Fifa World Cup 2018: Five things we learned from pre-quarterfinals

Spain went out after losing a penalty shootout to hosts Russia after 120 minutes in which they completed over 1,000 passes -- a new World Cup record

The Round-of -16 in the FIFA World Cup 2018 finished on Tuesday night and with two days without football before the first of the quarterfinals, here are a few things the past four frantic and entertaining days have taught us, says Xinhua news agency.

1. Passing isn't everything

Spain went out after losing a penalty shootout to hosts Russia after 120 minutes in which they completed over 1,000 passes -- a new World Cup record made in Russia 2018. Yet the only goal the Spanish scored was an own goal following a set piece. Possession at times seemed to be an end in itself, rather than a means to an end. Way too often a Spanish player would check and move horizontally rather than look to move into space, making it easy for a brave but limited Russia side to pack their defence and hang on for a penalty shootout which had a feeling of inevitability about it.

2. Belgium: It pays to be positive

There were 30 seconds left on the clock when Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois caught the ball in his area. Most keepers would have been happy to clutch it to their chest to let a few seconds pass to ensure extra time. Courtois had other thoughts, however, rolling the ball out to Kevin de Bruyne who ran almost the full length of the pitch to start the move which led to Nacer Chadli scoring the goal that beat Japan 3-2. Maybe the Spanish should take note; sometimes speed and speed of thought are important, and it pays to be positive.

3. Mbappe: New world number one?

This World Cup is now without Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo; the two players who have dominated world football for over a decade now. With Messi now 31 and Ronaldo 33, this World Cup could show us who will pick up the torch. Harry Kane's goals and leadership make him a candidate, but for sheer footballing thrills the torch may be headed for France's 19-year-old Kylian M'bappe, who won a penalty in France's 4-3 victory against Argentina and became the first teenager to score twice in a World Cup finals game. It was a breathtaking display of pace and skill that implies he could just be the next great superstar

4. Messi: No man can be an island at the World Cup

Argentina flirted with disaster in the group stage and although hopes were high that they could improve after beating Nigeria in the group stage, it was not to be. An impressive France side made Argentina's weaknesses all too clear and with Messi out of form and surrounded by players who are simply not good enough to win a World Cup, defeat seemed inevitable. A great player can carry a team some of the time, but against the best in the world, reality is going to hit you sooner rather than later.

On display in IPL 2018: The brutal beauty of Mahendra Singh Dhoni

The CSK skipper's knock against KXIP on Sunday night wasn't about answering the brickbats; it was about him and his fans

There are things in sports that genuinely cheer you up. One such is the sight of Mahendra Singh Dhoni swinging through the arc, head down, knees slightly bent, kinetic energy from those baseball-bat-sized arms powering through the ball, and the crowd exploding. It is a thing of brutal beauty. There were many around the world who woke up on Monday morning with that very image still fresh in their minds. The bowler missing, Dhoni pouncing. The ball soaring, the stadium erupting.

In Mohali on Sunday night, a Colosseum-like crowd found itself paying obeisance to a gladiator whose time many thought had come. The willingness to carry on, as admirable as it was, was proving to be too stifling. The performance was no longer backing the obduracy. That still may hold true, but we will leave that for another day.

Instead, this was about celebrating the gifts of a man whose show we have feasted on for 15 years and still cannot seem to feel content. This was about him and his fanatical band of followers, the kind who still look up to him like an eternal demigod. This was about him telling us why he still remains indispensable. This was about him showing us what we have been terribly missing. This, in a boxing sense, was like a seasoned heavyweight fighter absorbing the early blows and then unleashing a savage combination of jabs and hooks to leave his opponent sprawled on the canvas. Well, almost.

The critics have made their peace with Dhoni’s scrappiness. Dhoni is justified in believing that he doesn’t have anything to prove to them, and they don’t bother too much with arraigning him, either. Anyway, this wasn’t about answering the brickbats — Dhoni just doesn’t play his cricket that way. For long, the Indian public has lionised him for his capacity to put on a show, for his mastery that allows him to elevate his game to a whole new level when the chips are down. The performance against Kings XI Punjab was just about the Indian cricket fan. It was Dhoni’s way of thanking thousands of them for sticking by him so loyally, despite his very apparent decline. After all, this is what fandom often triggers; a belief that your heroes can never be spent forces. Acceptance isn’t something that is part of the fan lexicon. And Dhoni on Sunday night competently displayed why it mustn’t be.

