Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
'I knew he would come through in a big match because of his ability to rise to the occasion.'
UP Warriorz will be looking to bounce back and avenge their earlier defeat when they take on a resurgent Gujarat Giants in a crucial return-leg Women's Premier League fixture in Lucknow on Monday.
Afghanistan are only mathematically alive in the race although they beat England in their impressive Champions Trophy debut.
It was amazing to see how he used to hoodwink batsmen with subtle changes in flight, loop and deliver his doomsday ball -- the dangerous armer.
Afghan fans turned out in large numbers, hoping to witness history-a victory over Australia that would have boosted their team's semifinal chances.
Australian opener Matthew Short suffered an injury while fielding but he returned to open the batting and Smith said he could take a few days to recover.
Australia sailed into the Champions Trophy semi-finals after their final Group B match against Afghanistan was abandoned at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Unaware that the area was filled with cricket fans, he had a tough time managing the crowd.
According to sources aware of developments in the Board, a few players are contemplating if they should travel to New Zealand.
"Actually, he can surprise you with his pace. Just the other day in the nets, he hit me straight in the back. So, yeah, all of these things make him a very good bowler to play against.
Ravichandran Ashwin, a keen observer of the game, believes the balance between bat and ball has been irrevocably skewed, questioning the very future of the 50-over format.
Rana was picked in the team in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
Dhawan also highlighted Rohit Sharma's influence on young players, particularly the openers, emphasising how his vast experience helps shape their game.
Pakistan have been eliminated from the home Champions Trophy after failing to win a single game.
'And obviously two losses and being out of the tournament and a bit of hangover of the few tournaments before I think it probably reached the end of the road foe me and my captaincy, is a shame, I'm sad about that.'
India's only representative in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, Nitin Menon, has opted out of officiating in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan this month due to personal reasons.
Hamilton told reporters at pre-season testing in Bahrain that he had yet to broach the subject of 'Hammer Time' with race engineer Adami.
Lewis Hamilton said he was 'really enjoying' driving his Ferrari after ending the second morning of Formula One's pre-season testing in Bahrain
Australia captain Pat Cummins is all but ruled out of the Champions Trophy while fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood is also a doubt for the tournament.
Tallon Griekspoor staged a grand recovery, saving four match-points, before stunning top seed Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships on Thursday.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma put together his best round of 2025 as he carded a six-under 66 to be tied-4th on the weather-affected opening day of the Investec South African Open Championship.
'Certain formats require a certain skill set and whenever we look at these kinds of players, if the talent is there, then you don't want to shy away from blooding them.'
New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips played down any talks of India getting an advantage by playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
Russian chess Grandmaster Boris Spassky, who took French nationality in 1978, was the 10th World chess champion, holding the title from 1969-1972, when he lost it to American Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik in a contest later dubbed as the "Match of the Century".
Jos Buttler joins greats Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara as players who failed to translate their many individual triumphs into success as captains.
Carlos Sainz completed a double race distance for previously struggling Williams and pushed his Ferrari successor Lewis Hamilton off the top of the testing
'I will watch India's match against New Zealand with no tension -- just enjoy the cricket.'
India batter Shubman Gill, who missed practice on Wednesday, returned to training at the ICC Cricket Academy on Thursday, putting to rest speculation about his availability for the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand.
Former Pakistan player Basit Ali believes the experience of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli gives India the edge in the blockbuster February 23 game.
After a much-needed two-day respite, Team India returned to the training grounds with renewed vigour, setting their sights on a pivotal showdown against New Zealand on Sunday.
BCCI could opt for a neutral venue with Pakistan unlikely to travel to India.
R Praggnanandhaa, the newly-crowned Tata Steel Chess champion, was given a warm reception upon his return to Chennai. The 19-year-old made history by defeating reigning World Champion D Gukesh in the final, marking the biggest win of his career. Fans, officials from the Tamil Nadu government, and the national federation gathered at the airport to welcome the young chess prodigy. Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian after Viswanathan Anand to win the Tata Steel Chess title.
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy Group A match played between India and New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai on Sunday
This is Kevin Pietersen's first coaching assignment in the IPL, where he featured as a player from 2009 to 2016.
Afghanistan's performances at the 50-overs and Twenty20 World Cups mean there is no chance of Australia taking them lightly in Friday's Champions Trophy match.
Former opener Shikhar Dhawan believes Rohit Sharma has matured as a leader over the years and shares a close bond with his teammates, which augurs well for the Indian team.
Even though Mahendra Singh Dhoni has retired, a large number of young fans could be seen wearing his iconic No. 7 jersey.
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar led the cricket world in showering praise on Afghanistan after their stunning eight-run victory over England in the Champions Trophy, saying their wins "can't be termed as upsets anymore".
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