you can’t quite put into words. For me, this opportunity is a fresh start. The last few years had their ups and downs, but I never stopped believing in my hard work, and this feels like the reward for staying the course." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Harshit Rana had suffered a knee strain during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. After this, the right-arm speedster underwent knee surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation, with no confirmation about the return of the Indian speedster by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. Meanwhile, Khejroliya replaces the injured Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat-based franchise. The left-arm pacer, who has six IPL wickets to his name, has previously featured for GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will join GT for Rs 30 Lakh. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026 season: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani. Gujarat Titans squad for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Luke Wood.

The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Navdeep Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium.&nbsp;

IPL 2026: KKR rope in Navdeep Saini as injury replacement for Harshit Rana

As <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/navdeep-saini">Navdeep Saini</a> walked towards the group of reporters, his eyes were beaming with confidence, and his stride was the kind that comes with a sense of purpose and joy. <o:p></o:p>
His broad smile and relaxed demeanour reflected the excitement of the day, one that had seen him deliver a brilliant performance with the ball on a charged-up opening day of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a> match. The atmosphere around Arun Jaitley Stadium was electric, largely due to Virat Kohli&rsquo;s much-anticipated return to domestic cricket with Delhi, and Saini&rsquo;s energy was just as infectious.<o:p></o:p>
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sl-vs-aus-galle-test-sri-lanka-lose-three-quick-wickets-after-australia-declare-on-654-6-8675605">SL vs AUS, Galle Test: Sri Lanka lose three quick wickets after Australia declare on 654-6</a>
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>&rsquo;s much-anticipated return to domestic cricket through the Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways sparked an electric atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. For pacer Navdeep Saini, who claimed 3-62 on day one, the excitement was palpable.<o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;Look, it&rsquo;s a big deal for me too, playing alongside Kohli. He&rsquo;s a legend. Just being in the dressing room with him lifts the whole team&rsquo;s energy. Over the past two days, our practice sessions have been a different vibe. His energy is so high that it lifts everyone around him. He&rsquo;s so involved on the field, always talking to the bowlers and the captain,&rdquo; shared Saini.<o:p></o:p>
&ldquo;Kohli gives 110% in everything&mdash;whether he&rsquo;s batting, fielding, or in the gym. Watching him train pushes you to follow his lead. That kind of effort carries over to the match itself. We didn&rsquo;t expect such a huge crowd, but when we walked into the ground this morning, the queue was so long that we knew we were in for something special,&rdquo; Saini added, reflecting on the hype.<o:p></o:p>
Asked if there was pressure on the young Delhi players with such a large crowd in attendance, Saini replied, &ldquo;For the younger guys, it&rsquo;s a proud moment to share the dressing room with Virat. Whether you're fielding at slip with him or asking him for advice on how to improve your game, it&rsquo;s a golden opportunity to learn.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
A standout moment of the day came when Karn Sharma attempted a big shot but was caught brilliantly by Yash Dhull in the deep. Kohli was the first to applaud Dhull&rsquo;s effort, sparking a roar from the crowd, who immediately began chanting, &ldquo;Kohli, Kohli.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">'Captain and I discussed the short-ball plan'</h2>
Reflecting on the game&rsquo;s strategy, Saini explained, "The captain and I discussed the short-ball plan, and Virat had a word with Badoni too. The pitch wasn&rsquo;t offering much, so we stayed patient. We knew bouncers could give us a chance for a wicket, even if we conceded some runs, and that&rsquo;s exactly what happened."<o:p></o:p>
Saini was also surprised by the pitch&rsquo;s behaviour after lunch, as it seemed to ease up despite having a greenish tinge earlier. &ldquo;The conditions in the morning were perfect for bowling, but the pitch played differently in the second session than we expected.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>

Cricket Sports: Navdeep Saini was also surprised by the pitch’s behaviour after lunch session, as it seemed to ease up despite having a greenish tinge earlier

As Navdeep Saini walked towards the group of reporters, his eyes were beaming with confidence, and his stride was the kind that comes with a sense of purpose and joy. His broad smile and relaxed demeanour reflected the excitement of the day, one that had seen him deliver a brilliant performance with the ball on a charged-up opening day of the Ranji Trophy match. The atmosphere around Arun Jaitley Stadium was electric, largely due to Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to domestic cricket with Delhi, and Saini’s energy was just as infectious. Also Read: SL vs AUS, Galle Test: Sri Lanka lose three quick wickets after Australia declare on 654-6 Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to domestic cricket through the Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Railways sparked an electric atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. For pacer Navdeep Saini, who claimed 3-62 on day one, the excitement was palpable. “Look, it’s a big deal for me too, playing alongside Kohli. He’s a legend. Just being in the dressing room with him lifts the whole team’s energy. Over the past two days, our practice sessions have been a different vibe. His energy is so high that it lifts everyone around him. He’s so involved on the field, always talking to the bowlers and the captain,” shared Saini. “Kohli gives 110% in everything—whether he’s batting, fielding, or in the gym. Watching him train pushes you to follow his lead. That kind of effort carries over to the match itself. We didn’t expect such a huge crowd, but when we walked into the ground this morning, the queue was so long that we knew we were in for something special,” Saini added, reflecting on the hype. Asked if there was pressure on the young Delhi players with such a large crowd in attendance, Saini replied, “For the younger guys, it’s a proud moment to share the dressing room with Virat. Whether you're fielding at slip with him or asking him for advice on how to improve your game, it’s a golden opportunity to learn.” A standout moment of the day came when Karn Sharma attempted a big shot but was caught brilliantly by Yash Dhull in the deep. Kohli was the first to applaud Dhull’s effort, sparking a roar from the crowd, who immediately began chanting, “Kohli, Kohli.” 'Captain and I discussed the short-ball plan' Reflecting on the game’s strategy, Saini explained, "The captain and I discussed the short-ball plan, and Virat had a word with Badoni too. The pitch wasn’t offering much, so we stayed patient. We knew bouncers could give us a chance for a wicket, even if we conceded some runs, and that’s exactly what happened." Saini was also surprised by the pitch’s behaviour after lunch, as it seemed to ease up despite having a greenish tinge earlier. “The conditions in the morning were perfect for bowling, but the pitch played differently in the second session than we expected.”

Ranji Trophy 2025: Kohli inspires, Saini delivers amid electric atmosphere

India’s Navdeep Saini was stunned to have returned to the Indian Test squad after the selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) showed faith in him during Friday’s announcement. Saini, on his way to London to play in the Country Championship, was surprisingly named in the Indian team for the West Indies tour. The pace sensation, if he plays in one of the two Test matches, would play his first match since January 2021 when India beat Australia.

<h2>Saini back in the Test fold</h2>

“I came here to play county (cricket), landing today itself, and the moment I got out from the airport, I received the news that I have been selected for the West Indies tour,” Saini said while speaking to The Indian Express in London.

Saini played in the historic Test match in January 2021 when India beat Australia under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy. Interestingly he did not pick any wickets in that contest as the visitors won the match by three wickets and the series 2-1.

Saini will now have the opportunity to impress playing for the national side as the selectors favoured him over Umesh Yadav. Veterans of the game, Yadav and Cheteshwar Pujara were dropped for the West Indies tour while Sarfaraz Khan was again overlooked despite a fruitful Ranji Trophy season.

“Honestly, I was not expecting this call. Yes, during the IPL, I was training with the Dukes ball because I thought I might get picked as a net bowler or would be among the standbys for the World Test Championship final.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-reacts-to-rumours-of-being-approached-for-chief-selectors-post-607724">Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag reacts to rumours of being approached for chief selector’s post</a>

“Hopefully, I will get to play one match before going to the West Indies. It will be good preparation for me to get some overs under my belt,” the right-arm pacer added.

The two-match Test series against West Indies starts on July 12. Rohit Sharma will continue to remain the skipper of the side while Ajinkya Rahane will once again be the vice-captain of the side.

<h2>India’s Test squad:</h2>

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini.

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India’s Navdeep Saini was stunned to have returned to the Indian Test squad after the selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) showed faith in him during Friday’s announcement.