This wasn’t so much about Dhoni rolling back the years as it was about him exhibiting what he can do when he’s afforded time at the crease. Dhoni is no longer the furious sprinter of his youth, he is now the canny middle-distance runner who knows exactly when to make his move. He perhaps left it too late in Mohali, but he was clearly hampered — in addition to a back problem — by Ravindra Jadeja’s sluggishness at the other end. Even then, this was a calculated assault that would have culminated in an unlikely win on another day. (more)

Pay gap ensures women cricketers don't receive support men take for granted

On this Women's Day, the incomplete tale of Hamida Banu's life and Dutee Chand's continuing struggle should motivate us to recover, cherish and protect the histories of women in Indian sport.

According to the new set of contracts, the likes of Karun Nair and Jayant Yadav are set to earn a retainer amount of Rs 1 crore for the next year – double of what skipper Mithali Raj will make for leading the women’s team, despite neither of the men having represented India for about a year now. It is not about who brings in more money; rather, the exaggerated gap only ensures women cricketers in India cannot hope to receive the kind of support the men take for granted. On this Women’s Day, the incomplete tale of Hamida Banu’s life and Dutee Chand’s continuing struggle should motivate us to recover, cherish and protect the histories of women in Indian sport. Only then can we expect to afford the respect our female athletes deserve, argues this sports writer.

In Anthony Quinn’s breezy novel, Half of the Human Race, a suffragette falls in love with a cricketer only to discover the politics he espouses is at odds with her beliefs. Eventually, through a series of woeful events, he comes to reassess his world-view and appreciate the struggle which made and remade his love Sito in costruzione was the struggle for women’s suffrage which led to the establishment of Women’s Day, although the day has come to occupy a broader movement now. As the call for gender equity gathers a wider footprint in mainstream culture, it was a worthy reminder by the BCCI on Wednesday that its employees will not be treated at par anytime soon.

According to the new set of contracts, the likes of Karun Nair and Jayant Yadav are set to earn a retainer amount of Rs 1 crore for the next year – double of what skipper Mithali Raj will make for leading the women’s team, despite neither of the men having represented India for about a year now. It is not about who brings in more money; rather, the exaggerated gap only ensures women cricketers in India cannot hope to receive the kind of support the men take for granted.Of course, it used to be worse. Diana Edulji—now a member of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) overseeing the BCCI’s administration—and her teammates were asked to pay Rs 10,000 each for participation in the 1982 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, despite women’s cricket in India attracting huge crowds in the 1970s.

While gains have been made, it is rather unfair for a team which finished runner-up at last year’s World Cup to not be appraised fairly.The cricketers aside, there have been other women have given Indian sport much to cheer about in recent months. Even as the hurdles continue to spring up as if they have a life of their own, the country’s female athletes are setting standards not touched ever before.

While P. V. Sindhu breaks newer ground in badminton, lesser lights have enchanted in no less measure. In 2017, 19-year-old Aditi Ashok delivered a stellar campaign on the elite Ladies’ Professional Golf Tour (LPGA). The Bengaluru-teenager has given ample proof to show that she belongs among the best.Young stars seem to be leading the way lately. It was only earlier this week that 16-year-old Manu Bhaker grabbed headlines when she reigned champion in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the World Cup in Mexico, becoming the third-youngest shooter ever to win gold at that level.

Pay gap ensures women cricketers don't receive support men take for granted

On this Women's Day, the incomplete tale of Hamida Banu's life and Dutee Chand's continuing struggle should motivate us to recover, cherish and protect the histories of women in Indian sport.

According to the new set of contracts, the likes of Karun Nair and Jayant Yadav are set to earn a retainer amount of Rs 1 crore for the next year – double of what skipper Mithali Raj will make for leading the women’s team, despite neither of the men having represented India for about a year now. It is not about who brings in more money; rather, the exaggerated gap only ensures women cricketers in India cannot hope to receive the kind of support the men take for granted. On this Women’s Day, the incomplete tale of Hamida Banu’s life and Dutee Chand’s continuing struggle should motivate us to recover, cherish and protect the histories of women in Indian sport. Only then can we expect to afford the respect our female athletes deserve, argues this sports writer.

