Royal Challengers Bengaluru's fairytale resurgent run will be up against the might of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings and the weather gods when the two sides clash in an epic do-or-die match to decide the fourth and final team for the IPL play-offs, in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Former BCCI chief Narayanswami Srinivasan revealed how he exercised his authority as then Board president in 2011-12 to save Mahendra Singh Dhoni from being sacked as India captain after suffering a 0-4 Test series whitewash in Australia. The national selection committee led by Mohinder Amarnath was keen on replacing Dhoni as the captain after India suffered 0-4 successive whitewashes in England and Australia in 2011-12.
Spinner Harbhajan Singh revealed said that former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a very shy person when he first came into the Indian team and he only started opening up after the controversial Sydney Test against Australia in 2008.
Thanks to Watson's knock, CSK chased down a target of 176 with six wickets to spare.
After winning the Indian Premier League for the fourth time, Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained tight-lipped on his participation in the next year's edition of the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a picture of concentration on the field but there was a departure when he decided to have a 'go' at former Indian Premier League teammate Kevin Pietersen.
The numbers are heavily in favour of Mahendra Singh Dhoni but former India batsman Gautam Gambhir says spin legend Anil Kumble was the best India captain he has ever played under. Gambhir has high regards for Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly as India skippers, but believes Kumble would have been phenomenal as captain had he led the national team for a longer period.
MS Dhoni-led team beat England by five runs in a rain-curtailed final in Birmingham to win the ICC Champions Trophy.
When a team is under pressure going into a match and the results are not on expected lines, it is difficult for a captain to come up with an explanation.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that it was Mahendra Singh Dhoni who made his nickname famous from behind the stumps while revealing the story behind how he got the name Chiku.
Dhoni came out to bat at number seven in Tuesday's match and took time to settle down before unleashing his powerful shots
The Indian cricket team benefits more than it knows from Mahendra Singh Dhoni's presence, feels Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, who says the former Indian captain's experience should not be undervalued.
Australian star batter Steve Smith has advised Hardik Pandya to simply "block out" the constant jeers and boos the new Mumbai Indians skipper is receiving from spectators at the IPL so far, as they are "all irrelevant".
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni broke the world record for most number of stumpings in international cricket after he effected his 134th dismissal on Day 2 of the third cricket Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Even as speculation about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's sudden retirement from Test cricket persists, India's Team Director Ravi Shastri today described it as a "well thought-out" move and lashed out at critics who had accused the wicket-keeper-batsman of abandoning a sinking ship.
Even as the third and final Test between India and West Indies ended in a nail-biting draw, it was the home team that was left disappointed at the end of the day.
'We've seen significant change in batting and it's worth it to give him that extra bit of time'
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was left plastered with cake as Team India celebrated the former captain's 36th birthday in style in Jamaica on Friday.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's participation in the Asia Cup is in doubt after he suffered an injury during a training session in Dhaka on Monday.
The ace cricketer, who had written to the Army authorities to undertake the training, will do five parachute jumps once he finishes his course. He reported to the Para Brigade, Agra for initial training in Para Jump by Para Training School on August 5.
The BCCI will be organising a six-week camp for its top cricketers some time next month and speculation has started on whether former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be part of it. While the BCCI is waiting for a safe time and venue for the camp after third week of July. In case it's not possible, players will probably go in for their respective IPL camps later during the year.
Standing in the first slip and observing Mahendra Singh Dhoni's match-reading skills convinced Sachin Tendulkar that he was ready for India captaincy, something he told the BCCI when he was asked for his suggestion back in 2007.
'You want to play for a leader like that, who gives you that confidence.'
Chennai Super Kings took to Twitter to thank the southpaw for his contribution to the team
Former and current India teammates pay tribute to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday.
'What a career this man had, a fantastic one. This man made almost 5,000 Test runs and remember, he's not a pure batsman, he's a wicket-keeper. Over such a long career, to be able keep wickets and do such a fantastic job is commendable'
Hardik Pandya said former Mahendra Singh Dhoni is someone he turns to in times of adversity, turmoil and even to understand his own mind.
MS Dhoni, who has not played since the World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand in July, will be making his highly awaited comeback in the IPL beginning March 29. The national selection committee has not changed the panel's stance on Dhoni, who will 'have to perform' in the upcoming Indian Premier League to be considered for T20 World Cup selection.
Steve Smith, on Thursday, said there is no bad blood between him and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was replaced by the Australian as skipper of the Pune Supergiant for the 10th edition of the Indian Premier League.
All eyes will be on star India batter Virat Kohli, who is perhaps battling the biggest form crisis of his career.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh, played in Chennai, on Saturday.
Rohit was declared captain of India's yet-to-be-named T20 World Cup squad in February this year by BCCI secretary Jay Shah at an event in Ahmedabad, a good two months after he was replaced by Pandya as MI skipper.
'Amrapali didn't gave us villas they announced after 2011 WC win'
A fit-again pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the last One-Dayer in Ranchi, bowled with vigour as eight Indian players turned up for the optional practice session on the eve of the series-deciding fifth and final game against New Zealand in Vishakapatnam on Saturday.
Pace legend Michael Holding is impressed with Mahendra Singh Dhoni's approach.
Let's delve into India's T20I track record against Australia
'A player of Dhoni's stature needs to be told that he is not being awarded a central contract for the time being and it was done in an appropriate manner.'
The confidence Kedar Jadhav has in his bowling comes from the fact that Mahendra Singh Dhoni used him as a surprise weapon during the ODI series at home against New Zealand last year.
Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman says Rishabh Pant is fast running out of time to justify the time invested in him by the team management and might lose his place to Sanju Samson if he doesn't regain his form soon.
Birthday wishes pour in for captain cool Dhoni
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