The Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is a picturesque international cricket stadium located in Dharamshala hill station of Himachal Pradesh, India.

Also known as the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (abbreviated as the HPCA Stadium), the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is considered to be one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world.

Established in 2003, the world-class venue has a seating capacity of 23,000. 

Situated at an altitude of 1,457 m above sea level and overlooked by the snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the background, the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium staged its first international match, a One Day International (ODI) played between India and England in 2013. Since then, the stadium has hosted 10 T20Is, nine ODIs and two Test matches so far. 

Known for being the abode of spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Dharamshala has been the home ground for Himachal Pradesh cricket team and also for Team Punjab in the Indian T20 League. The HPCA stadium has also hosted several domestic matches including Ranji Trophy and few Indian T20 League matches.

Let’s have a closer look at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium T20 records and stats.

Dharamshala Cricket Stadium T20 records and stats

Highest total

Team Punjab holds the record for the highest total at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium in T20 cricket. During an Indian T20 League match in 2011, the Adam Gilchrist-led Punjab posted 232/2 in their 20 overs against Team Bangalore. Captain Adam Gilchrist led from the front as he slammed a 55-ball 106 along with contributions from Shaun Marsh (79 not out) to post a record T20 total at the venue. In reply, Team Bangalore were bundled out for 121 in 17 overs as Punjab won the match by 111 runs. 

Lowest total

The Ireland cricket team registered the lowest total at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium in the T20 format. In a rain-curtailed six-over match, Ireland could only manage 47/7 in reply to Netherlands�?59/5 during the World T20 First Round Group A match in 2016. Meanwhile, the Punjab cricket team recorded the lowest total at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in domestic T20 cricket. Chasing 128, Punjab were bowled out for 101 in 19.3 overs against Jammu & Kashmir in an Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament match in 2017. Earlier, J&K posted 127/7 in their allotted overs to register a 26-run victory.

Most runs

Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh scored the most runs at the venue in T20 cricket. Representing Team Punjab in the Indian T20 League, the swashbuckling left-handed batter amassed 334 runs in seven matches at an average of 66.80 and a strike rate of 142.73. Marsh slammed three fifties at this venue in T20 cricket. Former Team Punjab captain Adam Gilchrist features second on the list with 295 runs in eight matches.

Most wickets

Veteran Indian spinner Piyush Chawla has bagged the most wickets at this cricket ground in the T20 format. Playing for Team Punjab in the Indian T20 League, the leg-spinner scalped 10 wickets in nine T20 matches at an average of 18.23 and an economy of 7.18. Pacer Sandeep Sharma is second on the list with 10 scalps in seven T20 games at this venue. Having represented the likes of Punjab, Rajasthan in the Indian T20 League and Punjab in domestic cricket, Sandeep bowled at an impressive economy of 6.71 and an average of 18.80.

Highest individual score

Adam Gilchrist and Rohit Sharma share the record for the highest individual score at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium in T20 cricket. Opening the batting, former Team Punjab skipper Gilchrist smashed 106 off 55 balls against Team Bangalore during an Indian T20 League match in 2011. His knock was laced with eight fours and nine sixes. Rohit Sharma also scored a 66-ball 106 in the first T20I of South Africa’s tour of India in 2015. Rohit’s knock included 12 fours and five maximums. 

Best bowling figures

India spinner Amit Mishra has the best bowling figures at this venue in the T20 format. Playing for his former side Team Deccan in the Indian T20 League, the leg-spinner registered match-winning figures of 4/9 against Team Punjab in 2011. Defending 198, Mishra dismissed Ryan McLaren, Mandeep Singh, Ryan Harris and Praveen Kumar to help bowl out Punjab for 116 in 19 overs. Earlier, Deccan posted 198/2 in their allotted overs.

Highest partnership

Team Punjab’s Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh hold the record for the highest partnership at the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium in T20 cricket. During an Indian T20 League match in 2011, Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh forged a brilliant 206-run partnership for the second wicket against Team Bangalore. Gilchrist hammered 106 while Marsh scored 79 not out to power Punjab to 232/2 in their 20 overs. Punjab later skittled out Bangalore for 121 to register a 111-run victory.