In Anthony Quinn’s breezy novel, Half of the Human Race, a suffragette falls in love with a cricketer only to discover the politics he espouses is at odds with her beliefs. Eventually, through a series of woeful events, he comes to reassess his world-view and appreciate the struggle which made and remade his love Sito in costruzione was the struggle for women’s suffrage which led to the establishment of Women’s Day, although the day has come to occupy a broader movement now. As the call for gender equity gathers a wider footprint in mainstream culture, it was a worthy reminder by the BCCI on Wednesday that its employees will not be treated at par anytime soon.

According to the new set of contracts, the likes of Karun Nair and Jayant Yadav are set to earn a retainer amount of Rs 1 crore for the next year – double of what skipper Mithali Raj will make for leading the women’s team, despite neither of the men having represented India for about a year now. It is not about who brings in more money; rather, the exaggerated gap only ensures women cricketers in India cannot hope to receive the kind of support the men take for granted.Of course, it used to be worse. Diana Edulji—now a member of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) overseeing the BCCI’s administration—and her teammates were asked to pay Rs 10,000 each for participation in the 1982 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, despite women’s cricket in India attracting huge crowds in the 1970s.

While gains have been made, it is rather unfair for a team which finished runner-up at last year’s World Cup to not be appraised fairly.The cricketers aside, there have been other women have given Indian sport much to cheer about in recent months. Even as the hurdles continue to spring up as if they have a life of their own, the country’s female athletes are setting standards not touched ever before.

While P. V. Sindhu breaks newer ground in badminton, lesser lights have enchanted in no less measure. In 2017, 19-year-old Aditi Ashok delivered a stellar campaign on the elite Ladies’ Professional Golf Tour (LPGA). The Bengaluru-teenager has given ample proof to show that she belongs among the best.Young stars seem to be leading the way lately. It was only earlier this week that 16-year-old Manu Bhaker grabbed headlines when she reigned champion in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the World Cup in Mexico, becoming the third-youngest shooter ever to win gold at that level.

ICC Champions Trophy: Top 8 memorable India vs Pakistan matches

Ahead of the Champions Trophy clash, we look at India-Pakistan ODI matches in ICC tournaments

The most awaited contest in the ICC Champions Trophy, 2017, will be the one between arch-rivals India and Pakistan -- on Sunday, June 4, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The match is sure to refresh the age-old rivalry followed closely over decades, and it promises to be one of the highlights of the tournament.

While India-Pakistan Cricket matches had been more common in earlier years of this decade, things have changed in the past few years, and India-Pak clashes on cricket field have become few and far in between. Matches in marquee ICC tournaments have an added significance, given the prize that any team wins is much bigger. While India has never lost a match to Pakistan in World Cup tournaments, it has been beated in two of the three times the two teams have met in Champions Trophy tournaments.

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India-Pakistan Cricket has been known to stop traffic, give people racing heartbeats and force students to skip studies even during exams. Fans expect Sunday's match to be nothing short of great, despite Indian captain Virat Kohli playing down the importance of this clash and branding it as 'any other match'. Even as we wonder if India will begin its defence of the Champions Trophy title on a successful note, let's take a look at earlier memorable India-Pakistan matches in World Cup and Champions Trophy tournaments.

1. 1992 World Cup

This was during the 1992 World Cup at SCG in Sydney that these two nations from the Indian sub-continent played together in a World Cup match for the first time. (more)

'Sachin: A Billion Dreams': Informative, inspirational (IANS Review, Rating: ***)

Film: "Sachin: A Billion Dreams"; Director: James Erskine; Cast: Sachin Tendulkar, Anjali Tendulkar, Ajit Tendulkar, Sara Tendulkar, Mayuresh Pem, Mayur More; Rating: ***

"Sachin: A Billion Dreams" is a biopic that gives a holistic view of Sachin Tendulkar's life, who is revered as "the God" of cricket by his fans.

Structurally, the film is designed as a documentary. While the film encapsulates the life of the master blaster right from his birth till date, it also gives an insight into the socio-economic situation of the country, making it feel like heavy-duty stuff.

