Rohit shot down suggestions that India had rolled out a 'doctored pitch' for the contest.
Legendary wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist believes Australia will play all-rounder Cameron Green as a pure batter at No 6 in the first Test against India.
Indian batters committed themselves to doubles shift in the nets against slow bowlers
Skipper Suresh Raina finally found some form, scoring up an unbeaten century on the fourth and final day, as Uttar Pradesh collected three points from their Group B Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha in Nagpur on Tuesday. Uttar Pradesh got the points on the basis of the first-innings lead, while Vidarbha one.
Uttar Pradesh notched up a mammoth 524 for seven with Arish Alam and Piyush Chawla scoring half centuries in their Group B Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha in Nagpur on Sunday.
Opener Mukul Dagar struck a patient century as Uttar Pradesh posted 248 for four on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Vidarbha in Nagpur on Saturday.
Opener Faiz Fazal led Vidarbha's strong reply with an unbeaten century as the home side put up 214 for 2 in their first innings on the third day of their Ranji Trophy group league match against Tamil Nadu in Nagpur on Monday. Fazal was undefeated on 110 off 271 balls (19X4) as Vidarbha ended the day 229 runs short of Tamil Nadu's first innings total of 449 for eight declared at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground.
India skipper Rohit Sharma chose to keep suspense over his preferred batting and bowling line-ups for the opening Test against Australia.
Rahul didn't provide any definitive answers about three key slots in the team -- the wicketkeeper, the third spinner and the number five in the batting order.
The Indian team will have a four-day extended practice session before the first ODI against the West Indies on Sunday.
Rest of India beat Ranji champions Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets on the third day of the match.
'I don't think Shami had any doubts that Ravi would stick by his word, but to see the head coach move heaven and earth to ensure his best interests were taken care of at a difficult time must have made a massive impact on him.' A fascinating excerpt from R Sridhar's must-read book Coaching Beyond: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team.
After taking a 56-run first innings lead, Vidarbha bundled out Rajasthan for a paltry 151 in their second innings on the second day of Plate Group-B Ranji Trophy league match.
Off-spinner Preetam Gandhe claimed 5 for 49 as Vidarbha won the Ranji Trophy Plate group match on the third day.
In major embarrassment for the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the International Cricket Council rated the track at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground in Nagpur, on which the third Test between India and South Africa was played, as "poor", triggering a review of the performance of the pitch under the ICC Pitch Monitoring Process.
The much-awaited World Cup clash between co-hosts Australia and New Zealand will be about more than just the race for quarter-final places with the cricket boards of both countries confirming that the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy will be at stake.
A round-up of the Ranji Trophy semi-final matches played on Monday
'Binny's slot could go to a spinning all-rounder in Nagpur. It could be either Rohit or Mann.'
Aruneel Sadadekar/Rediff.com lists five matches you can't afford to miss out at the ICC's marquee event.
The 22-yard strip at the Feroz Shah Kotla will be the cynosure of all eyes as a buoyant India seeks their biggest series triumph against South Africa when they square off in the final Test of the four-match rubber in Delhi on Thursday.
Shreyas Iyer was the lone ranger as his unbeaten 191 helped Mumbai to 328/6 in their Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match against Gujarat in Hubballi on Wednesday. At stumps on the third and penultimate day, Mumbai trailed Gujarat by 109 runs with four wickets remaining in the first innings. Gujarat were all out for 437 in their first essay after Priyank Kirit Panchal slammed 232.
'I just go out there and do my thing; try to express myself. I'm glad people enjoy it,' Rishabh Pant tells Dhruv Munjal.
Sanju Samson smashed 72 off 56 balls as Kerala completed a five wicket win over Punjab to cruise into the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, in Kochi, on Saturday.
It was another Ranji Trophy match at Bansi Lal Stadium that turned out to be farcical contest as Baroda beat Bengal by 21 runs with 40 wickets falling well inside two days.
Rajasthan suffered the ignominy of being bowled out for a paltry 35 against Railways in a Central Zone leg match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, in Nagpur, on Tuesday. Railways needed just 5.3 overs, losing a solitary wicket, to hit up the required runs.
Punjab rode on a solid batting display to post a massive 560 for 6 declared before reducing Odisha to 110 for 2 in their second innings on Day 3, in their Group A Ranji Trophy match in Mohali on Tuesday.
A round-up of Ranji Trophy matches played across India on Monday
A summary of Tuesday's play in the Ranji Trophy matches at various venues across the country.
A summary of Tuesday's play in the Ranji Trophy matches at various venues across the country.
Owing to their first innings lead, Bengal grabbed three crucial points against Haryana after their Group A Ranji Trophy match ended in a draw at the CH Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium, Lahli on Monday.
Off-spinner Gurkeerat Singh Mann registered his career best bowling figures as Punjab defeated a sorry-looking Andhra by seven wickets on the second day of a Group 'B' Ranji Trophy match, in Patiala, on Saturday.
A summary of Wednesday's play in the Ranji Trophy matches at various venues across the country.