Photo credit: Alamy

The 13th edition of the Indian T20 League got underway in the UAE this year with a curtain-raiser pitting defending champions Mumbai against last year’s runners-up Chennai, and the action has been hot and heavy ever since.

While we continue to bring you up-to-date coverage of all the matches, we have decided to travel back to the years gone by and give you the list of Orange Cap holders right from the start of the league till the present day.

2008 Orange Cap: Shaun Marsh (Punjab)

The inaugural edition of the Indian T20 League saw veterans like Gautam Gambhir, Sanath Jayasuriya and even Graeme Smith battling for the Orange Cap, but a certain Shaun Marsh, playing for Punjab, won the race by scoring 616 runs in 11 games at a whopping average of 51.44. His tenure had five half-centuries and one ton.

2009 Orange Cap: Matthew Hayden (Chennai)

Matthew Hayden had answers to everything that the bowlers had in store, and his best performance came in 2009 with Chennai when he scored 582 runs in 12 innings at an average of 52.00. The southpaw, apart from scoring five half-centuries during the edition, smashed 60 boundaries and 22 sixes.

2010 Orange Cap: Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai)

In 2010, Mumbai made it to their first final and a majority of the credit goes to Sachin Tendulkar, who topped the batting chart with 618 runs in 15 innings at an average of 47.54. His five half-centuries during the tournament included 86 boundaries and three sixes.

2011 Orange Cap: Chris Gayle (Bangalore)

Arguably the most entertaining T20 player ever, Chris Gayle had to wait as many as four years to get a hand on his first-ever Orange Cap. In 2011, playing for Bangalore, the big West Indian scored 608 runs in 12 innings at an average of 67.55 to finish on the top.

2012 Orange Cap: Chris Gayle (Bangalore)

For the second year running, Chris Gayle topped the run-scoring chart, this time by smashing 733 runs in 14 innings; more than 100 runs clear of second-placed Gautam Gambhir.

2013 Orange Cap: Michael Hussey (Chennai)

In 2013, Chennai made it to their second successive final, only to lose it for the second time against Mumbai. During the campaign, Australia’s Michael Hussey played a big role as he finished on the top of the scoring table with 733 runs in 17 innings at an average of 52.35.

2014 Orange Cap: Robin Uthappa (Kolkata)

Kolkata lifted their second Indian T20 League title in 2014 and a majority of credit for that title triumph goes to Robin Uthappa, who �?after scoring 660 runs in 16 innings �?was given the Orange Cap.

2015 Orange Cap: David Warner (Hyderabad)

David Warner has been one of the most successful batsmen in the Indian T20 League. He is, in fact, the only player to win three Orange Caps, and the first came in 2015 while playing for Hyderabad. That year, the hard-hitting Aussie scored 562 runs in 14 innings to finish on the top.

2016 Orange Cap: Virat Kohli (Bangalore)

In 2016, Bangalore made it to their third final. For the third time running, however, fortunes favoured their opponent, and their captain, Virat Kohli had to settle with the season’s Orange Cap after scoring a whopping 973 runs in 16 innings at an average of 81.08. It remains the record for the most runs scored in a single season.

2017 Orange Cap: David Warner (Hyderabad)

A season after guiding Hyderabad to glory, Warner once again terrorised the opposition bowlers by scoring 641 runs in 14 innings of the 2017 Indian T20 League season.

2018 Orange Cap: Kane Williamson (Hyderabad)

Hyderabad’s domination in recent years has been exhilarating, to say the least. Despite not having David Warner in the ranks for the 2018 season, Kane Williamson managed to win the Orange Cap after scoring 735 runs in 17 innings at an average of 52.50.

2019 Orange Cap: David Warner (Hyderabad)

David Warner’s partnership with Jonny Bairstow blossomed to an entirely new level in the 2019 edition of the tournament. It was, however, the former who ended up as the tournament’s top-scorer despite playing fewer games. The Aussie southpaw scored 692 runs in the season at an average of 69.20.