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This may not be the first documentary on Tendulkar, but probably it is the only one endorsed by him. So, you have him as the narrator sharing his personal moments along with his views and fears in a sincere and heartfelt manner.

While the film tells us of his growth as a cricketer which is common knowledge, it also reveals his personal life bringing to the fore his close-knit family and friends. How he got the name Sachin, how he met his wife, got married and how he spends his free moments, are a few of the interesting nuggets shared. So apart from Sachin you actually get to see his family and friends. Read more

IPL 10 eliminator: KKR beats Hyderabad by 7 wickets, will face MI next

As Duckworth-Lewis method came into play, KKR had to chase 48 in six overs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir led from the front to knock defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a seven-wicket win and made to Qualifier 2 in a rain-interrupted eliminator clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Thursday.

KKR will take on Mumbai Indians on Friday at the same venue.

Chasing 48 to win in six overs after rain and wet outfield ate up a large chunk of playing time, forcing Duckworth-Lewis method to come into play, Gambhir steadied the ship after KKR were 12/3 at one stage with an unbeaten 19-ball 32.

Ishank Jaggi, playing his first match, was not out on five.

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At the start, Chris Lynn was on the money right away, smacking Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six in the first ball he faced.

But the second ball saw the destructive Australian get out after replays showed Lynn had edged to wicketkeeper Naman OJha off a Bhuveshwar near-yorker.

Yusuf Pathan, promoted up the order to score at a brisk pace, lasted just one delivery before he was run out. Robin Uthappa did not last long too, holing out to Shikhar Dhawan at deep mid wicket off Chris Jordan's bowling.

Earlier, KKR rode on a superlative show by their bowlers to restrict Sunrisers Hyderabad to 128/7 in 20 overs. Read more

Pune beats Mumbai by seven wickets; Smith, Rahane seal win

Chasing a target of 185, Pune crossed the line with just one ball to spare

Rising Pune Supergiants rode on superb batting by captain Steve Smith and Ajinkya Rahane to defeat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in the second game of the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday.

Chasing a target of 185, Pune crossed the line with just one ball to spare.

The hosts had started their chase on a strong note, scoring at more than 10 runs an over in the initial stages before Mayank Agarwal was dismissed by Mitchell McClenaghan.

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Smith then joined Rahane in the middle and the duo added 58 runs in the space of seven overs to lay the foundation of a successful run chase.

Rahane scored 60 runs off 34 balls with six boundaries and three hits into the stands. He was finally dismissed when Nitish Rana pulled off an excellent catch at deep square leg off the bowling of Tim Southee.

Smith, however, continued in the same vein and remained unbeaten on 84 runs off a mere 54 deliveries. His innings included seven boundaries and three sixes.

Fittingly, it was he only who brought up the winning runs with two consecutive sixes off Kieron Pollard in the final over.

For Mumbai, Southee, Hardik Pandya and McClenaghan bagged a wicket each. (more)

Ashwin and Virat Kohli honoured in BCCI Awards 2017

Virat Kohli with team mates during the BCCI Annual awards in Bengaluru

Kohli won the Polly Umrigar award for best international player of 2015/16, becoming the first player to get the award three times.

Engineer urged everyone to know and respect the contributions made by Pataudi to Indian cricket, saying that the Tiger was "still a world-class player despite losing one eye".

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Ashwin wins the CK Nayudu award for his performance in the West Indies in 2016. He picked up 17 wickets in four Tests, including a haul of 7/83 in North Sound.

Ajinkiya Rahane with wife during the BCCI Annual awards in Bengaluru

Sharmila Tagore with daughter Saba pose during the BCCI Annual awards in Bengaluru

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धोनी के इस्तीफे की वजह यह तो नहीं!

