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Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 1 (ANI): Legendary Indian and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter <keyword id="19899524" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ms-dhoni" source="keywords">MS Dhoni</keyword> on Sunday became the first Indian glovesman to score 7,000 runs in T20 cricket. The 42-year-old veteran accomplished this milestone against <keyword id="19907060" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delhi-capitals" source="keywords">Delhi Capitals</keyword> (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). During the match, <keyword id="19896463" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dhoni" source="keywords">Dhoni</keyword> was at his best. Coming at the end, CSK's five-time IPL champion former captain smashed 37 in just 16 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes. His strike rate was 231.25. The result did not matter to CSK fans, as they were happy to see their 'Thala' bat and punish pacer Anrich Nortje by smashing him for 20 runs in the last over. As a designated wicketkeeper-batter, Dhoni has scored 7,036 runs. In 380 T20s, Dhoni has made 7,308 runs at an average of 38.06, with 28 half-centuries. His best score is 84*. His strike rate is 134.78. The most runs by a designated wicketkeeper-batter is by South Africa's Quinton De Kock, who has made 8,578 runs as a wicketkeeper-batter. Overall, including matches, Kock has scored 9,407 runs in 329 T20 matches, at an average of 32.10 and a strike rate of over 137, with six centuries and 59 fifties. DC won the toss and opted to bat first. <keyword id="19948689" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="david-warner" source="keywords">David Warner</keyword> (52 in 35 balls, with five fours and three sixes) and a returning Prithvi Shaw (43 in 27 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) started off well with a 93-run opening partnership. Following their dismissal, DC lost their direction for a while until <keyword id="19907058" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rishabh-pant" source="keywords">Rishabh Pant</keyword> (51 in 32 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) scored some quick runs in the end to take the side to 191/5 in their 20 overs. Matheesha Pathirana (3/31) was the pick of the bowlers for CSK. In the run-chase of 192, Khaleel Ahmed (2/21) and Mukesh Kumar (3/21) troubled the CSK batters with their line and length and at one point, CSK was 75/3 in 10.2 overs. Useful knocks came from Ajinkya Rahane (45 in 30 balls, with five fours and two sixes), <keyword id="19929055" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="daryl-mitchell" source="keywords">Daryl Mitchell</keyword> (34 in 26 balls, with a four and two sixes) and MS Dhoni (37* in 16 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes), but DC secured a 20-run win, restricting the five-time champions to 171/6. Khaleel got the 'Player of the Match' for his match-winning spell. CSK is in the second spot with two wins and a loss, giving them four points. DC is in the seventh spot, with a win and two losses, giving them two points. (ANI)

IPL 2024: MS Dhoni becomes first Indian to achieve unique batting record

<keyword id="13937" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma">Rohit Sharma</keyword>, the vice-captain of Indian cricket team in limited overs, has found a place as opener in the upcoming Test series against South Africa starting October 2. He, alongside <keyword id="433888" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mayank-Agarwal">Mayank Agarwal</keyword>, is replacing the out-of-form KL Rahul against the Proteas from the first Test match in Vishakapatnam. Here are 6 less known facts about Rohit Sharma 1. A struggler in Test cricket Rohit Sharma is irrepressible in one day internationals but his Test record leaves a lot to desire. He hasn’t played a single Test match this year after a poor run in 2018. In the eight innings he played last year before he was dropped, Sharma scored a mere 189 runs at an average 26.3. His career average in the longest format of the game is 39.62 compared to other batting star, captain Virat Kohli who averages 53.14. His average score was 39.62 in Test cricket, much lower than Virat Kohli who played 79 Test matches with an average score of 53.14. Rohit Sharma has never really been a choice in Test cricket, he often does not even get to play even after being in the team. 2. Only 27 Test matches Sharma made his Test debut in 2013, six years after his first ODI match. So far, he has played 27 matches and scored 1485 runs. Whereas his peer <keyword id="51784" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajinkya-Rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</keyword> who debuted in the same year has gone on to play 58 Tests and has scored two and a half times more than Sharma. 3. Rohit Sharma Vs KL Rahul Sharma is replacing KL Rahul whose career average of 34.59 is worse than that of Sharma. However, Rahul has consistently disappointed with a total score of 664 runs in his last 30 Tests including a 149 against England in a dead rubber at the Oval last year. 4. Opening the batting changed his ODI career. After his debut in 2007, Rohit Sharma struggled for form for the next six years. Fortune turned around for him 2013, even in ODIs, when he sent in at the top of the order in the Champions Trophy and his stardom in limited overs cricket only improved thereon. He has never opened in Test cricket before? Will the South Africa series be the turning point? 5. Sourav Ganguly is backing Sharma as a Test opener India’s former captain suggested Sharma’s name as an opener after the latter’s fantastic run at the World Cup 2019 with five centuries. However, while Sharma was picked for the West Indies series, which India won 2-0, Sharma had sit out. KL Rahul, who got the chance, got off to good starts against a beleaguered Carribean side but failed to build on it. 6. <keyword id="70497" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="nickname">Nickname</keyword>: Ro’hit’man Even in his Test debut, he scored centuries in the first two innings he played. This was against the West Indies on tour to India in 2013. He was the fifth batsman to achieve the feat. Rohit Sharma is the only cricketer to score three double centuries in the world in ODI format. With big scores in all formats of the game, Sharma is difficult to get out once he gets set on the crease. It will be worth a watch if he can bring that skill to the Test arena as well.

