Dhoni returns to the Indian dressing room after three months and for him the series will be start of the preparation for next year's World Twenty20, that will be hosted by India.
With eight points from 11 games, RR are placed second from bottom in the eight-team table and a loss on Saturday will end their slim chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.
Wishes poured in from all quarters for former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Tuesday.
It will be a different sort of challenge for Mahendra Singh Dhoni when he captains a new-look Indian cricket team against Zimbabwe in the first ODI of a short series starting in Harare on Saturday.
'Thank you @incredibleindia for all the wonderful memories'
Faf du Plessis smashed an unbeaten 60-ball 95, lacked with 9 fours and four sixes.
Virat Kohli becomes first Indian to complete 11,000 runs in T20 history
On a roll post the IPL's resumption, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will look to continue their winning streak when they meet in a high-octane Indian Premier League encounter, in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
Eyeing a top-two finish, Chennai Super Kings will start as the firm favourites when they take on Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, in Dubai, on Thursday.
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming sought to play down concerns over the team's middle-order which has not been able to get going in recent games after they suffered their third defeat in a row, against Punjab Kings in Dubai on Thursday.
The Indian cricket team returned to the grind on Friday with an intense net session in Melbourne.
India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar came to the defence of the under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying losing wickets at regular intervals did not allow the veteran campaigner to play freely in the second ODI at Lord's.
MS Dhoni hinted that Ajinkya Rahane may not feature in the playing eleven for the first One-day International against South Africa.
Under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni marked his return to form with an unbeaten 92 as India recorded a 22-run victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International to level the five-match series 1-1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, in Indore, on Wednesday.
Sachin Tendulkar says the "sound" that came off skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's bat during the recent Asia Cup was a reflection of his positive mindset and it was a good news for already "favourites" India in the World Twenty20.
Praising centurion Virat Kohli for his superb batting in the team's series-levelling win against South Africa on Thursday, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that it was the first game in which his team did well in all the three departments.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised his team mates for the way they have quickly pulled themselves out of a form slump to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Guha's resignation letter makes it clear that Kumble-Kohli rift is a reality.
The record is good, but it's something that I don't want to get into because there will come a time when we will lose.
Exasperated by the never-ending speculation around his retirement, India's limited overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday said being questioned about it at every platform will not change his plan to continue playing for a "considerable period" of time. "If I say something one month or 15 days back, the answer does not change. It's irrespective of where I'm asking. The answer remains the same. It's as simple as what is your name and I will say MS Dhoni. It will remain the same for a considerable period of time unless you give me a new format," Dhoni told reporters here ahead of the team's departure for the Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh. Dhoni, on Friday, made it clear that he was not retiring from international cricket anytime soon. The 34-year-old Dhoni had called time on his Test career in the middle of the away series against Australia in December 2014. "There will be questions, you send me letters or requisitions. If you have the freedom, it's not right to ask all types of questions. It's very important to judge everything as to what needs to be done, why it needs to be done "Because somebody has the platform to ask questions, it does not mean that you keep on asking the same questions. It's a world today where everything is covered by media," an irritated Dhoni said on the oft-repeated query of his retirement.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni reaffirmed his reputation as the best finisher in limited-overs' cricket with yet another fluent knock as the Chennai Super Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by five wickets in the IPL match in Ranchi, on Tuesday. Chasing a modest target of 149, Chennai won with two deliveries to spare as skipper Dhoni hit 11 runs, including a six, off James Faulkner's final over to seal the issue.
Comprehensively outplayed by South Africa in both the T20 internationals of the just-concluded three-match series, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that he does not want a lot of grass cover for the upcoming five-match ODI series, beginning October 11 in Kanpur.
India have emerged winner in all five matches against Pakistan in T20 World Cups, starting from the inaugural World T20 in 2007.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the Chennai Super Kings record in the IPL over the years.
The two sides experienced contrasting fortunes in their respective tournament opener.
Chennai Super Kings cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over an out-of-sorts Royal Challengers Bangalore to strengthen their second place in the seventh edition of the IPL at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed confidence that his players are well-equipped to tackle pressure situations, saying they have "calm nerves" and the experience of playing in big matches.
A look at how India have fared in their World Cup opening games.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, in Sharjah, on Thursday.
India and England will play three ODI games beginning Sunday. Rajneesh Gupta surveys the career figures of the players who will head to battle in Pune.
The limelight of CSK's post-match celebrations is on the kids of cricketers MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh.
Since the IPL will be back in India, Gambhir felt skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni may ring in a few more changes.
The emergence of young Jasprit Bumrah as a potent death overs bowler has come as a huge relief for Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who complimented the Gujarat lad for being equally effective with the new ball.
'You want to play for a leader like that, who gives you that confidence.'
Yuvraj shared a montage of 2011 World Cup memories and his thoughts on the title-winning journey in a Twitter video.
'I had no doubt that Rishabh would be the best man for the job.'
Stephen Fleming's six-year partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the Chennai Super Kings has been a successful one but the former New Zealand captain rates countryman Brendon McCullum and Australian Michael Clarke as better captains in One-Day Internationals at the moment.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni heaped praise on his bowlers.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised Rohit Sharma, who has been in good form in the ODI cricket for the past two years, terming him as someone, who now knows the art of "building on good starts".
West Indies cricket team's young captain Jason Holder said that he has picked up subtle nuances of leadership from Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
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