Breaking News : प्रशंसक, पूर्व खिलाड़ी और क्रिकेट से जुड़े तमाम लोग महेंद्र सिंह धोनी के उस हालिया फैसले पर हैरान रह गए, जब सभी प्रारूपों में भारत के सबसे सफल कप्तान ने सीमित ओवरों के खेल में भारत की कप्तानी छोड़ दी। लोगों ने हैरानी भरी प्रतिक्रिया देते हुए कहा कि धोनी से ऐसा क्यों किया? वहीं दूसरे लोग इस सवाल को दूसरे नजरिये से भी पूछ रहे हैं कि आखिर धोनी को ऐसा क्यों नहीं करना चाहिए था? दशक भर से देश की कप्तानी संभाल रहे धोनी का यही अंदाज रहा है कि उन्होंने निजी हितों पर टीम को ही हमेशा तरजीह दी है। निश्चित रूप से इस पहलू ने अहम भूमिका निभाई हो लेकिन पूरी कहानी यहीं खत्म नहीं हो जाती।

व्यावसायिक हितों जैसे शब्द की व्याख्या करते हुए लोढ़ा समिति की रिपोर्ट में दर्शाया गया, 'डी टीम का कप्तान है। साथ ही वह खेल प्रबंधन एजेंसी में सह-मालिक भी है, जो टीम के अन्य सदस्यों से जुड़े अनुबंधों को देखती है। डी हितों के टकराव से प्रभावित है।' रिपोर्ट में आगे कहा गया, 'इस मामले में जब असंदिग्ध साख वाले तमाम क्रिकेटरों से पड़ताल की गई कि कि आखिर हितों के टकराव की क्या स्थिति हो सकती है तो वे हैरान रह गए कि किसी हित टकराव वाली स्थिति के लिए कोई गलत काम जरूरी नहीं है। समिति ने संज्ञान लिया कि किसी पद पर बैठा व्यक्ति खेल में ईमानदारी का अवमूल्यन कर सकता है और ऐसे हालात इन आरोपों के लिहाज से उसे संवेदनशील बना सकते हैं।' अगर धोनी इस्तीफा नहीं देते तो वे इस प्रकार के परिदृश्य के काफी करीब नजर आते क्योंकि उन्हें 6 जनवरी को आगामी एकदिवसीय और टी 20 शृंखलाओं के लिए चयनकर्ताओं की बैठक में सक्रिय भूमिका निभानी पड़ती।

धोनी अपने बचपन के दोस्त अरुण पांडेय के साथ मिलकर रिति स्‍पोर्ट्स मैनेजमेंट नाम की एजेंसी चलाते हैं, जो खुद धोनी सहित दर्जन भर मशहूर शख्सियतों के विज्ञापन अनुबंधों का काम देखती है। इसके साथ के एल राहुल, भुवनेश्वर कुमार, प्रज्ञान ओझा और मोहित शर्मा जैसे खिलाड़ी जुड़े हुए हैं। इनमें राहुल और भुवनेश्वर एकदिवसीय क्रिकेट टीम का हिस्सा भी हैं। साथ ही धोनी लंबे समय से ऐसी टीम के कप्तान भी रहे हैं, जिसमें नियमित रूप से रवींद्र जाडेजा और सुरेश रैना की मौजूदगी रही। यह तथ्य भी किसी से छिपा नहीं रहा कि ये दोनों खिलाड़ी भी उस समय रिति स्पोट्र्स मैनेजमेंट के साथ थे। रैना ने जहां वर्ष 2015 में रिति के साथ अपना करार खत्म कर लिया, वहीं जडेजा ने पिछले साल अक्टूबर में ही रिति को अलविदा कह दिया। Read more

Ind vs ENG: विराट कोहली की कप्‍तानी में टीम इंडिया ने तोड़ा जीत का 29 साल पुराना रिकॉर्ड

भारत ने इंग्‍लैंड को चेन्‍नई टेस्‍ट में एक पारी और 75 रन से हरा दिया है। इस जीत के साथ ही टीम इंडिया ने पांच टेस्‍ट की सीरीज 4-0 से जीत ली।