6 facts about Rohit Sharma — India’s new opener in Test cricket

Kochi: After receiving a 124-run thrashing in the ODI series opener at Kochi against West Indies on Wednesday, Indian <keyword id="16561" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="skipper">skipper</keyword> <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahendra-singh-dhoni/4001/4057">Mahendra Singh Dhoni</a> said that the run-out of <keyword id="51784" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ajinkya-Rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</keyword> in the ninth over of the innings was a major blow from which the team could not recover. 
 In their chase of 322, the Indian openers - <keyword id="17805" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Shikhar-Dhawan">Shikhar Dhawan</keyword> and Rahane - were off to a good start but a misunderstanding between the wickets lead to Rahane's departure after which India went on to lose the rest of their nine wickets for just 148 runs. 
 
"We started off really well but after the run-out of Ajinkya we could not stop losing wickets. Chasing 320 and keep losing wickets in doubles - it becomes difficult for the batsmen. We lost too many wickets in quite a close succession. It is important to get partnerships going," asserted Dhoni. 
 
After winning the toss, Dhoni had opted to bowl, taking into consideration the dew factor, but the decision backfired as West Indies got off to a strong start and finished well. Talking about the decision, Dhoni said he was forced to bowl first considering the fact that the spinners would have a tough time bowling second in the day/night fixture. 
 
"I think we had to do something because we have seen the impact of dew here. There was no surety, but dew plays a factor more often than not so the team is forced to bowl first. It was very hot and the fast bowlers were having a tough time and they would love to bowl few more overs. It was quite hard also to keep them rotating. I could not really rotate them well," added the skipper. 
 Dhoni though gave credit to the way West Indies went about their innings owing largely to a record 165-run stand between <keyword id="148852" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Marlon-Samuels">Marlon Samuels</keyword> (126*) and <keyword id="118822" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Denesh-Ramdin">Denesh Ramdin</keyword> (61). "They batted really well. If you see, we could not get too many wickets with the new ball," said Dhoni, also ruing the fact that they conceded a lot of runs in the middle overs. "They were hitting the big shots but still we were not able to put pressure on them by not letting them get those easy singles." 
 
He further went on to add, "They have got a fantastic ODI squad. They can bat till nine and they have got five bowlers and couple of spinners. All of them are quite experienced in bowling in the death overs. They bowled consistently in the same areas." 
 
But Dhoni looked pleased with the effort put in by the Indian bowlers in the slog overs where they conceded 81 runs and took three wickets. 
 
"Most our bowlers apart from Bhuvaneswar gave runs. Considering that we restricted them to a total of 321 on this wicket, I must say our bowlers did a decent job. I was quite happy with the death bowling and they bowled quite consistently maintaining their lengths and we were able to put fielders in right areas. Overall, I am quite happy with the bowling," said Dhoni.

Dhoni: Rahane Run-Out Derailed India's Chase

England asserted their supremacy on the opening day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford as they closed on 113/3 after <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/stuart-broad/3001/3067">Stuart Broad</a>'s 6 for 25 bundled India out for 152. India equalled the record of six ducks in a Test innings and despite a gritty half-century from <keyword id="16561" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="skipper">skipper</keyword> <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/4001/4057">MS Dhoni</a>, the Indian batting surrendered to some quality seam bowling from the Englishmen. 
 
