Prem Panicker, on the Rediff chat, delves on what went wrong for Team India and what to expect from Sunday's trans-Tasman World Cup final.
With openers and regular captain Virat Kohli occupying the top three spots and wicket-keeper Dhoni a floating option in the batting order, a number of players have auditioned for the middle order over the last couple of years.
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings will renew their intense rivalry after two years when they face-off in the Indian Premier League, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday.
In an e-mail interview with Shahnawaz Akhtar, Jonty Rhodes, now Mumbai Indians' fielding coach, got candid on Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy, Sachin Tendulkar, Indian stadia, his divorce and lots more.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to finish off the match and was dismissed off the final delivery with just two runs needed for victory as India went down by one run in a thrilling finish in the first T20 International against West Indies in Florida, on Saturday.
Suresh Raina worked his way to a superb 63 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni played an explosive 16-ball 45-run knock as Chennai Super Kings strengthened their position at the top of the table with a 37-run win over Pune Warriors in the Pepsi Indian Premier League match.
There were no surprises as the preliminary list of 30 Indian probables.
The wives and girlfriends of the cricketers have been a regular attendance in the stands and have not missed out on opportunities of cheering for their partner's teams in the IPL.
Rajneesh Gupta presents statistical summary of Chennai Super Kings and much more.
Rajneesh Gupta previews Game 1 in IPL 12: Chennai Super Kings versus Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Ajinkya Rahane was chosen as captain of the depleted Indian team for the limited overs tour to Zimbabwe next month as the selectors decided to rest several seniors including Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
The Aussie showed his pedigree as he smashed 117 not out from 57 balls to help CSK crush the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets and claim their third IPL title.
The games will mark the onset of a long summer for the Indian team, with sterner tests against England to follow this short series in Malahide on the outskirts of Dublin.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings, in Dubai, on Thursday.
It will be a big statement if Virat Kohli's young side could start off with a bang at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'spritual home', a task which will be easier said than done.
India may have to wait a little longer to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar in action in Australia as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni indicated the seamer's injured ankle could keep him out of the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, starting on Friday.
Even as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his boys launch a fresh campaign for the title, a look at the best Indian batting in the tournament.
'We knew it would get easier as the game progresses. We bat quite deep -- until 9 -- and knew we could accelerate in the last few overs'
It will not be the first time that the competition has had to be held outside India.
Rahul Chahar's brilliant spell of 2/14 helped Mumbai Indians crush Chennai Super Kings by 6 wickets to enter the IPL final.
7 batsmen have scored more than 500 runs in IPL-11 so far. 6 bowlers have taken 18 or more wickets. Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji reveal who they are.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League-12 final played between Mumbai and Chennai in Hyderabad on Sunday
CSK would be looking to continue the momentum.
Ahead of the three-match series, here's the schedule and key stats between the teams.
Chennai Super Kings produced a clinical performance to crush Delhi Daredevils by 93 runs and register their first win in the seventh edition of Indian Premier League in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Gaikwad, a India 'A' regular, who tested positive a few days after Chahar, was being touted as the one to replace Suresh Raina, who pulled out of the IPL due to personal reasons.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said a big knock could be in the offing from Virat Kohli very soon.
High on confidence after winning the first Twenty20 International, India will look to press home the advantage and seal off the three-match series when they take on Australia in the second T20 in Melbourne.
The IPL, which is indefinitely postponed, can be held in the September-October window if the scheduled T20 World Cup in Australia doesn't take place.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai on Tuesday
Pant was appointed as the Delhi Capitals skipper following the injury to regular captain Shreyas Iyer,
Indian captain Virat Kohli, along with former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Friday took the fitness test which will determine his availability for the gruelling tour of United Kingdom, starting on June 27.
Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, in Chennai.
'It is not that we took the decision out of some vengeance.' ' 'It was not that we dropped someone because we had some enmity with him.'
Mumbai Indians humbled Chennai Super Kings by 37 runs in the Indian Premier League, in Mumbai, on Wednesday.
The Indian team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni got down to business with their first training session in Perth, ahead of the upcoming ODI series. It will be a crucial series for the Men in Blue as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in March-April.
Rajneesh Gupta previews Game 15 in IPL 12: Mumbai Indians vs CSK.
Former India batsman Robin Uthappa highlighted the significance of an India-Pakistan clash during a World Cup.
IMAGES from the Indian Premier League match played between CSK and Rajasthan Royals in Pune on Friday.
Images from Wednesday's IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings.
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