India’s Navdeep Saini was stunned to have returned to the Indian Test squad after the selectors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) showed faith in him during Friday’s announcement. Saini, on his way to London to play in the Country Championship, was surprisingly named in the Indian team for the West Indies tour. The pace sensation, if he plays in one of the two Test matches, would play his first match since January 2021 when India beat Australia. Saini back in the Test fold “I came here to play county (cricket), landing today itself, and the moment I got out from the airport, I received the news that I have been selected for the West Indies tour,” Saini said while speaking to The Indian Express in London. Saini played in the historic Test match in January 2021 when India beat Australia under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy. Interestingly he did not pick any wickets in that contest as the visitors won the match by three wickets and the series 2-1. Saini will now have the opportunity to impress playing for the national side as the selectors favoured him over Umesh Yadav. Veterans of the game, Yadav and Cheteshwar Pujara were dropped for the West Indies tour while Sarfaraz Khan was again overlooked despite a fruitful Ranji Trophy season. “Honestly, I was not expecting this call. Yes, during the IPL, I was training with the Dukes ball because I thought I might get picked as a net bowler or would be among the standbys for the World Test Championship final. ALSO READ | Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag reacts to rumours of being approached for chief selector’s post “Hopefully, I will get to play one match before going to the West Indies. It will be good preparation for me to get some overs under my belt,” the right-arm pacer added. The two-match Test series against West Indies starts on July 12. Rohit Sharma will continue to remain the skipper of the side while Ajinkya Rahane will once again be the vice-captain of the side. India’s Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IND vs WI Test Series: Navdeep Saini STUNNED by surprise return to red-ball format, says 'I was not expecting'

The BCCI has named a few standbys for the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, the final 15-member squad for which was announced recently. As per the latest reports, the board has picked five players, mainly Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, as backups.

The BCCI has named a few standbys for the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, the final 15-member squad for which was announced recently. As per the latest reports, the board has picked five players, mainly Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar, as backups. Ahead of the final, which begins on June 7th at the Oval, the Indian team will also play a multi-day warm-up game. As per Times of India (TOI), an unnamed senior BCCI official has conveyed these names for standbys and also informed that those players, who will not feature in the IPL 2023 playoffs, which start from May 23rd, will travel to England earlier than others to get acclimatise to the conditions. ALSO READ: Kane Williamson can still travel to India for 50-over World Cup even if he's unfit, says Gary Stead The report also suggests that after consulting with MS Dhoni, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane was picked in the Test squad for the first time since January 2022. Rahane, sold to CSK for INR 50 lacs at last year's auction, has been a standout performer for Chennai Super Kings this season. Upon hitting his fastest fifty in his debut match for CSK, Rahane broke the shackles with his incredible 29-ball 71 against Kolkata Knight Riders, hitting six fours and five sixes. Trying to find his feet after losing the BCCI’s central contract, Rahane, who also did well in the Ranji season before this, shined under MS Dhoni in yellow colours – and given his run of form, he is not likely to put a full stop. While Rahane’s selection raised questions over the criteria for picking players in international cricket, a few others, like former head coach Ravi Shastri backed this call of going ahead with him in the all-important final. He even tweeted saying this was the best squad the selectors could have picked for the WTC final against Australia. Meanwhile, all of the above-mentioned standbys are currently plying their trade for their respective franchises in the IPL 2023, with Ruturaj doing well. Here is the final 15-man India squad for the WTC final – Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat

WTC Final: Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad picked as standbys, India likely to play a multi-day warm-up match

Match 30 of the IPL 2022 edition saw Rajasthan Royals (RR) face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Monday (April 18). The match went down to the wire as the high-scoring thriller produced plenty of moments for the ardent fans before the one-time winners Sanju Samson-led RR franchise emerged on top by seven runs.

The clash saw as many as 427 runs being scored in less than 40 overs along with 15 wickets being fallen. Thus, the match had something for everyone but it was predominantly led by the big-hitters. With RR being asked to bat first, they rode on Jos Buttler's 103 and rapid knocks from Samson-Shimron Hetmyer to post 217-5. In reply, KKR were in the hunt courtesy of skipper Shreyas Iyer's 85 and Aaron Finch's 58 along with Umesh Yadav's cameo before Yuzvendra Chahal's 5 for 40 propelled RR past the finish line.

R Ashwin, who returned with a wicket in the form of KKR's Andre Russell, was also part of the RR XI for the epic face-off versus KKR. Recalling his funny chat with Navdeep Saini and Prasidh Krishna, during Rajasthan's batting, the wily off-spin bowling all-rounder revealed how Saini kept the mood light in the dugout during the tense contest.

“Everybody was laughing while we were batting. Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) was laughing, and so were others. Except for a group, say a squad of four or five members was totally serious. And those were me, Saini, Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, &amp; Boult because we were going to bat next right? Saini did not play yesterday (in the game against KKR). Also, McCoy seems to be a silent type. And we were watching the match and then something happened like how it happens in Tamil cinema," Ashwin began, as he narrated the incident on his YouTube channel.

"Saini casually started like, "Bhaiya... what do you think are the safe total runs that should be on the board?" I was looking at the total &amp; replied back to him that they are playing well... So 230 runs should be safe for us. And Prasidh Krishna was like, "do you really think 230 is enough?"

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-arjun-tendulkar-impresses-with-unplayable-yorker-to-rattle-batters-stumps-ahead-of-mi-csk-tie-472723">WATCH: Arjun Tendulkar impresses with unplayable yorker to rattle batter's stumps ahead of MI-CSK tie</a>

Ashwin further asserted, “He (Prasidh) will speak both in Tamil and Kannada at times and I was like, dude 230 is really enough. Suddenly Saini seemed to be very silent like in a graveyard. He kept watching the match but it looked like he was not having any emotions on his face. And I said to him, you asked me a question and now, you are quiet. He said, “Bhaiya, I was having a deep contemplation and I think 300 runs should really be enough".

“He made us all burst into laughter even though it was a very tense situation. It was really good. After the match, we were going back to our dressing room. Kuldeep Sen was very happy. Saini came to me and said, this is why I was saying to you that 300 would have been the safest total. I was having a conversation with the Team management, Rajamani and all said that we were short of 10-15 runs. And Saini was like, Bhaiya, I already told you right. We were actually short of 80 runs,” Ashwin revealed.

Courtesy their seven-run win over KKR, RR are at the third position in the points table. They have four wins from six encounters and will now face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 22 (Friday).&nbsp;

Match 30 of the IPL 2022 edition saw Rajasthan Royals (RR) face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Monday (April 18). The match went down to the wire as the high-scoring thriller produced plenty of moments for the ardent fans before the one-time winners Sanju Samson-led RR franchise emerged on top by seven runs.

Match 30 of the IPL 2022 edition saw Rajasthan Royals (RR) face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Monday (April 18). The match went down to the wire as the high-scoring thriller produced plenty of moments for the ardent fans before the one-time winners Sanju Samson-led RR franchise emerged on top by seven runs. The clash saw as many as 427 runs being scored in less than 40 overs along with 15 wickets being fallen. Thus, the match had something for everyone but it was predominantly led by the big-hitters. With RR being asked to bat first, they rode on Jos Buttler's 103 and rapid knocks from Samson-Shimron Hetmyer to post 217-5. In reply, KKR were in the hunt courtesy of skipper Shreyas Iyer's 85 and Aaron Finch's 58 along with Umesh Yadav's cameo before Yuzvendra Chahal's 5 for 40 propelled RR past the finish line. R Ashwin, who returned with a wicket in the form of KKR's Andre Russell, was also part of the RR XI for the epic face-off versus KKR. Recalling his funny chat with Navdeep Saini and Prasidh Krishna, during Rajasthan's batting, the wily off-spin bowling all-rounder revealed how Saini kept the mood light in the dugout during the tense contest. “Everybody was laughing while we were batting. Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) was laughing, and so were others. Except for a group, say a squad of four or five members was totally serious. And those were me, Saini, Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, & Boult because we were going to bat next right? Saini did not play yesterday (in the game against KKR). Also, McCoy seems to be a silent type. And we were watching the match and then something happened like how it happens in Tamil cinema," Ashwin began, as he narrated the incident on his YouTube channel. "Saini casually started like, "Bhaiya... what do you think are the safe total runs that should be on the board?" I was looking at the total & replied back to him that they are playing well... So 230 runs should be safe for us. And Prasidh Krishna was like, "do you really think 230 is enough?" ALSO READ | WATCH: Arjun Tendulkar impresses with unplayable yorker to rattle batter's stumps ahead of MI-CSK tie Ashwin further asserted, “He (Prasidh) will speak both in Tamil and Kannada at times and I was like, dude 230 is really enough. Suddenly Saini seemed to be very silent like in a graveyard. He kept watching the match but it looked like he was not having any emotions on his face. And I said to him, you asked me a question and now, you are quiet. He said, “Bhaiya, I was having a deep contemplation and I think 300 runs should really be enough". “He made us all burst into laughter even though it was a very tense situation. It was really good. After the match, we were going back to our dressing room. Kuldeep Sen was very happy. Saini came to me and said, this is why I was saying to you that 300 would have been the safest total. I was having a conversation with the Team management, Rajamani and all said that we were short of 10-15 runs. And Saini was like, Bhaiya, I already told you right. We were actually short of 80 runs,” Ashwin revealed. Courtesy their seven-run win over KKR, RR are at the third position in the points table. They have four wins from six encounters and will now face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on April 22 (Friday).