England skipper <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/alastair-cook/3001/3056">Alastair Cook</a> could not have chosen a better toss to lose after his Indian counterpart Dhoni opted to bat on a lively Old Trafford pitch, which as it would turn out, have more than just a handful for the medium-pacers. Amid all the speculation surrounding the Playing XI heading into Manchester, India rang in three changes. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gautam-gambhir/4001/4043">Gautam Gambhir</a> replaced the out-of-form <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Shikhar Dhawan</a>; <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ravichandran-ashwin/4001/26007">Ravichandran Ashwin</a> was selected in place of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rohit-sharma/4001/4095">Rohit Sharma</a> and the much-talked about <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/varun-aaron/4001/30019">Varun Aaron</a> was picked ahead of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mohammed-shami/4001/30030">Mohammed Shami</a>. 
 
Dhoni's decision backfired as Broad and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/james-anderson/3001/3040">James Anderson</a> (3 for 46) shredded India to 8 for 4 inside the first six overs giving England their best start of the series. Comeback man Gambhir's (4) stay at the middle was short-lived after he fended at a length ball to <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/joe-root/3001/73004">Joe Root</a> at gully from Broad. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/murali-vijay/4001/4102">Murali Vijay</a> was the next to go for a duck, seven balls later to Anderson. Vijay, who has been good at leaving balls outside his off-stump in this series, played and nicked to skipper Cook at first slip. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/virat-kohli/4001/25007">Virat Kohli</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/cheteshwar-pujara/4001/4106">Cheteshwar Pujara</a> failed to impress yet again and went without troubling the scorers. While Kohli tickled an exceptional outswinger from Anderson, Pujara edged a full-length delivery from Broad to a diving Chris Jordan at third slip leaving India reeling at 8 for 4. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ajinkya-rahane/4001/32045">Ajinkya Rahane</a> - who has by far looked India's best batsman on the tour - and Dhoni weathered the storm and decided to leave more balls. Both gutted it out and strung together an dogged 50-run stand. Once Anderson and Broad were taken out of the attack, run-scoring became comparatively fluent and easier. Jordan, however, ended the promising stand with the wicket of Rahane for 24 in the penultimate over of the session. 
 
India started the second session losing the wicket of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ravindra-jadeja/4001/32004">Ravindra Jadeja</a> (0) to his 'friend' Anderson in the second over after the lunch interval. Anderson set the trap nicely following back-to-back away going deliveries with an inswinger that jagged back in and caught the Indian allrounder stone dead in front of the stumps. At 63 for 5, Ashwin joined his skipper in the middle and the pair batted with precaution to slowly take India forward. Ashwin's near-clean batting technique played a perfect second-fiddle to Dhoni, who at the other end, took calculated risks and kept the scoreboard ticking. 
 
Ashwin had a slice of luck on 25, when he was dropped by wicketkeeper <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jos-buttler/3001/3111">Jos Buttler</a> off Anderson in the 35th over. He and Dhoni put together 66 runs for the seventh wicket before the offspinner mistimed a pull off Broad to <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/sam-robson/3001/84620">Sam Robson</a> at deep-square leg. Ashwin's flamboyant 42-ball 40 was and laced with three fours and a six over deep fine leg which launched a counter-attack on England. Broad then cleaned up <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/bhuvneshwar-kumar/4001/25023">Bhuvneshwar Kumar</a> two overs later for his 12th five-wicket haul in Tests. His dismissal exposed the Indian tail which managed to survive just seven more overs. Dhoni played a few unorthodox shots and reached his 32nd half-century with a four and casually edged and pulled his way to 71 before eventually finding the fielder at deep-square leg. 
 
England's hopes of a good beginning was tarnished by Robson - who battled for 24 balls and scored six runs. Bhuvneshwar once again removed him - third time in the series, castling his off stump with an inswinger. Cook's twin fifties at Southampton seemed to have done him a world of good - he cracked two fours off Pankaj - but against the run of play he fell to his favourite shot, a pull off Aaron for 17. Southampton centurions <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ian-bell/3001/3048">Ian Bell</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/gary-ballance/3001/73003">Gary Ballance</a> took over and played with authority. Both took a specific liking towards Pankaj, who conceded 50 runs off his 11 overs. 
 
