BCCI's interim President Jagmohan Dalmiya has promised that there will be no cover-up in the probe into the alleged conflict of interests issue over Mahendra Singh Dhoni holding stakes in a sports management firm that manages him and several other Indian cricketers.
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.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself to number four in the batting order.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that he is aware of the lack of batting chances for Yuvraj Singh but said bringing him up the order is "slightly difficult" given the extraordinary record of top four batsmen. In a series levelling win against Sri Lanka here last night in the second T20 International, Dhoni experimented with the batting line-up, promoting Hardik Pandya ahead of himself and Yuvraj Singh, who came in at No.7 and got out for a duck. "If you see, Yuvi bats for us at number five. Now it is a bit difficult to promote him above five because in top four, two openers are there and Yuvi can't bat there. "At No. 3 Virat Kohli is batting and Suresh Raina is there at number four. These four have extraordinary record in T20 in India or outside. So it is slightly difficult," said Dhoni at the post match press conference after India beat Sri Lanka by 69 runs to level three-match series. Dhoni, however, said he would like to give the left-hander more batting opportunities.
It was a suggestion from senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh that prompted skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to go up the order and finish the match in style during the recently concluded Asia Cup final against Bangladesh.
'Freedom of Expression' in India is used liberally by people when it comes to having an opinion on cricket.
Capitals were the best team in the league and their 20-point finish at the group stage was an indication of their consistent performances which didn't dip due to the COVID-19 forced break. CSK, over the years, have been in final eight times and won on three occasions which speak volumes of the team's ability to lift their game just when it's required most.
With India needing 34 runs off the last two overs, Karthik hammered 29 not out off just eight deliveries, his third six sealing India's third, and the most hard-earned, victory over Bangladesh in the tournament.
"... For me to understand the individual I need to spend time with him. Unless you know the individual it's very difficult to advise that individual as to what he needs to do. And also the fact that you get to get inside his mind because everybody is different."
In giving another validation to the club-versus-country debate, India is virtually sending a second string squad to the West Indies.
India's captain was on Thursday ruled out of Asia Cup due to a Grade 1 left side injury.
'I can't remember seeing Dhoni do wicket-keeping drills at the nets'
Delhi's strong batting line up of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Pant himself will look to fire on all cylinders right from the opening game.
Having regained his form with two unbeaten knocks in the league stage of the cricket World Cup, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has gained two spots to be placed eight in the latest ICC batting rankings.
Manoj Tiwary played 12 ODIs and three T20Is for India between 2008 to 2015, but had a nearly two-decade long career for Bengal during which he featured in 141 first class games,.
'We will have to try and give batting to players, who have not batted so far but people who are batting close to 6, 7 or 8, they will have to play big shots because that is going to be certainly be very important for us' 'It's something that will always trouble us till we are certain that these are the set of bowlers who will bowl in death for us'
From Michael Clarke to Rohit Sharma, the global cricket fraternity on Thursday woke up singing paeans to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, hours after India's most successful skipper sprang a surprise by stepping down from limited overs captaincy. Former England skipper Michel Vaughan described Dhoni as one of the greatest captains to have ever led a cricket team. "Even one of the greatest captains of all time decides enough is enough ... Well done @msdhoni on an incredible leadership term," Vaughan wrote on his Twitter page.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the Indian team for the limited overs tour of Zimbabwe starting June 11, while top stars like Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have been rested.
As far as the Indian team is concerned, even a 3-0 result against the hosts will not be enough for the second-placed side to claim the number one spot in the ICC rankings, while a favourable outcome for the home team will boost its qualifying chances for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni says the target England set for them was very much achievable but soft dismissals scuttled their chances in the fifth One-dayer.
For India, who are considered as title contenders, a good showing in the Asia Cup will give them the much-needed boost going into the World T20.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was lavish in his praise for the brilliant Virat Kohli but had a word of caution for the other batsmen, who he thinks "need to step up" in the next two matches of the ICC World T20.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday
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.
IPL one of greatest physiotherapists, gets everyone fit before auction, said the former India Head Coach on Monday.
Virat Kohli termed Mahendra Singh Dhoni the "best finisher in the world" after the India skipper made short work of Bangladesh with a flurry of sixes and boundaries in the final of the Asia Cup in Mirpur.
India's bowling woes dominated Mahendra Singh Dhoni's assessment of the ODI debacle.
Former India batsman V V S Laxman says India's recent success shows a captain is as good as his team and the presence of other finishers in the team has made lifer easier for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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.
India needs to get the team composition right in the third and final Twenty20 International to prevent South Africa from recording a clean sweep, in Kolkata, on Thursday.
The mountain of runs that he has plundered so far in first-class cricket has ensured that the focus will be firmly on Delhi youngster Rishabh Pant as India 'A' take on the visiting England XI, in the second and final warm-up match in Mumbai, on Thursday.
With an eye to revive fortunes this season, CSK players including Suresh Raina, Deepak Chahar and Sam Curran started practice on Wednesday.
Ziva Dhoni and Gracia Raina follow the action as their dad's team Chennai Super Kings fought a close battle with the Delhi Capitals in Dubai on Monday.
India head coach Ravi Shastri on Friday dispelled doubts about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's future, stating that the stalwart is not even "half finished yet" and is very much in the scheme of things for the 2019 World Cup in England.
'Finisher' Dhoni takes blame for not taking the across the line, saying: "We lost the match in the last five overs of either innings."
Having tried quite a few permutations and combinations in the two losses so far, the Indian think-tank seems to have settled for Virat Kohli at the No.4 position to hit the right balance and stay alive in the ongoing tri-series.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni hailed his former and present team for helping him become the most successful Indian ODI captain after the visitors thrashed England by nine wickets in the fourth One-dayer to take an invincible 3-0 lead in the five-match series in Birmingham.
Operating like a well-oiled unit, Chennai Super Kings will start as overwhelming favourites when they clash with struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL match in New Delhi on Wednesday.
MS Dhoni knows how to win World Cups and that goes quite a long way.
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