Terming India's prospects as very strong in the 2015 World Cup, former Australia captain Allan Border opined that Team India do have the "skills to match the best sides in the world but they will certainly have to have more "attitude" and "self belief" to make a mark in Australia and New Zealand.
Rising Pune Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming termed the ICC approved rule for rain-truncated games as 'rubbish' stating that a change is needed at least in the shortest format.
Brilliant performances from some players of the 10 participating teams through the World Cup will be etched in memory of cricket fans forever.
Alastair Cook faces his biggest ever challenge as England captain when he leads his young team into this year's home Ashes series against Australia.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has grown a reputation as a notorious hoarder of souvenir stumps and considering India's imperious form going into the World Twenty20, few would be surprised if he adds one more to his formidable collection on April 3.
Chennai Super Kings' future in the Indian Premier League may be uncertain following the two-year suspension, but South Africa's Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis feels the five seasons he played under 'Captain Cool' Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the Indian Permier League transformed him as a cricketer.
They are termed by many teams as distractions while some feel that they make the cricketers happy. Yes, we are talking about the WAGs (wife and girlfriend).
Stressing on the fact that most of the Indian batsmen's form has been a big factor in India's success so far, former batsman VVS Laxman expects them to fire on all cylinders during the quarter-final stages as well.
'When it comes to remaining cool and delivering under pressure, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the best.'
'Sehwag, Yuvraj, Zaheer, Harbhajan and Irfan Pathan. The bunch that formed the formidable force of Dada's team. Have we seen the last of them?' wonders Abhijit Masih.
IPL-11 was a smashing success. Superstars like Kane Williamson, M S Dhoni, Rashid Khan shone. New stars like Rishabh Pant, Andrew Tye were born. Rediff.com/Harish Kotian draws up his dream team.
Smashing Warner. Amazing Stokes. Super Smith. Pure Amla...
Check out PM Modi's personal messages to India's players at World Cup.
'A lot will depend on how he performs in the next few months, but he is not a liability.'
Rajneesgh Gupta salutes Captain Cool.
There is not much the bowlers or a captain can do when batsmen of the calibre of AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle are on song.
Call it a compulsion, but sporting achievements are often measured by numbers in hand and that is precisely why it will be difficult to analyse Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza's influence and contribution in the country's ever-growing cricketing ambitions.
Mohammed Shami may be struggling with form and rhythm but India's 1983 World Cup-winning squad member Sunil Valson feels that the West Bengal medium-pacer will be the team's 'go to' man in the upcoming cricket World Cup.
- 'I still think that he had 2 or 3 more years of cricket left in him' - 'India is going to miss Dhoni the player big time'
Tactical genius, uplifting leader, altruistic individual, a man with unwavering certitude. Dhruv Munjal recounts what made Mahendra Singh Dhoni a great captain.
Gut feeling and a sense of timing has always marked Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision making process in his illustrious captaincy stint and he once again showed that when he 'stumped' one and all with his decision to step down as skipper of India's limited overs team. No one knows whether Dhoni has read the poem 'Invictus' or watched Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman recite it in his deep baritone: "I am the Master of My fate, I am the Captain of My soul". The context of the poem may have been different but in spirit somewhere, Dhoni may find it eerily similar to his thought process leading up to the decision last night.
Brothers Krunal and Hardik Pandya excelled with the bat and ball respectively as Baroda crushed Punjab by 75 runs in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Group A match.
Notwithstanding the 2-0 scoreline in favour of the home team, former Australian all-rounder Michael Bevan feels Indians have a good chance to bounce back in Melbourne in the third cricket Test, starting Friday.
Lauding Chennai Super Kings opener Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 100 in his side's second consecutive win in Indian Premier League-8, SunRisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman said the New Zealender's first ton of the season was a 'special innings'.
'I can't remember seeing Dhoni do wicket-keeping drills at the nets'
At the face of it, there is apparently no danger to Dhoni's captaincy since the team is still winning matches. But if one digs deeper, Kohli has slowly and surely been the man everyone is looking forward to as the leader, across all formats for India.
Check out the statistical highlights of the first cricket One-day international between India and Bangladesh.
India edged out Bangladesh by one run in a thrilling World Twenty20 match on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership as well as finishing skills will be put through a stern test when an inconsistent India take on a rejuvenated New Zealand in the series-deciding fifth and final cricket ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. With the series locked at 2-2, Dhoni and his men will be eager to clinch the issue while history beckons Kane Williamson's men as they have a glorious opportunity to taste their maiden success in a bilateral ODI rubber. The only thing that can play spoilsport is the cyclone threat which can lead to complete washout.
India have won the Asia Cup six times, Sri Lanka five, and Pakistan have won it just twice. As the 14th edition of Asia's own trophy gets underway on Saturday, Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers on the 13 editions so far.
With all its ups and downs, 2015 is now concluding. And the New Year will bring new expectations to all of us. So tell us your expectations from 2016:
'Dhoni's skills are unbelievable and also his mindset, the way he thinks about the game.'
Mahendra Singh Dhoni might have paved the way for India's victory with an unbeaten 92 in the second cricket ODI, but the skipper preferred to credit his bowlers for the series-levelling win against South Africa in Indore on Wednesday.
Wriddhiman Saha's diligence and determination makes him the obvious options available for the Indian selectors to replace Dhoni.
- 'Yes, quite happy with a draw' - 'Bowlers did a very good job' - 'We have found ways to trouble ourselves'
In the end it came in as a quiet announcement on the social network. But MS Dhoni had made the decision. He knew it was the right time.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the finest bowling heroics in the 20th over in recent T20Is.
Harish Kotian/Rediff.com's report card on India's three-ODI series in Bangladesh.
Indian cricket's fortunes ebbed and flowed in 2015 with Virat Kohli successfully leading the national side in Tests and Mahendra Singh Dhoni appearing to be losing his midas touch, while in off the field drama Shashank Manohar returned as the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India.
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