Australia captain Tim Paine asserted on Tuesday that the inclusion of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the playing XI for the third cricket Test against India will improve the team's bowling options for the crucial contest.

India made a steady start reaching 57/1 at lunch on the opening day of the third Test on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Wednesday.

Fresh from his spat with Australian counterpart Tim Paine, India skipper Virat Kohli said on the eve of the Boxing Day Test that he does not get affected by all the talk about his public image and people who know him and understand what he is.

Both India and Australia will aim to take a lead in the four-match Test series, currently leveled 1-1, when they square-off in the much awaited Boxing Day clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), starting here from Wednesday.

India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday urged his batsmen to step up and support the bowlers in their good job, ahead of the third Test beginning on Boxing Day here.

Former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Monday recalled to India's T20I squad that will play a three-match rubber in New Zealand.

India skipper Virat Kohli says he loved his wife and actress Anushka Sharma's performance in her latest film "Zero", which has received a mixed response from the audience and critics.

In a major blow to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday asked the board to either pay $23 million (Rs 161 crore) by the end of this year as compensation for the tax deductions incurred in hosting the 2016 World T20 or end up losing the World Cup 2023 rights.

Banned for a year for his role in the ball tampering scandal earlier this year, former Australia skipper Steve Smith is eyeing a return to the side as the Kangaroos prepare to defend their title at the upcoming 50-over ICC World Cup in England and Wales next year.

English left-arm quick Sam Curran emerged the costliest overseas buy after being snapped up by the Kings XI Punjab for a whopping Rs 7.2 crore at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction here on Tuesday.