IPL 2022: R Ashwin recalls funny chat with Navdeep Saini, Prasidh Krishna during KKR-RR clash

From top earners to players with big pay cuts: BCCI's new central contracts list for 2021-22

Indian cricket team captain and one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Virat Kohli celebrates his 33rd birthday on Friday (November 05). Kohli has been a run machine for India across formats and continues to produce match-winning performances for his team while batting at an incredible consistency.

Kohli, who made his India debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008, has come a long way in establishing himself as one of the best batters in the world. While he has been one of India's most consistent performers with the willow over the last few years, he has also been excellent as a captain.&nbsp;

Kohli is currently leading the Indian team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE which is all set to be his final tournament as the T20 captain of Team India. Having already confirmed that he will be stepping down from T20 captaincy post the World Cup, Kohli would have expected to finish on a high but his team have made a disastrous start in the tournament.

With two losses in their first three matches in the Super 12, India are on the verge of missing out on a spot in the semi-finals as they stare at an early exit from the tournament. Underfire Kohli has been receiving criticism from all corners amid India's poor run in the showpiece event.

On his 33rd birthday, former India opener Virender Sehwag led wishes with a brilliant message for the Indian captain to extend his support for him in a time of crisis.&nbsp;"Tough times don’t last long, tough people do. A once in a generation player, wishing @imVkohli a very happy birthday and a great year ahead. #HappyBirthdayViratKohli," Sehwag tweeted.

Several other cricketers including the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammed Siraj and others took to social media to wish the Indian captain on his special day.

Here's how cricket fraternity wished Virat Kohli on his 33rd birthday:

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Tough times don’t last long, tough people do. A once in a generation player , wishing <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> a very happy birthday and a great year ahead. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayViratKohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/a8Ysq9ff9v">pic.twitter.com/a8Ysq9ff9v</a>
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag/status/1456468963039186951?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Happy Birthday <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> . Wishing you good health and happiness for the coming year! <a href="https://t.co/mg4q8VYvFN">pic.twitter.com/mg4q8VYvFN</a>
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajinkyarahane88/status/1456456962632081420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Wishing a very happy birthday to <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a>, have a great day and year ahead <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MajorThrowback?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MajorThrowback</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBirthdayViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBirthdayViratKohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/doSw7m6D08">pic.twitter.com/doSw7m6D08</a>
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) <a href="https://twitter.com/WasimJaffer14/status/1456458784314847232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Happy birthday brother <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> I wish you love, peace and happiness.. keep inspiring champion.. love Always <a href="https://t.co/FsM3KlSEOH">pic.twitter.com/FsM3KlSEOH</a>
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1456503182951993350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Not everyone is as lucky as me to be blessed with a elder brother like you. Thank you so much for coming into my life and standing by my side through thick and thin. I hope you get all that you truly deserve. Happy Birthday king <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/pTn8NBZrHh">pic.twitter.com/pTn8NBZrHh</a>
— Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/mdsirajofficial/status/1456472008900767754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Kohli is the only player in the world to average over 50 across all three formats at present and is the leading run-getter in T20Is with 3225 runs to his name in 93 matches at a brilliant average of over 52. The Indian skipper will be hoping to inspire his side to big wins in their remaining two matches in the T20 World Cup 2021.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-clearly-has-better-bowlers-than-him-sanjay-manjrekar-questions-md-shamis-spot-in-t20-wc-squad-426846">India clearly has better bowlers than him: Manjrekar questions Md. Shami's spot in T20 WC squad</a>

After facing back-to-back defeats in their first two games against Pakistan and New Zealand, India bounced back to beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in their last outing. India still have an outside chance of finishing in the top two if they can win their next two games against Scotland and Namibia by big margins.&nbsp;

However, India's fate will rest of the results of the other teams as New Zealand appear strongest to finish second with two wins in their last two matches.

Indian cricket team captain and one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Virat Kohli celebrates his 33rd birthday on Friday (November 05). Kohli has been a run machine for India across formats and continues to produce match-winning performances for his team while batting at an incredible consistency.

Indian cricket team captain and one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Virat Kohli celebrates his 33rd birthday on Friday (November 05). Kohli has been a run machine for India across formats and continues to produce match-winning performances for his team while batting at an incredible consistency. Kohli, who made his India debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008, has come a long way in establishing himself as one of the best batters in the world. While he has been one of India's most consistent performers with the willow over the last few years, he has also been excellent as a captain. Kohli is currently leading the Indian team in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE which is all set to be his final tournament as the T20 captain of Team India. Having already confirmed that he will be stepping down from T20 captaincy post the World Cup, Kohli would have expected to finish on a high but his team have made a disastrous start in the tournament. With two losses in their first three matches in the Super 12, India are on the verge of missing out on a spot in the semi-finals as they stare at an early exit from the tournament. Underfire Kohli has been receiving criticism from all corners amid India's poor run in the showpiece event. On his 33rd birthday, former India opener Virender Sehwag led wishes with a brilliant message for the Indian captain to extend his support for him in a time of crisis. "Tough times don’t last long, tough people do. A once in a generation player, wishing @imVkohli a very happy birthday and a great year ahead. #HappyBirthdayViratKohli," Sehwag tweeted. Several other cricketers including the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammed Siraj and others took to social media to wish the Indian captain on his special day. Here's how cricket fraternity wished Virat Kohli on his 33rd birthday: Tough times don’t last long, tough people do. A once in a generation player , wishing @imVkohli a very happy birthday and a great year ahead. #HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/a8Ysq9ff9v — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 5, 2021 × Happy Birthday @imVkohli . Wishing you good health and happiness for the coming year! pic.twitter.com/mg4q8VYvFN — Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) November 5, 2021 × Wishing a very happy birthday to @imVkohli, have a great day and year ahead #MajorThrowback #HappyBirthdayViratKohli pic.twitter.com/doSw7m6D08 — Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) November 5, 2021 × Happy birthday brother @imVkohli I wish you love, peace and happiness.. keep inspiring champion.. love Always pic.twitter.com/FsM3KlSEOH — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 5, 2021 × Not everyone is as lucky as me to be blessed with a elder brother like you. Thank you so much for coming into my life and standing by my side through thick and thin. I hope you get all that you truly deserve. Happy Birthday king @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/pTn8NBZrHh — Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) November 5, 2021 × Kohli is the only player in the world to average over 50 across all three formats at present and is the leading run-getter in T20Is with 3225 runs to his name in 93 matches at a brilliant average of over 52. The Indian skipper will be hoping to inspire his side to big wins in their remaining two matches in the T20 World Cup 2021. Also Read: India clearly has better bowlers than him: Manjrekar questions Md. Shami's spot in T20 WC squad After facing back-to-back defeats in their first two games against Pakistan and New Zealand, India bounced back to beat Afghanistan by 66 runs in their last outing. India still have an outside chance of finishing in the top two if they can win their next two games against Scotland and Namibia by big margins. However, India's fate will rest of the results of the other teams as New Zealand appear strongest to finish second with two wins in their last two matches.

