Ajinkya Rahane will be aiming to get his mojo back as India, formidable even without regular skipper Virat Kohli, eye another 'Whitewash' against Sri Lanka in the three-match ODI series, starting on Sunday.
The susceptible technique of Indian batsmen in seamer-friendly conditions was thoroughly exposed as Sri Lanka comfortably beat India by seven wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series.
With the three-match T20I series ahead and also the World Cup round the corner, India will have to address this weakness to ensure that their much-vaunted batting doesn't crumble on an odd day when the condition aids swing bowling in England.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni blamed his team's failure to build partnerships for the defeat against New Zealand in the first One-dayer and asked his batsmen to step-up with more consistent performances.
Pacer Suranga Lakmal shone with the ball to help Sri Lanka steamroll India by seven wickets in the first one-day international in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Indian selectors will deliberate if injured skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni along with some other seniors should be rested when they pick the squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series in Zimbabwe.
Michael Jordan needed a Scottie Pippen, so did Lionel Messi with an Andres Iniesta by his side and Suresh Raina is that glue that admirably stuck around with Mahendra Singh Dhoni in highs, lows, and from Saturday, in retirement.
But Smith believes the world champions have a quality squad to bounce back in the series.
The Indian cricket team would get into the groove for the short limited-overs series against Australia with a couple of warm-up games against a Western Australia XI at the WACA ground on Friday and Saturday. While the first match tomorrow is slated to be a T20 affair, the second match scheduled the day after will be a 50-over warm-up game against the same opposition. It will certainly not be the first team of Western Australia which is better known as Perth Scorchers, which will be playing in the warm-up games. It will be a second string squad that will take on the Indians.
Against England on Monday and then Wednesday's game versus Australia, the Indian team management would look to give the players who are still not automatic choices in the playing XI, more overs to bat or bowl to get a better idea about their current form.
Citing Kohli's record in the Indian Premier League, Gambhir said a skipper's effectiveness is tested when you don't have the services of several talented players.
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.
India captain Virat Kohli said his side's impeccable tournament record against Pakistan will count for nothing when they face each other on Sunday and they will need to be at their very best to overcome Babar Azam's side in the Twenty20 World Cup.
India pacer Mohammed Shami, who is currently undergoing a rehabilitation program at the NCA in Bengaluru, also said that undisciplined bowling cost India the series in Bangladesh.
Virat Kohli smashed his 39th one-day international century as India claimed a dramatic six-wicket victory over Australia at a sweltering Adelaide Oval on Tuesday to level up the three-match series at 1-1.
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma on Saturday blamed his batsmen for the five-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings in the IPL opener, saying they wasted a good start by throwing their wickets away.
New Indian captain Virat Kohli should channelise his aggressive attitude in the right direction, according to Team Director Ravi Shastri, who said Mahendra Singh Dhoni's "selfless act" of retiring from Test cricket format at the right time should also be given its due respect.
New Indian captain Virat Kohli should channelise his aggressive attitude in the right direction, according to Team Director Ravi Shastri, who said Mahendra Singh Dhoni's "selfless act" of retiring from Test cricket format at the right time should also be given its due respect.
Earlier, on the back of Virat Kohli's 160 (not out), India reached a total of 303 for 6 in their 50 overs.
India put up yet another dismal batting display, on seam-friendly conditions, to suffer a humiliating 134-run defeat in the second one-dayer against South Africa in Durban on Sunday.
Lokesh Rahul, who became the first Indian to score a hundred on ODI debut, said he had made up his mind to hit a six to reach the three-figure mark in the first match against Zimbabwe, in Harare, on Saturday.
If the innings against Pakistan showed he was still capable of what his ODI average of 45 exhibits, then his comeback was complete on Sunday at the MCG with the century against what's often termed as one of the best attacks in the world.
'He's come a long way since he's started. It's about winning and finishing games like these. In international cricket you need to tackle pressure differently. If he plays like this regularly, we will see his potential shine for India'
Trailing 1-2 in the series, India have some concerns with most batsmen not showing enough flexibility at different batting positions.