With run-scoring becoming easy with every over bowled, Dhoni introduced Ashwin in the 21st over. Bell welcomed him by dancing down the wicket and hitting him over his head for the first six of the English innings. Bell pounced on anything slightly short and made most of anything offered on his pads. Ballance and Bell added 77 runs before Aaron would strike again, this time trapping the dangerous Ballance (87 balls, 4x6) leg before for 37 in the final over of the day. Nightwatchman Jordan (0) and Bell (45) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

England Build After Broad Dismantles India

After the high of Lord's, the low at Southampton. Following India's 266-run defeat at Ageas Bowl on Friday, gocricket.com assesses how each of the 11 players fared. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/murali-vijay/4001/4102">Murali Vijay</a> 
Vijay followed his defiant batting at Lord's - 24 and 95 - with a stumbling performance. He looked out of sorts against <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/james-anderson/3001/3040">James Anderson</a> on day three and perished for 34 to a moment of indecision to <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/stuart-broad/3001/3067">Stuart Broad</a>. Worse, though, was Vijay's lethargic run out for 12 in the second innings. After two strong games, a low can be excused to an extent. And Vijay is a batsman who finds a way out of a slump. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Shikhar Dhawan</a> 
Vijay's opening partner has looked out of sorts in England and his place in the XI is now in jeopardy ahead of the Old Trafford Test. Six innings, 122 runs, highest of 37 in the second innings at Southampton. The cracks in his technique were again exposed by Anderson in the first innings, while in the second Dhawan fell to <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/joe-root/3001/73004">Joe Root</a>'s part-time offspin. Looks far removed from the dasher who bullied Australia in Mohali and stood tall in New Zealand. Has Dhawan exhausted whatever faith the management has in him? 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/cheteshwar-pujara/4001/4106">Cheteshwar Pujara</a> 
India's No 3 had his poorest match of the series. Was tested by a fiery Anderson in the first innings where he looked uncomfortable against his bounce. Fell to a rising delivery from Broad that he failed to negotiate, and was caught behind when trying to weave out the ball's way. In the second, with India staring at a mountain, Pujara nicked off against <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/moeen-ali/3001/3153">Moeen Ali</a> for two. Pujara has not looked as shaky in Tests as he has in England. His rock-solid technique is being tested. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/virat-kohli/4001/25007">Virat Kohli</a> 
India's superstar showed signs of shrugging off his poor form in this Test, but twice squandered starts. His dismissal to Anderson in India's first innings was an extension of a nagging problem - the corridor of uncertainty outside off stump. His dismissal to Ali's offbreaks in the second was just downright ordinary. How Kohli fares in the next two Tests could impact whether he is regarded as a truly exceptional player or just a good one. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ajinkya-rahane/4001/32045">Ajinkya Rahane</a> 
India's best batsman, with two fifties. Looked good during his first-innings 54 until he made a mess of a long hop from Ali. Batted 121 balls for 52 not out in the second, the only Indian to cross 37. Goes to Old Trafford the most confident player of the team. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rohit-sharma/4001/4095">Rohit Sharma</a> The case of India's most frustrating batsman continued. Drafted in for his first Test in England, in place of allrounder <keyword id="258548" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Stuart-Binny">Stuart Binny</keyword>, Rohit found himself no further fans with a silly dismissal to Ali in the first innings. Shortly before tea, Rohit dashed out and lofted to mid-off, then sunk to his knees in despair. In the second, he made six before falling early on day five, edging off Anderson. Could be swapped for Binny in a week's time. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/4001/4057">MS Dhoni</a> 
His biggest lapse in this match was falling early on day four, when India needed to bat out time. On 50 overnight, and with two tailenders remaining, India's captain hooked at one from Anderson and top-edged to the wicketkeeper. He failed to add a run to his total and India's innings lasted 25 balls. Was flat in the field, letting the game slip away. As often in the past, when teams start to attack, Dhoni eases into defensive mode and this was glaring here too. Needs to shake himself and the team up. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ravindra-jadeja/4001/32004">Ravindra Jadeja</a> 
Was India's leading wicket-taker in this Test but his left-arm spin was very ordinary, and the way Bell and debutant Jos Buttler took Jadeja apart in England's first innings was striking. His wickets either owed to poor shots, wrong calls or the need for quick runs. He got Cook for 95 with a short ball down the leg side; Buttler heaved and missed when the declaration was imminent; Gary Ballance was incorrectly given out; Bell and Root both went looking for quick runs in the second innings. Jadeja conceded 205 runs in 56.2 overs (economy rate 3.65) and with the bat, made 31 and 15. Calls for R Ashwin to play in his place have grown louder. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/bhuvneshwar-kumar/4001/25023">Bhuvneshwar Kumar</a> 
No doubt, his average returns had a direct link to India's loss. Struggled to show the consistency and determination of the first two Tests, taking four wickets for 160 runs and scoring 19 and 0. A failure was around the corner, and the fatigue showed on Bhuvneshwar when he walked off the field Wednesday. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mohammed-shami/4001/30030">Mohammed Shami</a> 
Turned in another poor showing, and should make way for a fresher pair of legs at Old Trafford. Cranked up some good pace on day one and did bowl some scattered short deliveries that tested England's batsmen, but overall Shami was ordinary and erratic. His five wickets in the series have come every 115 deliveries and at a cost of 73.20 each. Time to go? 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/pankaj-singh/4001/4100">Pankaj Singh</a> A domestic stalwart for Rajashan with 300 wickets in 77 first-class matches, Pankaj was handed a Test cap when <keyword id="11685" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ishant-Sharma">Ishant Sharma</keyword> was ruled out, and finished with a record he won't want attached to his name: the most runs conceded by a debutant bowler without a wicket. However, he bowled far better than the stats suggest, particularly on day one, and should have had <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/alastair-cook/3001/3056">Alastair Cook</a> early as well as <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ian-bell/3001/3048">Ian Bell</a>. Was the best of India's three pacers, doing whatever was asked of him, but a lack of pace and those awful figures could confine Pankaj to a solitary Test appearance.

