Table-toppers Chennai Super Kings will look to complete the double against Kolkata Knight Riders, just like Delhi Capitals did, when the teams clash in Sunday's IPL match in Kolkata. The home side's consistency has suddenly taken a beating after two defeats on the trot, first in Chennai and then against Delhi Capitals on Friday night. Thus, the Knight Riders will be under immense pressure to arrest the slide when they face mighty Chennai.
Rahane made it clear that his preferred slot will be number four
Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai.
Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, in Abu Dhabi.
If the home fans had hoped the change in format would bring a change in fortune, they were left bitterly disappointed with India breezing to their 217-run target in under 29 overs.
The Delhi Daredevils franchise has decided against retaining Kevin Pietersen, their skipper in the last edition, Dinesh Karthik, the costliest buy, and Test specialist Murali Vijay for the eighth season of the Indian Premier League.
Shane Watson and Suresh Raina made batting look easy on a lifeless track as Chennai Super Kings coasted to a six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in Tuesday's Indian Premier League match in Delhi.
It was India's ninth consecutive ODI series win, at home and away, over the West Indies.
Virat is No 1. Rohit is no 2, but guess who are Nos 3, 4, 5!
Former India batsman and Mumbai Ranji Trophy coach Praveen Amre has been roped in by Delhi Daredevils as assistant coach for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. He will replace South Africa's Eric Simons, who was with the franchise for five editions, since 2010.
India captain Virat Kohli said his team will look to address its recent batting collapse and come back stronger in the last two games of the five-match ODI series.
All eyes will be on Yuvraj Singh when he captains India A, a team on a roll after the clean sweep against New Zealand A, in an ODI series against the West Indies A starting in Bangalore on Sunday.
Veteran Yuvraj Singh made a comeback to the Indian team, while Virat Kohli took over the captaincy from Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for the forthcoming three-match ODI and T20I series against England, starting in Pune, on January 15.
Jasprit Bumrah's selection in the South Africa-bound Test squad is a lesson for all youngsters that hardwork always pays off, said India's stand-in limited overs skipper Rohit Sharma.
Indian batsmen wilted under pressure and lost the plot in the final over after nearly pulling it off as England narrowly beat the hosts by five runs in a thrilling third and final ODI to prevent a clean sweep, in Kolkata, on Sunday.
The series is an opportunity for players like Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Sanju Samson, Karun Nair and Karn Sharma to impress the selectors and stake their claim in the national side.
Trent Boult top the most valuable players list with Mohammed Shami hold on to second position
Ravindra Jadeja will have to improvise.
Rohit lauded the efforts of the bowlers for producing crucial breakthroughs.
'The control over shots he has... never seen before for a young talent like him.'
India are yet to finalise their middle-order ahead of the World Cup but are unlikely to tinker much with the playing eleven for Friday's second ODI in Mount Maunganui.
One shudders to think what could happen if India lose both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early with such a brittle middle order to follow?
The legendary Indian cricketer was the Man of the ODI series, but the Most Valuable Player title went to an unlikely Aussie, point out Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji.
Images from Thursday's World Cup match between India and West Indies, at Old Trafford.
India will look to ensure a smooth passage into the semi-finals with yet another victory.
Images from Friday's Indian Premier League between SunRisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings in Dubai.
India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar feels the dismissal of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Jason Behrendorff's first over of the innings tilted the scales Australia's way in the second Twenty20 International in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Rediscovering himself in the twilight of his career, a rejuvenated Mahendra Singh Dhoni would look to continue his regained form and guide India to a series-clinching win when the hosts take on New Zealand in the fourth One-Day International, in Ranchi, on Wednesday.
Stung by an improved New Zealand the other night, a wary India would like to quickly get their house in order when they square off with Kane Williamson's boys in the third ODI in Mohali on Sunday. While the six-run defeat in Delhi has given India plenty to ponder about, it has also renewed interest in the contest which had been dominated by the home team prior to Thursday, stretching from the one-sided Test series to the first ODI in Dharamsala. From the New Zealand point of view, a victory was all that they needed after a string of deflating defeats. As a result of their first win on Indian soil in 13 years, one can expect a certain spring in the stride of the visitors when they take the field at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.
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.
It will not be the first time that the competition has had to be held outside India.
A stat pack of India and New Zealand's ODI careers...
Rajneesh Gupta presents the Chennai Super Kings record in the IPL over the years.
India showed commendable character in Rajkot to level the series, proving that the panic buttons were pressed prematurely following the 10-wicket loss in Mumbai.
With Rahul likely to bat at No 4, asks Harish Kotian, will Ajinkya Rahane get a look in?
The spotlight though was on the 36-year-old former India captain, who now has to fend off questions about his future with alarming regularity.
India are a flexible side with enough ammunition in their arsenal going into the World Cup, says head coach Ravi Shastri, making it clear that combinations would depend on conditions.
After the gruelling league phase of the ongoing IPL, the stage is set for the play-offs with CSK and MI clashing against each other for a place in May 12 final.
Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, the two franchises that returned to the IPL after serving bans in the aftermath of the 2013 spot-fixing scandal, will come face to face for the first time in the ongoing edition, keen to regain lost momentum in Pune, on Friday.
Young Rishabh Pant's competition for the second wicketkeeper's slot with veteran Dinesh Karthik will be the highlight of the discussion.