2020 Orange Cap: KL Rahul (Punjab)

Punjab captain KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in 2020 after he amassed 670 runs in 14 matches at a magnificent average of 55.83 and a strike rate of 129.34. He hit one hundred and five fifties in the tournament. Despite Rahul's staggering form, Punjab finished sixth in the Indian T20 League 2020 standings.

2021 Orange Cap: Ruturaj Gaikwad (Chennai)

Chennai's Ruturaj Gaikwad pipped his opening partner Faf du Plessis to bag the Orange Cap in the 2021 edition of the Indian T20 League. Gaikwad accumulated 635 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.36 while maintaining a strike rate of 136.27. On the other hand, du Plessis had scored 633 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.21 and a strike rate of 138.21. The opening duo helped Chennai clinch their fourth Indian T20 League title after they defeated Kolkata by 27 runs in the final.

Featured photo: IPL

The Indian T20 League, since its inaugural edition in 2008, has been a breeding ground for young talents. Year after year, the lucrative T20 extravaganza has seen the passage of some of the top cricketing talents not just from the country, but across the globe.

Despite having its rule stated that a team can only field four foreign players in the starting XI, the scouting network has been such that at times, a gem has been unearthed. The league has provided a grand platform to the budding cricketers, and today, we take a look at five players who got their international call (in the T20I squad) due to the Indian T20 League.

Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh was not a name well known before the inaugural season of the Indian T20 League but following that first season with Punjab, he was definitely a talking point among cricket aficionados. In just 11 matches, Marsh racked up 616 runs as Punjab made it to the semi-finals. The Australian national team soon called and he was part of their tour of West Indies in 2008, where he reproduced his Indian T20 League form with a Man of the Match-worthy 81 runs on debut while his side won by 84 runs.

Glenn Maxwell

Thanks to his impressive showings in the Emerging Players Contest the year prior, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was picked by Delhi to make his Indian T20 League debut in 2012, coming on as a replacement for Travis Birt, who had withdrawn from the squad. That same year, Australia Head Selector John Inverarity picked Maxwell for the UAE tour, calling him ‘a versatile and lively off-spinning allrounder and brilliant fieldsman�? After making his ODI debut against Afghanistan, he played a key role in winning two matches against Pakistan, and was subsequently picked for the 2012 ICC World T20 Cup squad as well.

Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh made his Indian T20 League debut in 2010 for Team Deccan before heading over to Pune following year. It was also when he got the call-up to represent Australia’s T20I and ODI squads in their tour of South Africa. After Australia won the first of T20I match in Cape Town, Marsh got to debut in their second match in Johannesburg with a 21-ball 36. Australia ended up losing and drawing the series but they won the ODI leg, where Marsh made the crucial contribution of Hashim Amla's wicket in the second ODI.

Murali Vijay

While Murali Vijay was already being considered for India’s Test and ODI teams since 2008, popular opinion was that his laconic style would not suit the T20 format too well. He put those assumptions to rest when he became a regular fixture for Chennai in the Indian T20 League, scoring 458 runs that year at a strike rate of 156.84, surpassing even Matthew Hayden. With an injury putting Virender Sehwag out of action for the ICC World T20 2010, Vijay, thanks to his Indian T20 League heroics, was deemed the perfect replacement, beating out Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav a potent pacer who Team India had been seeking and while he didn’t overly impress during his stint with Delhi during the 2010 Indian T20 League season, it was his raw pace and his penchant for keeping the batsmen guessing that endeared him to India’s selectors. Thus, it followed that when Praveen Kumar got injured during that year’s World T20, Yadav got the call to fly to the Caribbean, eventually making his ODI debut during the Zimbabwe tour.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Indranil Mukherjee

We have already looked at players who've hopped around the most teams in the Indian T20 League but there are also those at the other end of the loyalty spectrum who've stuck with one organisation for their entire tenure in the league.

