Back from break, fresh Cheteshwar Pujara is looking forward to the season

SL vs WI | 1st Test | Day-3: Rain, Cornwall and Myares keep Windies in the game

The persistent rainfall at Galle made sure that West Indies, despite a top-order collapse, remained alive in the first Test against hosts Sri Lanka. At the end of the second day, the Windies were 224-9 with wicket-keeper batter Joshua da Silva playing on unbeaten 11 and number XI Shanon Gabriel yet to arrive at the crease. Starting their innings at the overnight score of 113-6, the Windies pair of Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers put on resistance as they added 50 runs more to their existing 13-run partnership to take it to 63, the highest of the West Indian innings thus far. Mayers got a bit carried away and was removed by part-time option Dhanajaya de Silva. Holder followed suit and West Indies were once again in a spot of bother at 175-8, still, 11 runs behind the target of 186 to avoid the follow-on. It was then that Rahkeem Cornwall and da Silva got together and added 49 for the ninth wicket before Cornwall was trapped by Suranga Lakmal. It was at the same time that rain hit the ground and went on till the end of the play was declared by the umpires. At the end of day-2 of the first Test, the men from the Caribbean are still 162 runs behind from the Sri Lankan total of 386 runs.

We know the challenges of facing India at home: Ajaz Patel

New Zealand will be up against India in a two-match Test series slated to begin on Thursday in Kanpur. Ajaz Patel has expressed his excitement on playing India at home but also admitted that there are certain challenges that are on offer. "Obviously we know what India offers in terms of spin bowling but at the same time we know the challenges of facing India at home as well,” he said. "It's a challenge as a spinner but it's something I'm really excited about and thriving on so I'm looking forward to it,” he added. New Zealand are touring India for a three-match T20I series and two Tests. While the visitors suffered a clean sweep defeat in the T20Is after losing all the three matches, they will now lock horns with India in the Tests. The last time the two sides faced each other in a Test match was the final of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship where the Kane Williamson-led side defeated India to clinch the title. The hosts will now look to turn fortunes for themselves in Test cricket when they face New Zealand in the next fixture.

IND vs NZ | KL Rahul ruled out of first Test; Suryakumar Yadav named as replacement

It has been reported that KL Rahul, one of India’s most experienced batters in the current Test squad, has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand due to a muscle strain on his left thigh. India are scheduled to play a two-match Test series against the World Test Championship titleholders, with the first game starting on 25 November in Kanpur. The Board for Control of Cricket in India has confirmed that Suryakumar Yadav will be Rahul's replacement for the game. The injured right hander will be sent to the National Cricket Academy for his rehabilitation programme where he will prepare for the South Africa series. The India team is already without the services of regular skipper Virat Kohli and experienced opener Rohit Sharma who have asked the BCCI for rest after a heavy 6-month schedule where they had to jump bio-bubbles to accommodate their schedule. While it is not clear as to what the injury is, but it would mean that Shubman Gill will be back in the opening slot and one among SKY or Shreyas Iyer might get a chance to occupy a position in the middle order.

Halal trends on Twitter as cricket fans ask BCCI to withdraw its decision to serve only halal meat

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now marred in a fresh controversy as their new dietary plan of serving only Halal meat for meat consuming players has enraged many fans and their religious sentiments. The anger towards the Indian cricket board was evident on social media with Halal trending on Twitter in India. The new menu plans were introduced by the BCCI on Monday, November 22 for the upcoming first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand. For the Kanpur Test, the BCCI is said to have asked the catering company ti serve only Halal meat and that provoked many fans. Having won the T20I series 3-0, the Indian team would be looking to add to their World Test Championship points when it takes on the defending champions New Zealand in the three-match series. While India’s WTC 2021-23 campaign started with its England tour in August this year, the Kiwis would start their title defence with this series against India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is now marred in a fresh controversy as their new dietary plan of serving only Halal meat for meat consuming players has enraged many fans and their religious sentiments. The anger towards the Indian cricket board was evident on social media with Halal trending on Twitter in India. The new menu plans were introduced by the BCCI on Monday, November 22 for the upcoming first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand. For the Kanpur Test, the BCCI is said to have asked the catering company to serve only Halal meat and that provoked many fans. Having won the T20I series 3-0, the Indian team would be looking to add to their World Test Championship points when it takes on the defending champions New Zealand in the three-match series. While India’s WTC 2021-23 campaign started with its England tour in August this year, the Kiwis would start their title defence with this series against India.