A Report Card On India's Defeat

Adelaide, <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> fell to lowest-ever <keyword id="10459801" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="innings-total">innings total</keyword> in their 82-year <keyword id="1990826" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="test-cricket-history">Test cricket history</keyword> as they ended at 36 for nine in their second innings against an inspired Australia in the <keyword id="9384" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="first-Test-match">first Test match</keyword> at the Adelaide Oval here on Saturday. India's worst Test innings total before this was 42 against Mike Denness's England at Lord's in 1974. Mohammed Shami, the No. 11 batsman, retired hurt and could not bat. Australia now need 90 runs to win the first Test and take 1-0 after India had taken a 53-run lead in first innings. India, who began at the overnight score of nine for one, had a nightmarish start when they lost four wickets at the team total of 15 and then four runs later at 19 lost their sixth wicket in the form of skipper Virat Kohli. They then lost Wriddhiman Saha and R Ashwin on successive deliveries to be 26 for eight. Hanuma Vihari then scored a four and got a single to get India clear of the three <keyword id="6367321" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lowest">lowest</keyword> scores in Test history, 26 by New Zealand and 30 twice by South Africa. However, Vihari fell as the ninth batsman at the team score of 31. Earlier, India lost four wickets fell on 15. Overnight batsman Jasprit Bumrah, who had walked in as nightwatchman on Friday was caught and bowled by Pat Cummins off a change of pace. Then Cheteshwar Pujara was caught behind off Cummins's delivery that moved just a bit as the India No. 3 fell for an eight-ball duck. Josh Hazlewood then got two wickets in one over as he removed opener Mayank Agarwal, getting him caught behind off his first ball and followed it up with the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane, who was also caught behind for a four-ball duck. Skipper Virat Kohli got a four towards third man but was soon after caught at gully by Cameron Green off Cummins. The carnage by Aussies saw India lose five wickets for four runs in 5.4 overs. They were 26 for eight at the drinks break. At the score of 26, they lost Wriddhiman Saha, caught at short midwicket and R Ashwin who was caught behind to be eight down for 26. Pat Cummins (4/21 in 10.2) and Josh Hazlewood (5/8 in five) shared the wickets. The Indian innings lasted just 21.2 overs. This was also joint fourth lowest total in Test cricket history behind 26 by New Zealand, 30 (twice) by South Africa, 35 also by South Africa. Australia and South Africa also have scored 36 before. However, barring New Zealand's 26, that happened in 1955, the rest of the lowest totals mentioned above happened prior to the second World War. India's lowest totals in Tests: 36/9 vs Australia at Adelaide Oval in 2020 42 vs England at Lord's in 1974 58 vs Australia at Brisbane in 1947 58 vs England at Manchester in 1952 66 vs South Africa at Durban in 1996 67 vs Australia at Melbourne in 1948 75 vs West Indies at Delhi in 1987 76 vs South Africa at Ahmedabad in 2008 SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ikea-india-cfo-says-she-still-has-3500-crore-to-be-spent-in-india-the-pandemic-has-changed-targets-but-not-the-investment-plan/articleshow/79790938.cms">INTERVIEW: Ikea CFO says she still has ₹3,500 crore to be spent in India⁠— the pandemic has changed targets but not the investment plan</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/india-will-produce-300-million-doses-of-the-russian-sputnik-v-covid-19-vaccine-next-year/articleshow/79795341.cms">India will produce 300 million doses of the Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine next year</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/how-to-check-mrs-bectors-food-specialities-ipo-allotment-status-online/articleshow/79808672.cms">Mrs Bectors Food Specialities IPO allotment: Here’s how to check share allotment status</a>

