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The Asia Cup is marred by a handshake controversy following India's victory over Pakistan, escalating with Mohammad Amir's veiled critique of the Indian team via a social media post praising Virat Kohli. This incident led to scheduling disruptions, including a delayed Pakistan-UAE match due to PCB's concerns over the match referee.

The BCCI has announced the India A squads for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A in Kanpur. Rajat Patidar will lead in the first match, while Tilak Varma will captain the subsequent games. The squads feature young talents from domestic cricket and the IPL, with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana joining for the final two matches.

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria claimed the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has diminished due to Pakistan's declining standards. He cited the absence of key players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the upcoming Asia Cup clash. Kaneria believed India are far superior, even without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and anticipated a one-sided contest.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes Pakistan has a golden opportunity in the upcoming Asia Cup clash against India. He suggests Virat Kohli's absence makes India's batting line-up vulnerable if Pakistan's bowlers strike early. India's recent Asia Cup opener saw a dominant win against UAE, fueled by Kuldeep Yadav's spell and quickfire batting.

India A are set to play three List A matches against Australia A and the TimesofIndia.com has learnt that both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will not be forced to play in the series and their participation. If at all it happens, it will only happen if they need game time before the tour of Australia, where the Men in Blue will play three ODIs.

Concerns arose among fans after Rohit Sharma's recent hospital visit, though he had cleared a fitness test in Bengaluru. Having been absent since the 2025 Champions Trophy win, Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, is set to return for the ODI series against Australia.

Sunil Chhetri revealed that Virat Kohli shared his fitness test scores from London. Recently, reports claimed that Kohli underwent his pre-season mandatory fitness test in London, unlike other players who gave it at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Sanjay Bangar shared a story. Shubman Gill's initial net practice amazed everyone. Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Ravi Shastri were present. Gill's batting impressed Kohli. Kohli felt he lacked Gill's talent at 19. Shastri wanted Gill in the playing eleven immediately. Gill's talent was evident from the start. Everyone realized his special ability during that session.

Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh, has reignited controversy by accusing Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni of being backstabbers who feared his son's talent. He claimed Sachin Tendulkar was Yuvraj's only true friend, alleging others felt threatened by Yuvraj's potential to usurp their positions in the team. Yograj has previously asserted that Yuvraj was forced into early retirement.

Virat Kohli, India's most followed personality on Instagram with 273 million followers, has scaled back his social media presence. Citing the energy drain from constant online engagement, Kohli prioritized focusing on his game and personal life. While fans may miss his frequent posts, the article revisits some of his most memorable moments shared on the platform.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar addressed fans following the tragic stampede after their IPL victory parade, expressing condolences and solidarity. Virat Kohli echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the heartbreak and offering prayers. RCB announced a compensation package, a memorial, and safety measures, while a judicial commission held organisers responsible for safety lapses.

Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma, recently underwent fitness assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru following a break. While the Yo-Yo test was conducted, the Bronco drill, recommended by Strength & Conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux, was absent but might be included during the Asia Cup in Dubai.

Pat Cummins will miss the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India due to lumbar bone stress, jeopardizing his Ashes preparation. The injury, discovered after persistent back soreness following the West Indies tour, necessitates further management and rehabilitation. Cricket Australia aims to have Cummins ready for the Ashes series, closely monitoring his progress.

Jitesh Sharma's dream of lifting the IPL trophy alongside Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik materialized after RCB's victory. His impactful performance, particularly his impressive strike rate while batting in the lower order, earned him a spot in India's Asia Cup squad. Despite Kohli's desire to see Jitesh's fun side, Jitesh maintained a respectful distance due to his small-town upbringing.

Gautam Gambhir was celebrated at the DPL 2025 final, where he playfully tagged cricketers with fitting descriptions. West Delhi Lions, led by Nitish Rana's unbeaten 79, clinched the title by defeating Central Delhi Kings. Rana's consistent performance throughout the playoffs and Gambhir's presence added excitement to the event.

Despite their strong bond and memorable IPL partnerships for RCB, AB de Villiers didn't include Virat Kohli in his top five Test cricketers. De Villiers named Jacques Kallis, Andrew Flintoff, Mohammad Asif, Shane Warne, and Sachin Tendulkar. He praised Kallis as potentially the best cricketer ever and Asif as the best seamer he faced.

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers revealed his fondness for batting with Virat Kohli during his 11 seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Their synergy led to five 100+ partnerships and two 200+ partnerships in IPL. De Villiers highlighted their shared competitive spirit and proactive approach to dismantling bowlers, recalling memorable partnerships at Wankhede and Chinnaswamy stadiums amidst electrifying crowds.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar feels Joe Root could face a similar fate as Virat Kohli in Tests, if he fails to score runs in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.

The BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru is buzzing with activity as Indian cricketers gear up for upcoming tournaments. Rohit Sharma, along with Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and others, underwent pre-season fitness tests under Adrian le Roux. Discussions are ongoing about Rohit potentially playing for India 'A' before the Australia series.

Suresh Raina supports KL Rahul's return to India's T20I team, despite his Asia Cup exclusion, citing Rahul's temperament and class. Raina highlighted Rahul's impressive IPL 2025 performance, where he scored 539 runs at a strike rate of 149.72. Rahul's T20I record includes 2,265 runs in 72 matches, though he hasn't played since the 2022 World Cup.