India were expected to try out a bunch of players after another World Cup debacle but if the team combination for the second T20 was any indication, they seemed reluctant to start with a clean slate.
In his last five innings including the first practice match against Western Australia, Rohit has scored just 63 runs, including two ducks in the T20I series against South Africa.
Punjab Kings buried Royal Challengers Bangalore under a deluge of runs as they kept their play-off hopes alive with a thumping 54-run victory, riding on superb half-centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone.
Will this (Rohit, KL Rahul and Kohli), be India's top three going into the T20 World Cup?
"Ruturaj Gaikwad complained of pain in his right wrist, which is affecting his batting. He was unavailable for selection for the first T20I. The BCCI Medical Team is examining him," read a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
India went in with five bowling options against Pakistan on Sunday and it did not work out in their favour
Punjab Kings kept their prospects of making the play-offs alive after a a five-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai on Friday. They are placed fifth with 12 points, after five wins and seven defeats. Victory in Sunday's outing will certainly enhance their chances.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Sunday's first T20I against Ireland?
In the middle-order, Shreyas will replace Kohli, who was given a much-needed break ahead of his landmark 100th Test.
Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was the costliest purchase on Day 1 of the players' auction as Mumbai Indians shelled out a massive Rs 15.25 crore to get him back.
Kohli found support from the Pakistani star batter, who indicated that an athlete has to be really strong to overcome failures.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Wednesday's opening T20I against New Zealand?
Once Dube departed in the 16th over, it was always going to be a big ask for RR to post a challenging total.
The sides will next head to Bengaluru for the deciding fifth T20 on Sunday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji list India's Most Valuable ODI Players in the India-Australia T20 series.
The chinks in India's pace bowling armour were badly exposed in the three-match T20s against Australia.
RCB will hope their win materialises into a spot in the play-offs, especially given the way their bowlers performed and Kohli getting his mojo back.
Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone blasted superb half-centuries to power Punjab Kings to a thumping 54-run win in a must-win match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Australian legend Ricky Ponting feels Mohammed Shami's strength lies in the longest format and there are better quick bowlers in India's T20 set up, weighing in on his absence from the Asia Cup squad.
'Everything was up to the mark and what let us down was the batsmanship'
David Miller is the most valuable player in the India-South Africa T20I series because he scored a lot of runs at a blazing pace.
Jasprit Bumrah has regained the top spot in the ICC men's ODI Player Rankings after fashioning India's 10-wicket win over England with a career-best haul of 6/19 in the first match at The Oval in London.
A round-up of Ranji matches played on Thursday.
Chance for India batters to get their act right against Bangladesh
Assured of a play-off berth, Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to quickly recover from their loss in the previous game and finish the league phase on a high when they take on table-toppers Delhi Capitals in their final IPL round-robin game in Dubai on Friday.
Harshal Patel's hat-trick and three-wicket haul by Yuzvendra Chahal helped RCB defend 165 and defeat MI by 54 runs at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The experienced seamer, however, refused to read too much into their forgettable bowling display at the Feroz Shah Kotla and expressed optimism about a strong comeback in the second match.
Images from the third T20 International between India and New Zealand, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Sunday.
Royal Challengers Bangalore would look to build on the momentum when they take on a struggling Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League match in Dubai on Wednesday.
India's young, rising stars Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan come up with world-class performances.
The Men in Blue are on a 12-match winning streak and come Thursday, they can create an all-time record of winning 13 T20I games in a row.
Shardul Thakur replaced spinner Axar Patel, who was transferred to the list of standby players.
Bhuvneshwar has leaked quite a lot of runs at the death in the last few matches.
K L Rahul has been named vice-captain of the squad, which also has Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harshal Patel, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Axar Patel.
History is also a bit against India when it comes to results at the business end of the ICC events.
Images from the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Tuesday's third T20I against South Africa?
Images from the third T20 International between New Zealand and India, at McLean Park in Napier, on Tuesday.
The All-India Senior Selection Committee of the BCCI has picked the squads for India's upcoming series against New Zealand and Bangladesh
Shortly after he let his bat do the talking amid criticism regarding his slow strike rate, India opener KL Rahul countered his detractors, saying he bats according to the "demand of the innings."
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