India scored 36 for nine, recorded as lowest total innings ever

After an abysmal run in the 1-3 Test loss, the Indian team showed their true mettle in coloured clothing when they reversed the Test result, winning the rain-hit five-match ODI series 3-1. India's win in the ODI series against a side not known to be a force in the limited-overs encounter wasn't surprising given their superiority in the format. However, Twenty20 followers would feel that India's three-run loss against an eighth-ranked England side shouldn't be an ideal way to end a largely disappointing tour for India. 
 
Gocricket.com has analysed the individual performances of the Indian players in the five-match series and the one-off T20I. Here is the report card. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rohit-sharma/4001/4095">Rohit Sharma</a>: 7/10 
 
Played responsibly in his only knock of the ODI series before injuring himself. One of the major positives in his 87-ball 52 at Cardiff was the restrained approach he showed while facing quality new-ball bowling. He was willing to bide his time in the middle and let a more enterprising partner, Ajinkya Rahane on this occasion, take charge. He was dismissed just before promising a bigger knock. A fit and in-form Rohit Sharma will auger well for Team India as the lead-up to the 2015 World Cup builds. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Shikhar Dhawan</a>: 6/10 
 
His match-winning 97 not out looked the odd-one-out innings in the five matches he played (four ODIs, one T20I). More often than not, Dhawan repeated the same mistakes he made in the Tests – getting out to balls outside off stump and playing one shot too many after getting set. Dhawan was more looking to thump and muscle the ball instead of just timing it well. His unbeaten knock in the fourth ODI at Edgbaston showed why he is such a dangerous batsmen and oppositions will continue to target him. A player who <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/news/India-in-England-2014-Shikhar-Dhawan-Ajinkya-Rahane-camaraderie-augurs-well-for-India/articleshow/41610038.cms">feeds off success of another teammate</a>, Dhawan didn't make an effort to shield his weaknesses against the moving ball or his uncanny ability to gift wickets to non-threatening spin. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ajinkya-rahane/4001/32045">Ajinkya Rahane</a>: 8.5/10 
 
With 192 runs in four matches, Rahane was easily the batsman of the series. He showed that he has taken his limited-overs game up by leaps and bounds. Of course, the experience of doing well in the preceding Test series benefitted him. His maiden ODI ton, a classy 106 at Edgbaston, has given selectors the realistic option of using Rahane as a third opener in the 2015 World Cup <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/news/India-vs-England-2014-Ajinkya-Rahane-makes-amends-at-the-top/articleshow/41545757.cms">provided either Dhawan or Rohit fail</a>. India could have profited a lot more had he not fell after getting starts in his previous two knocks (a 47-ball 41 at No 4 and 56-ball 45 at No 1). 
 The fact that may go unnoticed is that he had the best strike rate among India's top-4 in the ODI series (93.8) and he hit six sixes in the four ODIs and one T20I, most by an Indian this series along with <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword>. His fielding in the run saving positions was among the best one can see by an Indian in recent years, especially in the T20I where he took four catches. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/virat-kohli/4001/25007">Virat Kohli</a>: 3.5/10 
 Passing marks? Not quite. Indian <keyword id="1521" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cricket">cricket</keyword> lovers would groan at the prospect of waiting till the last match of a more than two-and-a-half month tour to see a Kohli fifty. After a forgettable Test run, Kohli was expected to do a lot better in the ODIs, which he didn't as his 54 runs in three innings would suggest. Seemed to have got close to hitting some form with a neat 50-ball 40 in the third ODI at Trent Bridge but his dismissal in the fifth ODI to <keyword id="80896" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="James-Anderson">James Anderson</keyword> made it evident that he is still coming to grips with 'how to play the moving ball outside off stump' syndrome. 
 