The 47-year-old became the 39th BCCI President, for a nine-month run after getting elected unopposed.
CSK to donate proceeds from IPL opener to Pulwama martyrs' families
'Like MS Dhoni, I try to detach myself from the result and focus on small things, which I also refer to as process. And this helps in getting the desired outcome'
India's ODI and T20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been named as the face and brand ambassador of the Craig McDermott International Cricket Academy (CMICA), a leading state of the art private cricket and educational sports academy in Australia.
The Australians only had themselves to blame for their defeat on Friday as they had several opportunities to turn the game their way.
India may have had a terrible Australian summer so far, but commentator Harsha Bhogle said that putting in hard-yards against the No 1 ODI side would have certainly made the 'Men in Blue' battle-ready for the cricket World Cup.
Former India batsman Robin Uthappa highlighted the significance of an India-Pakistan clash during a World Cup.
'Time has come for Indian selectors to pick same players in all formats of the game for rhythm and confidence' Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday said he was surprised to not see Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane in the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies. In a tweet, Ganguly wrote, "There are many in the squad who can play all formats ..surprised not to see Shubman gill ..Rahane in the one-day squad". "Time has come for Indian selectors to pick same players in all formats of the game for rhythm and confidence.. too few are playing in all formats ..great teams had consistent players ..it's not about making all happy but picking the best for the country and be consistent..@bcci," Ganguly tweeted. On Sunday, India had announced the squads for the upcoming T20Is, ODIs and Test match series against West Indies. Many people expressed their displeasure over the omission of Gill from the squad as the player enjoyed good form in the recently-concluded five-match unofficial ODI series between India A and West Indies A. The player went on to amass 218 runs in the series against West Indies A. After India were knocked out of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in the semi-finals, former BCCI Secretary, Sanjay Jagdale had backed Rahane to be the number four batsman in the ODI format. "In my opinion, the Indian team needs a batsman like Ajinkya Rahane at number four. We have tried many options at the batting position for the past three months. We tried those batsmen who did not have a good record overseas. Rahane has always scored good runs in England," Jagdale had told ANI. Team India chief selector MSK Prasad on Sunday had announced the squads at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai for the upcoming series in Windies. Putting all speculations to rest about India captain Virat Kohli's participation in the limited-overs series, he was chosen to lead the team in all formats. Dhawan, who was ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining an injury to his left hand in the region between the index finger and thumb, returned for both ODIs and T20Is. Meanwhile, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was rested for three ODIs and as many T20Is. Veteran wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni was rested as well; Rishabh Pant will be keeping the wickets for the team. Pant has been named across all three formats and Wriddhiman Saha found a spot in the two Tests.
Their bowling frailties thoroughly exposed in the first two ODIs, India are left with no option but to bank heavily on their batsmen to steer the side and upstage the rampaging Australians in the must-win third one-dayer in Melbourne.
Amit Shah digitally inaugurated the renamed Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in presence of late finance minister's family.
With the One-Day International series proving to be a stroll in the park, Mahendra Singh Dhoni would look to finish the tour of Zimbabwe with another dominant performance when he leads India in the three-match Twenty20 series against the hosts, starting in Harare, on Saturday.
India are without some key senior players, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for the ODI series against the West Indies but stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag, on Monday, said that it would give a perfect opportunity for the youngsters in the team to perform well at the big stage.
Virender Sehwag is set to lead the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni when they take on Sri Lanka in a tri-series match in Brisbane on Tuesday.
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.
The 28-year-old all-rounder figures prominently in India's World Cup plans. Shankar has showed that he is a capable batsman, having scored 45 off 64 deliveries in a match-winning 98-run stand with Ambati Rayudu after the top-order collapse in the final ODI in New Zealand.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's retirement from Test cricket has left the Indian think-tank fretting over the ideal playing combination that will take on Australia in the fourth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting next Tuesday.
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