Team India enters the year 2023 with hopes of putting the disappointments of the 2022 Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup behind and offering the fans what the pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid had shown promise of.
With this win, India is at the top spot in the points table with four points in two wins in two matches. The Netherlands is at the bottom and has yet to score a point after two losses.
Opener Kusal Mendis smashed an unbeaten 68, his second consecutive fifty on the trot, as Sri Lanka secured a clinical nine-wicket win over Ireland in their Super 12 match of the Men's T20 World Cup at the Bellerive Oval on Sunday.
The much-awaited clash between India and Pakistan will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with over a lakh fans' presence and if the recent encounters are any indicators, the match may end up going to the wire.
First Round teams will commence their preparations in Melbourne, with matches split between the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Junction Oval from 10-13 October.
The 6'7" tall Topley had claimed career-best figures of 6/24 in ODI cricket as England defeated India by 100 runs in the second match at Lord's on Thursday to level the three-match series at 1-1.
Marsh made 185 runs at an average of 62 in the UAE and Australian great Ian Healy believes the all-rounder has earned the credentials to be in the Ashes squad. Healy has been quoted as saying that Marsh is the ideal candidate for the No.5 spot in the Ashes side.
The Babar Azam-led side will play three T20Is followed by two Tests. While the first Test will be played in Chattogram from November 26, the second Test will commence in Dhaka on December 4.
The defining moment at the T20 World Cup came when he hit an unbeaten 20-ball 26 against New Zealand, guiding Pakistan to a narrow win which laid the platform for their dominance in Group 2 of the 'Super 12' stage. Malik also struck an unbeaten 54 against Scotland in their last 'Super 12' engagement, indicating he is in good form for the semifinal clash.
Langer came under intense scrutiny after returning from Australia's 4-1 T20I series losses to West Indies and Bangladesh. There were reports of discontent between him and the players apart from an alleged heated argument with a Cricket Australia (CA) staffer in Dhaka.