Tough times don't last, tough people do: Virender Sehwag leads wishes for Virat Kohli on 33rd birthday

Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini are likely to join the Indian squad from the third Test in England, scheduled to be hosted by Ahmedabad from February 24. Both Shami and Saini were out of the Indian squad for the first two Tests due to injuries but have now recovered.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian selectors are all set to announce the squad for the last two Tests against England soon and could also announce the team for the five-match T20I series that follows the longest format of the game, according to a report in TOI.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shami had returned to India after fracturing his right arm during the first Test in Adelaide while Saini injured his groin in the final Test in Brisbane.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Saini is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He has bowling at full tilt. The Delhi selectors wanted to have his services for the Vijay Hazare Trophy but Saini was asked to stay back at NCA as he is likely to join the team in Ahmedabad,” a BCCI source told TOI.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indians-never-crib-about-overseas-conditions-r-ashwin-shuts-down-chennai-pitch-critics-364029" hreflang="en">Indians never crib about overseas conditions: R Ashwin shuts down Chennai pitch critics</a>

Shami had resumed bowling a week ago and is nearing full fitness whereas Umesh Yadav has started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after recovering from a calf injury. According to the report in TOI, the Indian team management is keen on keeping Saini fresh for the T20I&nbsp;series.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The report adds that Rishabh Pant is also likely to return to the Indian limited-overs squad after his great run of form in Test cricket whereas Suryakumar Yadav could be added to the T20I squad.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The BCCI is also keen on making an "A" pool ahead of the T20I World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India later in the year with the likes of Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan and Siddharth Kaul in the fray.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-ms-dhoni-to-yuvraj-singh-costliest-picks-in-every-ipl-auctions-364071" hreflang="en">From MS Dhoni to Yuvraj Singh: Costliest picks in every IPL auctions</a>

“This is the reason they were asked to report NCA for fitness tests. These players have been informed that they will be in standbys for the India T20I team. This is the reason why Rana wasn’t made the captain of the Delhi team for the Vijay Hazare tournament. These players could be called into Indian team anytime. They will be essentially appearing for trials,” the BCCI source added as quoted by TOI.&nbsp;

Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini are likely to join the Indian squad from the third Test in England, scheduled to be hosted by Ahmedabad from February 24.

Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini are likely to join the Indian squad from the third Test in England, scheduled to be hosted by Ahmedabad from February 24. Both Shami and Saini were out of the Indian squad for the first two Tests due to injuries but have now recovered. The Indian selectors are all set to announce the squad for the last two Tests against England soon and could also announce the team for the five-match T20I series that follows the longest format of the game, according to a report in TOI. Shami had returned to India after fracturing his right arm during the first Test in Adelaide while Saini injured his groin in the final Test in Brisbane. “Saini is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. He has bowling at full tilt. The Delhi selectors wanted to have his services for the Vijay Hazare Trophy but Saini was asked to stay back at NCA as he is likely to join the team in Ahmedabad,” a BCCI source told TOI. ALSO READ: Indians never crib about overseas conditions: R Ashwin shuts down Chennai pitch critics Shami had resumed bowling a week ago and is nearing full fitness whereas Umesh Yadav has started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru after recovering from a calf injury. According to the report in TOI, the Indian team management is keen on keeping Saini fresh for the T20I series. The report adds that Rishabh Pant is also likely to return to the Indian limited-overs squad after his great run of form in Test cricket whereas Suryakumar Yadav could be added to the T20I squad. The BCCI is also keen on making an "A" pool ahead of the T20I World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by India later in the year with the likes of Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan and Siddharth Kaul in the fray. ALSO READ: From MS Dhoni to Yuvraj Singh: Costliest picks in every IPL auctions “This is the reason they were asked to report NCA for fitness tests. These players have been informed that they will be in standbys for the India T20I team. This is the reason why Rana wasn’t made the captain of the Delhi team for the Vijay Hazare tournament. These players could be called into Indian team anytime. They will be essentially appearing for trials,” the BCCI source added as quoted by TOI.

Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini likely to join Indian team for 3rd Test vs England

Injury worries for the Indian cricket team continued to grow on Friday as pacer Navdeep Saini was taken for scans after complaining of groin pain on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.&nbsp;Saini walked off the field after bowling 7.5 overs due to pain in his groin with Rohit Sharma bowling the remaining delivery of the over.&nbsp;

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) then provided an update on Navdeep Saini's fitness as the Indian board said the youngster had gone for scans.&nbsp;

"UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans," BCCI tweeted.&nbsp;

"Navdeep Saini has complained of pain in his groin. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team," BCCI tweeted earlier.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/labuschagne-rescues-australia-with-fifth-test-century-356852" hreflang="en">Labuschagne rescues Australia with fifth Test century</a>

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UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/pN01PVnFfx">https://t.co/pN01PVnFfx</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1349962396316536832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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After debutant Washington Sundar sent Steve Smith packing in the 35th&nbsp;over of the first innings, the visitors got a big chance to put Australia under pressure. While Marnus Labuschagne, in the 36th&nbsp;over, edged the ball to Ajinkya Rahane, the&nbsp;Indian skipper dropped a sitter. However, Saini was seen in pain after the dropped catch as physio Nitin Patel rushed in to give him some treatment. The pacer eventually walked off the field.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-anyone-reach-to-800-test-wickets-sri-lankan-legend-muttiah-muralitharan-opines-356699" hreflang="en">Will anyone reach to 800 Test wickets? Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan opines</a>

Labuschagne went on to hit a fantastic century to bring Australia back into the game before his partner Matthew Wade departed after a lousy shot. Labuschagne, too, fell soon after to debutant&nbsp;Thangarasu&nbsp;Natarajan.&nbsp;

Despite fielding an inexperienced bowling line-up, and with the injury of Navdeep Saini, the Indian bowlers have bowled well and kept their&nbsp;lenghts&nbsp;in check. After 86 overs, Australia&nbsp;were&nbsp;271/5 with Cameron Green and Tim Paine at the crease.&nbsp;

Injury worries for the Indian cricket team continued to grow on Friday as pacer Navdeep Saini was taken for scans after complaining of groin pain on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Injury worries for the Indian cricket team continued to grow on Friday as pacer Navdeep Saini was taken for scans after complaining of groin pain on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Saini walked off the field after bowling 7.5 overs due to pain in his groin with Rohit Sharma bowling the remaining delivery of the over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) then provided an update on Navdeep Saini's fitness as the Indian board said the youngster had gone for scans. "UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans," BCCI tweeted. "Navdeep Saini has complained of pain in his groin. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team," BCCI tweeted earlier. ALSO READ: Labuschagne rescues Australia with fifth Test century UPDATE - Navdeep Saini has now gone for scans.#AUSvIND https://t.co/pN01PVnFfx — BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021 × After debutant Washington Sundar sent Steve Smith packing in the 35th over of the first innings, the visitors got a big chance to put Australia under pressure. While Marnus Labuschagne, in the 36th over, edged the ball to Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian skipper dropped a sitter. However, Saini was seen in pain after the dropped catch as physio Nitin Patel rushed in to give him some treatment. The pacer eventually walked off the field. ALSO READ: Will anyone reach to 800 Test wickets? Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan opines Labuschagne went on to hit a fantastic century to bring Australia back into the game before his partner Matthew Wade departed after a lousy shot. Labuschagne, too, fell soon after to debutant Thangarasu Natarajan. Despite fielding an inexperienced bowling line-up, and with the injury of Navdeep Saini, the Indian bowlers have bowled well and kept their lenghts in check. After 86 overs, Australia were 271/5 with Cameron Green and Tim Paine at the crease.