We look at five players who formed such a strong bond with their squad that leaving was never an option:

Virat Kohli

As Virat Kohli's star soared in the past decade, the one constant has been that one could always count on was seeing him don the Bangalore kit when it was time for the Indian T20 League. Part of the squad since its inaugural season in 2008, Kohli went from being appointed as vice-captain to captain but just as with the World Cup, he is yet to see his boys through to the title. Regardless, he is usually one to watch with the bat, having racked up a series-high 5545 runs.

Shane Warne

Shane Warne, one of the greatest leg-spinners the cricketing world has ever witnessed, captained Rajasthan in its inaugural season in 2008. Although the squad had been written off by one and all that year, Warne and his boys went on to win that first edition of the Indian T20 League! Certainly, the leg-spinner plied his craft to maximum effect and brought out the best from his squad and continued to lead Rajasthan in the subsequent seasons before finally calling it quits in 2011.

Sunil Narine

Although Sunil Narine has not been able to shine too brightly in international cricket, he certainly made up for it in the Indian T20 League, where he has stuck with Kolkata since joining them in 2012. The West Indies mystery spinner was a key cog in the machinery that won the Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata the title in 2012 and 2014. He also stood out, not just for his wizardry with the ball, but also for his zany hairstyle and in recent years, has impressed with the bat as well.

Shaun Marsh

After being picked by Punjab in the inaugural season, neither the team nor Shaun Marsh ever had second thoughts. The left-handed batsman made his intentions clear right off the bat and had an Orange Cap at the end of the season to show for his efforts, which served him well on the international front as well. Marsh finally called it quits after 2017, having racked up 2477 runs with Punjab.

Kieron Pollard

With four titles under their belt, Mumbai lead the series in terms of championships won, and one of the key ingredients of the foundation that supported them during all that glory has been Kieron Pollard. The stocky Trinidadian has been with the squad since 2010 and continues to give the opposition fits whenever he comes out on to the field. Despite a disappointing season in 2018, Mumbai stuck by the all-rounder and he has returned to form since then and is proving his worth again in the ongoing 2020 edition.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Indranil Mukherjee

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh returned to Cricket Australia's list of 20 nationally contracted players Thursday, but there was no room for his brother Shaun or struggling batsman Usman Khawaja.

The older Marsh sibling and Khawaja were among six players axed from a group that selectors loaded with limited-overs talent to reflect Australia's upcoming schedule, particularly the Twenty20 World Cup scheduled for October-November.

"With many of the squad crossing into all three formats it gives us the benefit of being able to add in specialists depending on the opposition and the conditions," chief selector Trevor Hohns said in a statement.

"The depth of this squad and the success of the past 12 months gives us that solid base."

Others dropped from the list �?which forms the core of Australia's international squads �?were Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Marcus Harris.

"As is always the case there are unlucky omissions but, however, because you are not on the list does not mean you cannot be selected to represent Australia," Hohns said.
Mitchell Marsh endured his own period in the wilderness when he was not offered a contract last year but Hohns said his form showed "he has a lot of international cricket ahead of him as a batting all-rounder".

Read | David Warner admits England tour 'highly unlikely'

Prolific middle-order batsman Marnus Labuschagne was, as expected, among the new faces, along with Joe Burns, Ashton Agar, Kane Richardson and Matthew Wade.

"Marnus's rise has been meteoric and well documented," Hohns said.

"Joe has been a good Test match player, Ashton Agar's form in T20 internationals has been exceptional, while Kane Richardson has been outstanding in the T20 and one-day games."

Uncertainty hangs over the cricket calendar and the Twenty20 World Cup because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Australia's tour to England for three one-dayers and three Twenty20 matches in July is in jeopardy after the England and Wales Cricket Board delayed the start of their season until at least July 1.

Australia-contracted players: Ashton Agar, Joe Burns, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rodger Bosch

Australia coach Justin Langer revealed on Tuesday that Peter Handscomb will be picked to face hosts England in their Cricket World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston.

Handscomb was left out of Australia's initial 15-man squad after the return of Steve Smith and David Warner from year-long ball-tampering bans.

But the 28-year-old was drafted in as a replacement for the injured Shaun Marsh, and with Usman Khawaja ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a hamstring problem, there is now a batting vacancy that Handscomb will fill on Thursday.

