Following Chennai Super Kings' exit from the Champions League T20, Mahendra Singh Dhoni now has three successive failures in the last three months. Bikash Mohapatra writes that Dhoni's aversion to taking risks has resulted in the slump.
While batting powerplay is a period for the batting side to up the scoring rate and take advantage of the field restrictions, the Indian team seems to have completely misunderstood the meaning of the same in this World Cup, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Even as the 2011 World Cup nears the business end -- beginning with the opening quarter-final between Pakistan and West Indies in Mirpur on Wednesday, it is time to look back and recall a few performances that defined the opening stage.
Bikash Mohapatra believes that South Africa's Dale Steyn's secret of success lies in him bowling in short spells.
Despite picking 14 wickets in the World Cup thus far, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is modesty personified by crediting bowling conditions for his success, writes Bikash Mohapatra.
Rediff.com takes a look at other instances where two players, their teams not facing each other, have scored their maiden Test hundreds on the same day.
Our correspondent Bikash Mohapatra travels to the centre of the country -- trying to rediscover the country again.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al-Hasan discusses his team's chances in the World Cup with Bikash Mohapatra.
For any Indian, who understands the game and cares for the team, it will take a long time getting over the team's debacle in England, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Rahul Dravid batted through with a heroic unbeaten 146 but India failed to avoid follow on and were left with a daunting task of batting out the entire fifth day to save the final Test against England at the Oval on Sunday.
The end result of the high-profile series, says Kevin Pietersen, might surprise many, but, for England, it was the fruit of all the effort put in over the years.
India pacer S Sreesanth says 'India is getting a taste of its own medicine' in the ongoing series with England.
An insipid Indian bowling line-up had yet another torrid time as England reached 75 for no loss on the opening day of the fourth and final Test before persistent rain brought a premature end to the proceedings at the Oval on Thursday.
India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni says putting runs on the board is the only way to put pressure on the English batsmen in the fourth Test.
Alastair Cook scored a hundred on debut against India in 2006; five years later, life has come a full circle for the England opener who scored a match-winning 294. Bikash Mohapatra traces his career and says it was worth the wait.
Ajit Wadekar, who led India to its first win on English soil, tells Bikash Mohapatra that it was team effort that gave them that historic win at The Oval in 1971.
'We have had some exceptional cricket in the last 18 to 24 months and it would be a shame to ruin it. So we look to make it a good five days,' said England spin ace Graeme Swann, ahead of the final Test against India.
Where did India go wrong in the third Test? How did England win in four days? Bikash Mohapatra, who was at Edgbaston, identifies the turning points in the match.
India leg spinner Amit Mishra bowled a whopping eight no-balls on the second day of the third Test, eventually ending up with nine from England's first innings.
England's total dominance on Day Two of the third Test left India with little chance of even salvaging a draw at Edgbaston and Gambhir dwells on the problem. Bikash Mohapatra reports from Edgbaston.
Even in the face of riots, the united spirit of Birmingham stands tall, reports Bikash Mohapatra
Rediff.com's Bikash Mohapatra has been covering India's cricket tour of England. On Tuesday, he witnessed the mayhem that has enveloped the nation following the killing of a 29-year-old man in police firing during a protest march.
Minutes before miscreants got into action at the Birmingham City Centre, breaking into shops and looking property, the Indian cricket team was in the area.
There was nothing surprising in the selection of India's final 15 for the upcoming World Cup. It was, says Bikash Mohapatra, done keeping the subcontinent wickets in mind.
With Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir recovering, Team India's injury problems have been taken care of for the time being. But that, says Bikash Mohapatra, is little to assuage the long term problems it faces.
Bikash Mohapatra chats up with Australian athletics legend Cathy Freeman, event ambassador for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.
Andrew Strauss is aware his team need to win by a two-Test margin to usurp the top spot from their opponents -- India.
Chasing 478 for victory, India were dismissed for 158, and lost the second Test by 319 runs, on Day 4, at Trent Bridge, on Monday.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is the latest to join India's long list of injured players with the 31-year-old pulling a stomach muscle during the third day's play on Sunday.
With Team India's recent record of coming back strong after an opening defeat, England captain Andrew Strauss will not let his guard down in the second Test, beginning Friday.
Bikash Mohapatra looks back on India's victory at Trent Bridge, in 2007, which started a glorious run of results for the now world No 1 side.
As Jose Mourinho is formally presented as the new Real Madrid coach on Monday, Senior Associate Editor Bikash Mohapatra wonders if the Portuguese will manage to survive the 'curse of Bernabeu' that has witnessed as many as 23 coaching changes at the club in the last 21 years.
A hundred at Lord's must now remain an unfinished dream for the Indian legend.
Bikash Mohapatra, who watched the Lord's Test, identifies the turning points in the game.
As the Indian Express join forces after nine long years on the ATP circuit, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will be hoping this reunion would help them prepare well and win Australian Open, the only Grand Slam trophy missing from their cupboard, says our correspondent Bikash Mohapatra
If Suresh Raina appeared rehearsed, repetitive and restrained in his first major interaction with the media since assuming his role as the captain of Team India, he can be forgiven.
A hundred at the home of cricket remains elusive for Rahul Dravid. When he walks in to bat in the opening Test against England, at Lord's, Senior Associate Editor Bikash Mohapatra says, setting that record straight will be uppermost on his mind.
Bikash Mohapatra looks back on the only instance of the Indian team securing a Test victory at the home of cricket.
England has lot to prove in the upcoming Test series against India, says Bikash Mohapatra.
Senior Associate Editor Bikash Mohapatra looks at an inglorious club of seven players who have been ranked No. 1 without a major title to their credit.
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