Brisbane Test: BCCI provides update on Navdeep Saini as pacer suffers groin injury

Australia on Thursday ended Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on high as the hosts posted 166/2 with star batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne well settled&nbsp;at the crease.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In what was a rain-hit start to the first day of the Sydney Test, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. The Sydney pitch, which has a tinge of grass, looked great for batting but also assisted the seamers early on.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Continuing his great start in the Test arena, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who made his Test debut in Melbourne,&nbsp;dismissed Aussie opener, David Warner, for five as the southpaw edged one straight to&nbsp;Cheteshwar&nbsp;Pujara in the slip cordon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mohammed-siraj-gets-teary-eyed-during-national-anthem-before-sydney-test-355074" hreflang="en">Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test</a>

However, as the pitch settled, it became easier for the batsmen with debutant Will&nbsp;Pucovski&nbsp;and Marnus Labuschagne stitching a 100-run stand for the hosts. While&nbsp;Pucovski&nbsp;was dropped twice by Rishabh Pant, the elegant batsman went on to register his maiden half-century to become the 82nd&nbsp;Australian to score a fifty in Test debut. The youngster was trapped plumb by another debutant Navdeep Saini as the quick, angled-in delivery did the job for the visitors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Steve Smith, who is going through a lean patch, played with intent and ended the day on 31 with Labuschagne scoring an unbeaten 67 to end the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-have-to-look-at-his-record-tom-moody-on-steve-smith-bouncing-back-in-form-354910" hreflang="en">'You have to look at his record': Tom Moody on Steve Smith bouncing back in form</a>

Indian bowlers bowled well but the dropped catches and a flat and&nbsp;slowish&nbsp;Sydney track didn’t help their case much.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I'm good, nice to spend a bit of time out there, nice to stitch in a partnership with Marnus. I wanted to put him (Ashwin) under a little bit of pressure which I haven't done this series. Was just trying to hold the grip a bit tighter, I've been struggling, so I was getting into good positions today. Was good to get a couple of boundaries early. Marnus played well, hopefully, we go along well tomorrow,” said Smith at the end of Day 1 in Sydney.&nbsp;

With an early start set for Friday, India would be looking to pick some quick wickets and put pressure on the Aussies. Whereas Australia would be hoping that Smith and Labuschagne&nbsp;register a big partnership.&nbsp;

Australia on Thursday ended Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on high as the hosts posted 166/2 with star batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne well settled at the crease.

Australia on Thursday ended Day 1 of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on high as the hosts posted 166/2 with star batsmen Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne well settled at the crease. In what was a rain-hit start to the first day of the Sydney Test, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. The Sydney pitch, which has a tinge of grass, looked great for batting but also assisted the seamers early on. Continuing his great start in the Test arena, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who made his Test debut in Melbourne, dismissed Aussie opener, David Warner, for five as the southpaw edged one straight to Cheteshwar Pujara in the slip cordon. ALSO READ: Watch: Mohammed Siraj gets teary-eyed during national anthem before Sydney Test However, as the pitch settled, it became easier for the batsmen with debutant Will Pucovski and Marnus Labuschagne stitching a 100-run stand for the hosts. While Pucovski was dropped twice by Rishabh Pant, the elegant batsman went on to register his maiden half-century to become the 82nd Australian to score a fifty in Test debut. The youngster was trapped plumb by another debutant Navdeep Saini as the quick, angled-in delivery did the job for the visitors. Steve Smith, who is going through a lean patch, played with intent and ended the day on 31 with Labuschagne scoring an unbeaten 67 to end the day. ALSO READ: 'You have to look at his record': Tom Moody on Steve Smith bouncing back in form Indian bowlers bowled well but the dropped catches and a flat and slowish Sydney track didn’t help their case much. “I'm good, nice to spend a bit of time out there, nice to stitch in a partnership with Marnus. I wanted to put him (Ashwin) under a little bit of pressure which I haven't done this series. Was just trying to hold the grip a bit tighter, I've been struggling, so I was getting into good positions today. Was good to get a couple of boundaries early. Marnus played well, hopefully, we go along well tomorrow,” said Smith at the end of Day 1 in Sydney. With an early start set for Friday, India would be looking to pick some quick wickets and put pressure on the Aussies. Whereas Australia would be hoping that Smith and Labuschagne register a big partnership.

Labuschagne, Pucovski half-centuries give Australia edge on Day 1 of Sydney Test

Much anticipated India-Australia series commenced on November 27 with the first ODI being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). However, during the match, Aussie cricketing legend turned commentator Adam Gilchrist committed a huge blunder.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-1st-odi-no-1bn-adani-loan-protesters-enter-ground-holding-banner-against-adani-group-345782" hreflang="en">IND vs AUS 1st ODI: ‘No $1BN Adani Loan’ - Protesters enter ground holding banner against Adani Group</a>

During an over bowled by Navdeep Saini, Gilchrist mistook him for Mohammed Siraj and said on air that Saini had lost his father last week. He went to say that Saini decided to be with the Indian team despite being given the option of returning to India to be with his family.

But Indian fans noticed this blunder and tagged the former wicketkeeper on Twitter. To which Gilchrist was quick to issue an apology and condoled Siraj's loss.&nbsp;

Gilchrist took to Twitter and wrote: "Yes, thanks @anshu2912 I realize I was mistaken in my mention. Huge apologies for my error, to both @navdeepsaini96 and Mohammed Siraj."

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Yes, thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/anshu2912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anshu2912</a> I realize I was mistaken in my mention. Huge apologies for my error, to both <a href="https://twitter.com/navdeepsaini96?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@navdeepsaini96</a> and Mohammed Siraj. 🙏😌 <a href="https://t.co/618EUIEyNU">https://t.co/618EUIEyNU</a>
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) <a href="https://twitter.com/gilly381/status/1332178862168391680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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However, some Indian fans were disappointed by Gilchrist's goof up.&nbsp;

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Gilchrist just said Saini's father died last week; absolutely horrible job by a commentator. 
 
I don't want to make excuses for Gilly, but if he &amp; others could take their heads out of this one cricketer's backside for a minute, they might actually get a few things right! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a>
— Rav (@rav_man0) <a href="https://twitter.com/rav_man0/status/1332178176894660608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The Aussie commentators on air (Warne/Gilchrist/Lee?) saying Saini's father passed away, confusing with Mohammad Siraj. Poor homework, looks very bad! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAUS</a>
— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) <a href="https://twitter.com/SriniMaama16/status/1332178337414856704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Team India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj lost his father on Friday after a brief illness. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a discussion with Siraj and he was offered the option of flying back and be with his family in this hour of grief. The fast bowler has decided to stay with the Indian contingent and continue performing his national duties. The BCCI shares his grief and will be supportive of Siraj in this extremely challenging phase. The BCCI requests the media to accord Siraj and his bereaved family members their space and privacy," the BCCI said in a statement.

Much anticipated India-Australia series commenced on November 27 with the first ODI being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). However, during the match, Aussie cricketing legend turned commentator Adam Gilchrist committed a huge blunder.

Much anticipated India-Australia series commenced on November 27 with the first ODI being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). However, during the match, Aussie cricketing legend turned commentator Adam Gilchrist committed a huge blunder. Also read: IND vs AUS 1st ODI: ‘No $1BN Adani Loan’ - Protesters enter ground holding banner against Adani Group During an over bowled by Navdeep Saini, Gilchrist mistook him for Mohammed Siraj and said on air that Saini had lost his father last week. He went to say that Saini decided to be with the Indian team despite being given the option of returning to India to be with his family. But Indian fans noticed this blunder and tagged the former wicketkeeper on Twitter. To which Gilchrist was quick to issue an apology and condoled Siraj's loss. Gilchrist took to Twitter and wrote: "Yes, thanks @anshu2912 I realize I was mistaken in my mention. Huge apologies for my error, to both @navdeepsaini96 and Mohammed Siraj." Yes, thanks @anshu2912 I realize I was mistaken in my mention. Huge apologies for my error, to both @navdeepsaini96 and Mohammed Siraj. 🙏😌 https://t.co/618EUIEyNU — Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) November 27, 2020 × However, some Indian fans were disappointed by Gilchrist's goof up. Gilchrist just said Saini's father died last week; absolutely horrible job by a commentator. I don't want to make excuses for Gilly, but if he & others could take their heads out of this one cricketer's backside for a minute, they might actually get a few things right! #AUSvIND — Rav (@rav_man0) November 27, 2020 × The Aussie commentators on air (Warne/Gilchrist/Lee?) saying Saini's father passed away, confusing with Mohammad Siraj. Poor homework, looks very bad! #INDvAUS — Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) November 27, 2020 × "Team India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj lost his father on Friday after a brief illness. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had a discussion with Siraj and he was offered the option of flying back and be with his family in this hour of grief. The fast bowler has decided to stay with the Indian contingent and continue performing his national duties. The BCCI shares his grief and will be supportive of Siraj in this extremely challenging phase. The BCCI requests the media to accord Siraj and his bereaved family members their space and privacy," the BCCI said in a statement.

IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Adam Gilchrist apologizes after a goof up during commentating

Young Indian speedster Navdeep Saini has made a sparkling impact with his raw pace and ability to extract sharp bounce off the pitch. His ability to bowl quick besides deadly yorkers have made him one of the hottest pace bowling prospects in world cricket.&nbsp;

In an exclusive interview with WION’s Subhayan Chakraborty, Navdeep Saini spoke on various topics ranging from the much-debated saliva ban, matches behind closed doors, the importance of Indian Premier League, Virat Kohli’s impact on his career and much more.

Subhayan Chakraborty: Navdeep, the big talking point is the ban on the usage of saliva. Will it really put an impact on bowlers?

Navdeep Saini: I don’t think it will put a real impact on bowlers. Yes, it will be a strange feeling for bowlers initially but everyone will get accustomed to the new rules and guidelines. Saliva ban is not only for a single bowler or a team, the rule is for everyone so I don’t think it will be an advantage or disadvantage for anyone. Players need to adapt as per the demand of the situation and hopefully, bowlers will come out stronger. &nbsp;

<img alt="Navdeep Saini" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01d7c9bb-77e8-4c26-8be8-7e61f07ceae4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1OR742.jpg" />

SC: And what about reverse swing…

NS: As I said, it will be tough for bowlers to get a hang of it initially. But still, we are allowed to use sweat to shine the ball. Yes, saliva has been the go-to option for bowlers to polish the ball but don’t think the ban should bother pacers much. It is for everyone’s safety and well-being.&nbsp;

SC: How tough will it be to police it, especially in domestic matches? Several players have already raised their concerns…

NS: Players have to take the onus on themselves. This rule is being implemented for everyone’s well-being. We are professionals and if it is being done for our own good then I don’t think players should look to use it for their benefit. Officials will have to be extra careful, of course. But more responsibility is on the players to not use saliva at all during matches.&nbsp;

SC: Another major talking point in the world of sports is empty stadiums. Do you think it will kill the energy of the matches?&nbsp;

NS: Whenever a player or team gets the backing of the crowd, they get naturally motivated to give their best shot. Yes, not having any crowd in matches will have a bit of effect on us players but as it has been implemented for our safety, I think that is the possible option available for the authorities. Everyone’s safety is the topmost priority for the organisers. But matches behind closed doors doesn’t mean players will not give their best effort to win matches, we take the field to make our country proud and will continue to do so.

&nbsp;<img alt="Navdeep Saini" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="051c799a-4075-4513-ac3f-91aeeeb07824" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1OM7P0_0.jpg" />

SC: There are reports of IPL getting a window later in the year…How important is IPL for cricketers?

NS: Not only IPL but every domestic tournament or international series is important for a player. The speciality of IPL is that players get to showcase their talent in front of the world. The entire world watches IPL and the attention players get from it is unreal. It works as a confidence booster for players and the experience youngsters get from sharing the dressing room and field with stalwarts in unparalleled. I feel&nbsp;IPL is the best platform to level up your game.&nbsp;

SC: How important a role has Virat Kohli played in your career?&nbsp;

<img alt="Navdeep Saini and Virat Kohli" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f81bf6f-3b25-4693-b2d5-2838430adfb1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1G58RX.jpg" />

NS: Not only me but Virat Kohli is an inspiration for every budding sportsperson. The level of intensity and passion he brings to the game and his fitness can’t be compared to anyone. During my first year in Royal Challengers Bangalore, I didn’t play but it was a learning curve to just watch Virat Kohli so closely on and off-the-field. I remember my debut match, I was extremely nervous playing in front of a capacity crowd but then it was him who gave me the confidence to bowl in matches as I bowl in the nets, that’s a sign of a superb captain and that advice has stuck with me to date. He is a role model for everyone and deservedly so. 
&nbsp;

Young Indian speedster Navdeep Saini has made a sparkling impact with his raw pace and ability to extract sharp bounce off the pitch. His ability to bowl quick besides deadly yorkers have made him one of the hottest pace bowling prospects in world cricket.

Young Indian speedster Navdeep Saini has made a sparkling impact with his raw pace and ability to extract sharp bounce off the pitch. His ability to bowl quick besides deadly yorkers have made him one of the hottest pace bowling prospects in world cricket. In an exclusive interview with WION’s Subhayan Chakraborty, Navdeep Saini spoke on various topics ranging from the much-debated saliva ban, matches behind closed doors, the importance of Indian Premier League, Virat Kohli’s impact on his career and much more. Subhayan Chakraborty: Navdeep, the big talking point is the ban on the usage of saliva. Will it really put an impact on bowlers? Navdeep Saini: I don’t think it will put a real impact on bowlers. Yes, it will be a strange feeling for bowlers initially but everyone will get accustomed to the new rules and guidelines. Saliva ban is not only for a single bowler or a team, the rule is for everyone so I don’t think it will be an advantage or disadvantage for anyone. Players need to adapt as per the demand of the situation and hopefully, bowlers will come out stronger. SC: And what about reverse swing… NS: As I said, it will be tough for bowlers to get a hang of it initially. But still, we are allowed to use sweat to shine the ball. Yes, saliva has been the go-to option for bowlers to polish the ball but don’t think the ban should bother pacers much. It is for everyone’s safety and well-being. SC: How tough will it be to police it, especially in domestic matches? Several players have already raised their concerns… NS: Players have to take the onus on themselves. This rule is being implemented for everyone’s well-being. We are professionals and if it is being done for our own good then I don’t think players should look to use it for their benefit. Officials will have to be extra careful, of course. But more responsibility is on the players to not use saliva at all during matches. SC: Another major talking point in the world of sports is empty stadiums. Do you think it will kill the energy of the matches? NS: Whenever a player or team gets the backing of the crowd, they get naturally motivated to give their best shot. Yes, not having any crowd in matches will have a bit of effect on us players but as it has been implemented for our safety, I think that is the possible option available for the authorities. Everyone’s safety is the topmost priority for the organisers. But matches behind closed doors doesn’t mean players will not give their best effort to win matches, we take the field to make our country proud and will continue to do so. SC: There are reports of IPL getting a window later in the year…How important is IPL for cricketers? NS: Not only IPL but every domestic tournament or international series is important for a player. The speciality of IPL is that players get to showcase their talent in front of the world. The entire world watches IPL and the attention players get from it is unreal. It works as a confidence booster for players and the experience youngsters get from sharing the dressing room and field with stalwarts in unparalleled. I feel IPL is the best platform to level up your game. SC: How important a role has Virat Kohli played in your career? NS: Not only me but Virat Kohli is an inspiration for every budding sportsperson. The level of intensity and passion he brings to the game and his fitness can’t be compared to anyone. During my first year in Royal Challengers Bangalore, I didn’t play but it was a learning curve to just watch Virat Kohli so closely on and off-the-field. I remember my debut match, I was extremely nervous playing in front of a capacity crowd but then it was him who gave me the confidence to bowl in matches as I bowl in the nets, that’s a sign of a superb captain and that advice has stuck with me to date. He is a role model for everyone and deservedly so.