भारत ने इंग्‍लैंड को चेन्‍नई टेस्‍ट में एक पारी और 75 रन से हरा दिया है। इस जीत के साथ ही टीम इंडिया ने पांच टेस्‍ट की सीरीज 4-0 से जीत ली। भारत ने लगातार दूसरे टेस्‍ट में इंग्‍लैंड को पारी से हराया है। चेन्‍नई टेस्‍ट बिना हारे भारत का लगातार 18वां टेस्‍ट मैच है। यह नया रिकॉर्ड है। इससे पहले भारत ने 29 साल पहले लगातार 17 टेस्‍ट मैच बिना हारे खेले थे। विराट कोहली की कप्‍तानी में सितम्‍बर 2015 के बाद से भारत ने लगातार पांचवीं टेस्‍ट सीरीज जीती है। इस विजयी रथ में खास बात यह भी है कि भारत ने एक भी मैच नहीं हारा है। यहां तक देश हो या विदेश किसी भी जगह पर कोई भी टीम सितम्‍बर 2015 के बाद से भारत को टेस्‍ट में हरा नहीं पाई हैं। भारत ने इस दौरान दक्षिण अफ्रीका, वेस्‍ट इंडीज, न्‍यूजीलैंड को हराया है। इससे पहले भारत ने श्रीलंका को 2-1 से हराया था।

चेन्‍नई टेस्‍ट में इंग्‍लैंड ने टॉस जीतकर पहले खेलते हुए मोईन अली (146) की शतकीय पारी के बूते 477 रन बनाए थे। इसके जवाब में भारत ने करुण नायर(303 नाबाद) और केएल राहुल (199) के शतकों के बूते 7 विकेट पर 759 रन बनाकर पारी घोषित कर दी थी। इसके जवाब में इंग्‍लैंड दूसरी पारी में 207 रन पर सिमट गया। मेहमान टीम दूसरी पारी में रवींद्र जडेजा (48-7) की गेंदबाजी के आगे घुटने टेक बैठी। इसी के साथ एंथनी डी मेलो ट्रॉफी टीम इंडिया के नाम हो गई। भारत ने साल 2008 के बाद पहली बार इंग्‍लैंड को टेस्‍ट सीरीज में हराया था। इसके बाद टीम इंडिया को लगातार तीन टेस्‍ट सीरीज में अंग्रेजों ने हराया था।

रवींद्र जडेजा को उनके शानदार कैच के लिए ‘बेस्ट कैच ऑफ द मैच’ के खिताब से नवाजा गया। वहीं नाबाद 303 रन की पारी खेलने वाले करुण नैयर को मैन ऑफ द मैच चुना गया। कप्‍तान विराट कोहली को मैन ऑफ द सीरीज चुना गया। उन्‍होंने इस सीरीज में 655 रन बनाए, जिसमें एक दोहरा शतक भी शामिल है। 22 टेस्‍ट मैच के बाद सबसे ज्‍यादा जीत के मामले में कोहली दुनिया में तीसरे नंबर पर आ गए हैं। उनके नेतृत्‍व में टीम इंडिया ने अभी तक 14 टेस्‍ट जीतेेहैं। वे इंग्‍लैंड के माइकल वॉन, मार्क ब्रेयरली और एल हेसेट के बराबर हैुंं। यह रिकॉर्ड ऑस्‍ट्रेलिया के स्‍टीव वॉ के नाम हैं जिन्‍होंने 17 मैच जीते थे।

Rahane out of Test series, Manish Pandey called up

Ind vs Eng: Manish replaces Rahane, Shardul called in as Shami’s backup

Manish Pandey, the Karnataka batsman, has been called up to the Indian Test team as a replacement for Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth Test to be played in Mumbai starting Thursday (December 8).

Rahane was hit on the hand while practicing in the nets on Wednesday and the blow resulted in an avulsion fracture on the right index finger. The Mumbai middle-order batsman and India Test vice-captain has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against England. 

BCCI confirmed the news through a media release, saying: "Ajinkya Rahane sustained an avulsion fracture on his right index finger and has been ruled out for the remaining two Test matches of the Paytm series 2016 against England. A ball stuck Rahane during the practice session today." 

Rahane has not had the best of series thus far, with a top score of 26 in five innings so far, but his injury will still come as a big blow for the Indian side which has already suffered some injury setbacks. 

Their pace spearhead, Mohammed Shami is a doubt for the Test, too, and a back-up in the form of Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur has been called up. Shami has been suffering from a sore knee and a call on whether he can play in Mumbai will be taken on the eve of the Test.

"Mumbai medium pacer Shardul Thakur has been called as back up for India pacer Mohammed Shami, who is nursing a sore knee. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his progress and a decision on his participation will be taken before the start of the fourth Test match," the BCCI release said. 

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