"I'll tell you the truth: Peter will definitely play, 100 percent," Langer told reporters in Birmingham on Tuesday.

"He deserves it. He was so unlucky not to be in the initial squad after what he'd done to help us get to that point.

"He's in good form, he's played well for Australia A and gives us that nice balance through the middle order. He's on top of his game."

Langer also confirmed Matthew Wade would come into the squad in place of Khawaja, pending approval from the International Cricket Council's technical committee.

"He'll just come in as the official replacement for Usman Khawaja. Like everyone in the squad there's potential for him to play, definitely," Langer said.

"He's a real seasoned pro and he's had an unbelievable 12 months or so in domestic cricket. With his experience, if he plays, then we're confident he'll do a really good job."

Marcus Stoinis, who has been struggling with a side injury, provided some good news for Australia when he was passed fit to play after a workout in the nets.

Langer also explained why he led Australia's players on a barefoot walkabout at the ground on Monday before the group shared stories on the pitch in a so-called "bonding circle".

"It's a nice thing to do. Haydos (Matthew Hayden) and I used to do it as a bit of a ritual before every Test match," he said.

"It was just walking a lap of the oval with our shoes off. We could have done it with our shoes on and nobody would have said anything.

"If you go back 12 months there wasn't much to be relaxed and chilled about in Australian cricket, was there? We went through a major crisis in our cricket. It didn't just affect our cricket, it affected our country.

"We've got to work hard on being more humble in what we do and being focused on playing good cricket."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

Australia batsman Shaun Marsh has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after suffering a broken arm while batting in the nets against team-mate Pat Cummins.

Thursday's Old Trafford training session, which took place two days before reigning champions Australia's final group game against South Africa at the Manchester ground, also saw all-rounder Glenn Maxwell struck a painful blow batting against left-arm quick Mitchell Starc.

No sooner had Maxwell been escorted away by medical staff after going down in pain when a rising delivery from Starc, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, reared up and hit him on the right forearm, than Marsh, batting in the same net, was struck on the wrist by Cummins.

Both players were sent to hospital for scans, with left-hander Marsh subsequently ruled out, although Maxwell has not suffered any serious damage according to Australia coach Justin Langer.

One consolation for Australia is that 35-year-old left-hander Marsh, who will be replaced by Peter Handscomb, has become the squad's reserve batsman and has not featured in a World Cup match since he made three against Sri Lanka at the Oval last month.

The International Cricket Council confirmed Marsh's exit from the World Cup in a statement, saying its event technical committee had approved Handscomb as a replacement for Marsh for the remainder of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Langer said it was "shattering news" that Marsh's World Cup was over.

"Shaun Marsh has had scans on his right forearm after being struck while practising in the nets at training today," Langer said.

"Unfortunately, the scans have revealed Shaun has suffered a fracture to his forearm which will require surgery.

"This is obviously shattering news for Shaun and the squad. Throughout this tournament, his spirit, professionalism and the way he has competed has been typically outstanding."

"We are right behind Shaun in his recovery and rehabilitation," the former Australia opener added.

Langer, explaining why Handscomb had been called up, said: "Pete is a like for like player, in terms of batting in the middle order, and he performed very well for us during our recent tours in India and the UAE."

Meanwhile Langer was optimistic about Maxwell, saying: "We are hopeful he will be fit to perform for us on Saturday against South Africa."

Australia have a maximum of three World Cup games left to play, with the South Africa match coming ahead of next week's semi-finals and the final at Lord's on July 14.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis

Australia captain Aaron Finch has backed Mitchell Marsh to shine if injured all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is forced to pull out of the World Cup.

Stoinis suffered a side strain in Australia's defeat against India last weekend and was sidelined when the holders beat Pakistan on Wednesday.

He has already been ruled out of Saturday's match against Sri Lanka at The Oval and his involvement for the rest of the tournament will be decided in the next few days.

"Stoinis won't be available again. He hasn't bowled yet in his recovery over the last couple of days," Finch told reporters on Friday.