Exclusive | Fine with saliva ban, matches behind closed doors as it is for everyone's safety: Navdeep Saini

BCCI, on Tuesday, announced their Test squad for the New Zealand tour. Two-test matches will be played between India and New Zealand. Prithvi Shaw is set to return in Test squad in the absence of India's prolific opener Rohit Sharma.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-ruled-out-of-new-zealand-tour-due-to-injury-gill-and-agarwal-to-replace-278428">Rohit Sharma ruled out of New Zealand tour due to injury; Gill and Agarwal to replace</a>

Indian cricket team's vice-captain Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the New Zealand tour following a calf injury. The injury was struck during the fifth T20I against New Zealand on Sunday at Mount Maunganui. He scored 60 runs off 41 balls, he retired hurt after he pulled his calf muscle while running a quick single.

The squad:&nbsp;

Virat Kolhi (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma (subject to fitness clearance).

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India’s Test squad: Virat (Capt), Mayank, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman, Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma (subject to fitness clearance).
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1224518987016331265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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KL Rahul's name was missing from the squad which comes as a shock to many. Pacer spearhead Navdeep Saini has been given a chance to be in the squad and Shubman Gill is also a part of the Indian squad. Ishant Sharma was reported to miss the entire tour before but is now in the squad as a subject to regain his fitness to 100 per cent.&nbsp;

As of now, Mayank Agarwal has come as a replacement for the Indian vice-captain in the ODI series against the Blackcaps. Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul are most likely to open the innings for India in the following matches.

India will take on New Zealand in the three-match ODI series tomorrow. Kane Williamson has been ruled out from the first two ODI matches following an injury. Mark Chapman will replace the Blackcap skipper. Tom Latham will lead the side for the two ODI matches.

India will be looking to continue their winning run against the Kiwi as they clean swept the T20I series, with this India, have become the first team to win a T20I series with 5-0 margin.

BCCI, on Tuesday, announced their Test squad for the New Zealand tour. Two-test matches will be played between India and New Zealand. Prithvi Shaw is set to return in Test squad in the absence of India's prolific opener Rohit Sharma.

BCCI, on Tuesday, announced their Test squad for the New Zealand tour. Two-test matches will be played between India and New Zealand. Prithvi Shaw is set to return in Test squad in the absence of India's prolific opener Rohit Sharma. Also read: Rohit Sharma ruled out of New Zealand tour due to injury; Gill and Agarwal to replace Indian cricket team's vice-captain Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the New Zealand tour following a calf injury. The injury was struck during the fifth T20I against New Zealand on Sunday at Mount Maunganui. He scored 60 runs off 41 balls, he retired hurt after he pulled his calf muscle while running a quick single. The squad: Virat Kolhi (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma (subject to fitness clearance). India’s Test squad: Virat (Capt), Mayank, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman, Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ishant Sharma (subject to fitness clearance). — BCCI (@BCCI) February 4, 2020 × KL Rahul's name was missing from the squad which comes as a shock to many. Pacer spearhead Navdeep Saini has been given a chance to be in the squad and Shubman Gill is also a part of the Indian squad. Ishant Sharma was reported to miss the entire tour before but is now in the squad as a subject to regain his fitness to 100 per cent. As of now, Mayank Agarwal has come as a replacement for the Indian vice-captain in the ODI series against the Blackcaps. Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul are most likely to open the innings for India in the following matches. India will take on New Zealand in the three-match ODI series tomorrow. Kane Williamson has been ruled out from the first two ODI matches following an injury. Mark Chapman will replace the Blackcap skipper. Tom Latham will lead the side for the two ODI matches. India will be looking to continue their winning run against the Kiwi as they clean swept the T20I series, with this India, have become the first team to win a T20I series with 5-0 margin.

India vs New Zealand Tests: Prithvi Shaw, Navdeep Saini in, Rohit Sharma out

India is set to face New Zealand for the first ODI of the series on Wednesday at Hamilton.&nbsp;

India will look forward to continuing their winning spree over the hosts as they already clean-swept New Zealand in the T20I series (5-0) on Sunday.

The deflated Kiwi side have already faced a setback before the beginning of the match tomorrow. Their in-form batsmen and skipper Kane Williamson has been ruled of the first two ODIs versus India following a shoulder injury. Mark Chapman has been called as the replace meant and Tom Latham has been declared as the Captain of the New Zealand side for first two ODIs.

India's prolific opener Rohit Sharma has also been ruled out for rest of the tour after he was struck by a calf injury.&nbsp;

Mayank Agarwal is set to replace Rohit in the ODIs. This tour will witness the come back of India's young prodigy Prithvi Shaw. The 20-year-old is expected to open the game for India alongside KL Rahul.

Prithvi Shaw has recently come out of 8-month long ban after he failed the doping test. He has been a part of India A and his fertile innings versus the New Zealand A earned him a spot in the team.

Last time these two heavyweights collided in this format was in the semifinal clash of the World Cup in England.

Skies in Hamilton are set to be clear and the opener is set to have a sunny day. Fans will be happy to know that there are no chances of precipitation tomorrow.&nbsp;

The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 AM (IST).

India's probable XI: KL Rahul (wk), Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli (captain), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, R Jadeja/Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand's probable XI: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(wk/captain), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Scott Kuggeleijn

The ODI squads:

India: Lokesh Rahul(w), Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Prithvi Shaw, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kedar Jadhav, Shardul Thakur

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w/c), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn

India is set to face New Zealand for the first ODI of the series on Wednesday at Hamilton. India will look forward to continuing their winning spree over the hosts as they already clean-swept New Zealand in the T20I series (5-0) on Sunday.

India is set to face New Zealand for the first ODI of the series on Wednesday at Hamilton. India will look forward to continuing their winning spree over the hosts as they already clean-swept New Zealand in the T20I series (5-0) on Sunday. The deflated Kiwi side have already faced a setback before the beginning of the match tomorrow. Their in-form batsmen and skipper Kane Williamson has been ruled of the first two ODIs versus India following a shoulder injury. Mark Chapman has been called as the replace meant and Tom Latham has been declared as the Captain of the New Zealand side for first two ODIs. India's prolific opener Rohit Sharma has also been ruled out for rest of the tour after he was struck by a calf injury. Mayank Agarwal is set to replace Rohit in the ODIs. This tour will witness the come back of India's young prodigy Prithvi Shaw. The 20-year-old is expected to open the game for India alongside KL Rahul. Prithvi Shaw has recently come out of 8-month long ban after he failed the doping test. He has been a part of India A and his fertile innings versus the New Zealand A earned him a spot in the team. Last time these two heavyweights collided in this format was in the semifinal clash of the World Cup in England. Skies in Hamilton are set to be clear and the opener is set to have a sunny day. Fans will be happy to know that there are no chances of precipitation tomorrow. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 AM (IST). India's probable XI: KL Rahul (wk), Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli (captain), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, R Jadeja/Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah. New Zealand's probable XI: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(wk/captain), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Scott Kuggeleijn The ODI squads: India: Lokesh Rahul(w), Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Prithvi Shaw, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kedar Jadhav, Shardul Thakur New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w/c), Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett, Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Kyle Jamieson, Scott Kuggeleijn

India vs New Zealand 1st ODI: Virat Kohli-led Team India look to continue winning streak against Black Caps

After winning the three-match T20I series against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../india-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-t20i-india-thrash-sri- lanka-by-7-wickets-in-the-second-t20i-take-1-0-lead-272801">Sri Lanka</a>, India batsman Shikhar Dhawan said they dominated the series while experimenting with different players and batting order.

"We dominated the series and if I talk about myself, I had a challenge that I am coming back after an injury and I have to perform. Everyone has different challenges. A lot of players coming in, they have their own challenges," Dhawan said in the post-match press conference.

India secured a massive 78-run victory in the third T20I match against Sri Lanka here on Friday and consequently, won the series by 2-0 as the first match was abandoned due to rain.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-have-the-goods-to-give-virat-kohlis-men-a-run-for-their-money-finch-ahead-of-odi-series-against-india-273363">Australia have the goods to give Virat Kohli's men a run for their money: Finch ahead of ODI series against India</a>

India, who were asked to bat first, posted a massive 202-run target for Sri Lanka which the visitors failed to chase as they were all out on 123 runs.

Dhawan also played a crucial knock of 52 run to help India post a challenging target.

India made three changes in their squad for the third T20I against Sri Lanka and skipper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../ind-vs-sl-3rd-t20i-can-visitors-pose-a-challenge -to-mighty-india-preview-273382">Virat Kohli</a> batted very low in the order.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../mayank-agarwal-replaces-shikhar-dhawan-for- odi-series-against-west-indies-267638">Dhawan</a> said they can try out new things in these series as the T20 World Cup is approaching.

"In these series, we can do the experiment and once we know that this thing is clicking, then we go with this pattern. Number one, two or three we know who is going to come. That is why it important to do the experiment and we can take that risk right now," he said.

"We won the first match and today, as a team, we wanted to bat first because we want to refine ourselves more while batting first and winning more games. That brings confidence and that is why we are consciously doing it," Dhawan added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

After winning the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, India batsman Shikhar Dhawan said they dominated the series while experimenting with different players and batting order.

After winning the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, India batsman Shikhar Dhawan said they dominated the series while experimenting with different players and batting order. "We dominated the series and if I talk about myself, I had a challenge that I am coming back after an injury and I have to perform. Everyone has different challenges. A lot of players coming in, they have their own challenges," Dhawan said in the post-match press conference. India secured a massive 78-run victory in the third T20I match against Sri Lanka here on Friday and consequently, won the series by 2-0 as the first match was abandoned due to rain. Also Read: Australia have the goods to give Virat Kohli's men a run for their money: Finch ahead of ODI series against India India, who were asked to bat first, posted a massive 202-run target for Sri Lanka which the visitors failed to chase as they were all out on 123 runs. Dhawan also played a crucial knock of 52 run to help India post a challenging target. India made three changes in their squad for the third T20I against Sri Lanka and skipper Virat Kohli batted very low in the order. Dhawan said they can try out new things in these series as the T20 World Cup is approaching. "In these series, we can do the experiment and once we know that this thing is clicking, then we go with this pattern. Number one, two or three we know who is going to come. That is why it important to do the experiment and we can take that risk right now," he said. "We won the first match and today, as a team, we wanted to bat first because we want to refine ourselves more while batting first and winning more games. That brings confidence and that is why we are consciously doing it," Dhawan added.

'We dominated the series,' says Shikhar Dhawan after India beat Sri Lanka to seal the series

After taking two wickets in the first <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-t20i-india-thrash-sri-lanka-by-7-wickets-in-the-second-t20i-take-1-0-lead-272801">T20I </a>against Sri Lanka, India pacer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indias-navdeep-saini-found-guilty-of-breaching-icc-code-of-conduct-240813">Navdeep Saini</a> has said that he just wanted to gain confidence from the game and be prepared for any situation in the future.

In the match against Sri Lanka, Saini was able to showcase good death bowling skills as he continued to bowl consistent yorkers. His partner Shardul Thakur also left an impression with bowl after scalping three wickets.

This effort by the bowlers helped the Men in Blue restrict Sri Lanka to just 142/7 in the allotted twenty overs. India easily chased down the total with seven wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare.

"As soon as the match started, I thought the wicket was flat. I thought I can do well, I was wanted to gain confidence from this match. I bowled good yorkers today. Whenever I have heard Bumrah talk about bowling his yorkers, he always talked accuracy when you try to bowl the ball," Saini told Yuzvendra Chahal on 'Chahal TV'.

"I am very lucky to finally make my debut on Chahal TV. It's all about handling pressure, I took three wickets and all of them came in a crucial time, I am happy," Shardul Thakur said.

For India, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer starred with the bat after playing knocks of 45 and 34 respectively.

Both were not able to stay till the end, and skipper <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-receives-official-warning-and-one-demerit-point-for-breaching-icc-code-of-conduct-251527">Virat Kohli</a> took the side over the line. Kohli remained unbeaten on 30.

India and Sri Lanka will next take on each other in the third T20I of the three-match series on Friday, January 10.

After taking two wickets in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, India pacer Navdeep Saini has said that he just wanted to gain confidence from the game and be prepared for any situation in the future.

After taking two wickets in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, India pacer Navdeep Saini has said that he just wanted to gain confidence from the game and be prepared for any situation in the future. In the match against Sri Lanka, Saini was able to showcase good death bowling skills as he continued to bowl consistent yorkers. His partner Shardul Thakur also left an impression with bowl after scalping three wickets. This effort by the bowlers helped the Men in Blue restrict Sri Lanka to just 142/7 in the allotted twenty overs. India easily chased down the total with seven wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare. "As soon as the match started, I thought the wicket was flat. I thought I can do well, I was wanted to gain confidence from this match. I bowled good yorkers today. Whenever I have heard Bumrah talk about bowling his yorkers, he always talked accuracy when you try to bowl the ball," Saini told Yuzvendra Chahal on 'Chahal TV'. "I am very lucky to finally make my debut on Chahal TV. It's all about handling pressure, I took three wickets and all of them came in a crucial time, I am happy," Shardul Thakur said. For India, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer starred with the bat after playing knocks of 45 and 34 respectively. Both were not able to stay till the end, and skipper Virat Kohli took the side over the line. Kohli remained unbeaten on 30. India and Sri Lanka will next take on each other in the third T20I of the three-match series on Friday, January 10.

Wanted to gain confidence from first T20I against Sri Lanka: Navdeep Saini

Indian pacer Navdeep Saini received an official warning for breaching Level One of the ICC Code of Conduct in his debut match against West Indies in Florida.&nbsp;

In his debut match, Saini made an immediate impact claiming three for 17 off his four overs and earned man of the match award.&nbsp;

Saini achieved the rarity of a maiden in that final over but it was his earlier double-strike which gave the 26-year-old fast bowler the sort of dream start he would have wished for

During the match, Saini found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel and has been handed one demerit point.&nbsp;

The Article relates to using actions or gestures which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon their dismissal.&nbsp;

The incident happened during the 4th over of the West Indies' innings when Saini took the wicket of Nicholas Pooran.&nbsp;

Saini admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee.&nbsp;

Indian pacer Navdeep Saini received an official warning for breaching Level One of the ICC Code of Conduct in his debut match against West Indies in Florida. In his debut match, Saini made an immediate impact claiming three for 17 off his four overs and earned man of the match award.

Indian pacer Navdeep Saini received an official warning for breaching Level One of the ICC Code of Conduct in his debut match against West Indies in Florida. In his debut match, Saini made an immediate impact claiming three for 17 off his four overs and earned man of the match award. Saini achieved the rarity of a maiden in that final over but it was his earlier double-strike which gave the 26-year-old fast bowler the sort of dream start he would have wished for During the match, Saini found guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel and has been handed one demerit point. The Article relates to using actions or gestures which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon their dismissal. The incident happened during the 4th over of the West Indies' innings when Saini took the wicket of Nicholas Pooran. Saini admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee.

India's Navdeep Saini found guilty of breaching ICC code of conduct

Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first against West Indies in the second T20 International of a three-match series at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill on Sunday.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first against West Indies in the second T20 International of a three-match series at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill on Sunday. West Indies made one change in their team as they brought in Khary Pierre in place of John Campbell meanwhile the Virat-led team is the same. India, who were knocked out from recently concluded Cricket World Cup in England and Wales in the semi-finals, have taken a 1-0 lead in the series. In the first match, pacer Navdeep Saini starred in team's winning cause in his debut match. Saini took three important wickets as India limited the West Indies to 95 for nine and chased down the target in the 18th over. "Moisture from yesterday morning is gone. Think the pitch will get slower and slower," commented Kohli on pitch condition at the time of toss. "First six overs ball's going to come on nicely. Important to assess pitch once ball gets older. Have to think on the feet on such a pitch. Same team," Kohli added. West Indies skipper Carlos Brathwaite backed the boys to come out on top, he said, "Message has been to keep that positive intent, just make smarter decisions. John Campbell is out so Narine opens the batting. Pierre is in." Playing XI: West Indies: Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran(w), Kieron Pollard, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite(c), Keemo Paul, Khary Pierre, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas ﻿India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Navdeep Saini, K Khaleel Ahmed

India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I: India opt to bat first

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