"So having four days between this game and the next game, I think that will be the ideal time to really test him out and assess him.

"But I think over the next five, six days there will be a call made on that, just based on what he can and can't do.

"We've seen him batting and running, no problem. Just he hasn't tried to bowl yet. Just waiting for the injury to settle down a bit more."

Marsh is already on standby after flying to England to link up with Finch's squad and the skipper has full confidence in the understudy.

He was due to travel with Australia's A side to England this week but flew over a couple of days earlier as cover for Stoinis.

Marsh has played no professional cricket since March, while his last 50-over appearance was 18 months ago.

But if Cricket Australia does decide to trigger a formal request to remove Stoinis then Finch backs Marsh to be ready to face Bangladesh next Thursday.

"The short answer is yes. There is confidence that Mitch will come in and do well if selected, if Stoinis doesn't recover properly," he said.

Despite three wins from their opening four games, Finch admits Australia have yet to hit top form.

"I don't think we've gone anywhere near our best, which is still a good thing, that we've got six points on the board while not playing anywhere near our best cricket," he added.

"But as long as we're improving, and continue to go up and not go backwards, I think that's the key."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Mal FairClough

Young batting prodigy Will Pucovski was parachuted into the Australia squad for two Tests against Sri Lanka in a shock call-up Wednesday, with veteran Shaun Marsh and his brother Mitch dumped.

Also axed from the 13-man squad after the humbling 2-1 series defeat to India were underperforming opener Aaron Finch and middle-order batsman Peter Handscomb.

In-form Joe Burns was recalled for the first time since the South Africa tour early last year and could open the innings with rookie Marcus Harris, who did enough against India to keep his place.

But they face competition from Matt Renshaw, who has been handed another opportunity despite misfiring in the domestic Sheffield Shield this season.

Allrounder Marnus Labuschagne was retained from the team that played the rain-affected drawn Test in Sydney this week, as was Travis Head.

Selectors also kept faith with their pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, with veteran Peter Siddle also included.

National selector Trevor Hohns said "there is no doubt the India series produced some disappointing results" and change was needed, after four Tests characterised by the failure of any Australian batsmen to score a century.

"Ultimately Aaron, Peter, Shaun and Mitch have not produced the performances expected of them with the bat at the Test level," he said.

"They have been given a good opportunity, but have not produced the scores we need."

He added, however, that the door was not closed and they must now prove themselves again in domestic cricket and the one-day series against India this month.

'Every kid's dream' 

Pucovski was the surprise call-up.

The 20-year-old is one of the brightest batting talents in the country, scoring a double century for Victoria last year -- the first Australian under 21 to do so since Ricky Ponting.

But he has only played eight first-class matches, and after that double ton took a break from cricket because of a mental health issue.

"Will Pucovski is an exciting young player who is making his mark in the Sheffield Shield. He is another player with a track record of making centuries," said Hohns. 

Despite his relative inexperience, Pucovski said he was ready to step up.

"It is every kid's dream. To think that in two weeks time there is a chance I would play for my country is amazing. I can't use words to describe it," he told reporters.

"I can't wait to get up there and in amongst it."

Burns, who has played 14 Tests, has been knocking on the door this season with Queensland, while Renshaw has been unlucky not to get another call-up until now, since his last appearance at Johannesburg in 2018.

"We see him as a long-term prospect as a Test player and have confidence in his ability to bounce back following a string of low scores early in the Shield season," said Hohns of the 22-year-old.

Renshaw, who has a century and three 50s from his 11 Tests, said he wanted to emulate the exploits of India's rock-solid number three Cheteshwar Pujara.

"Everyone talks about (Virat) Kohli and (Ajinkya) Rahane, but Pujara was unbelievable and showed how good he was mentally to bat for so long," he said.

Burns, Renshaw and Pucovski will all play for a Cricket Australia XI in a pink-ball match against Sri Lanka ahead of the Tests in preparation for the day-nighter in Brisbane from January 24. The second Test is in Canberra from February 1. 

Australia squad: Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Tim Paine (capt), Will Pucovski, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle.

Feature image courtesy: David Gray/AFP