In the run-feast of the T20I, Kohli - India's most prolific limited-overs run scorer since the 2011 World Cup came into his own. Despite his 41-ball 66, he failed to take the team across the finish line, something which he is so used to doing in ODIs. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/suresh-raina/4001/4059">Suresh Raina</a>: 8.5/10 
 Perhaps the best thing to have happened to the Indian team after the Test debacle was Raina, who was back for the ODIs and firing in all cylinders. His counter-attacking 75-ball 100 at Cardiff, hailed by many as one of India's best-ever overseas knocks in ODIs, set the tone for the series as well as giving assurance and belief to India bowlers to do well. Raina's close catching, especially the sharp take to get rid of <keyword id="9234" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Alastair-Cook">Alastair Cook</keyword> at gully, was inspiring. His role as a senior player in the current side was visible during his movement inside the circle, his applause of a fielder and by speaking a word of encouragement to an inexperienced bowler. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/Raina-draws-attention-with-performance-and-infectious-energy/Joshua-Nath/columnshow/41694007.cms">Raina's synergy on the field was infectious</a>, which lifted the atmosphere of the team. Technically, he played the short ball well and didn't show a glaring weakness with the bat. His off spin was more than handy as he took four wickets, one in each ODI, at an economy rate of just over four-and-a-half (4.68). 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ms-dhoni/4001/4057">MS Dhoni</a>: 8/10 
 
Needless to say, most of Dhoni's points are for his captaincy. In the first three ODIs, his bowling changes, field positioning and his reading of the game was astute and he didn't look like a captain who had a terrible team performance in the three previous international outings. Acknowledged the areas his side needs to improve on, especially death-overs bowling that was highlighted in the loss at Leeds and in the T20I at Edgbaston. En route the 3-1 series win, he became India's most successful ODI skipper with 91 victories. 
 As a batsmen, his 52 at Cardiff was the perfect foil for a marauding Raina at the other end. After not being required to bat in the third and fourth ODIs, he missed out in the fifth ODI and his habit of taking the match till the end keeping the bulk of big-hitting to himself backfired in the lone T20I, which allowed the hosts to eke out a three-run win. Increasingly, Dhoni needs more performers like Raina, Rahane and <keyword id="479464" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhuvneshwar-Kumar">Bhuvneshwar Kumar</keyword>. Add to that an in-form Kohli, wicket-taking spinners and incisive new-ball bowlers and Dhoni has a team to beat in the 2015 World Cup. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ambati-rayudu/4001/31025">Ambati Rayudu</a>: 7.5/10 
 
Still isn't a finished product but made good use of the chances he got in the middle order - something that could would have been difficult to come by had Rohit not got injured. Rayudu scored fifties in each of the innings he got to bat in the ODIs, scoring 117 runs in all. Displayed a calm head on his shoulders at this level during his match-winning unbeaten 64 in the Trent Bridge ODI. While, two matches later, he frittered a brilliant chance to score a big one and threw his wicket away after getting to 53. Areas where he can improve – batting strike rate (81.81) and ground fielding, where he could be found a tad slow to move on the field. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ravindra-jadeja/4001/32004">Ravindra Jadeja</a>: 8/10 
 
Ravindra Jadeja the left-arm spinner was at his best in the ODIs. Barring the mauling he received from the hands of Joe Root in the final ODI at Leeds, Jadeja had excellent figures of seven for 106 at an economy rate of just under four in the ODIs. He was the chief benefactor of English batsmen trying to sweep and trying to hit out. As a batsmen, he did shine in a lone effort at Leeds - hitting a fighting 87 off 68 balls. Coming in at number seven and having a career-average of 35, in Jadeja, Dhoni has an able finisher, who comes under pressure of having to deliver each time. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ravichandran-ashwin/4001/26007">R Ashwin</a>: 7.5/10 
 
Led the slow-bowling attack well and revelled in the partnership with Jadeja against not the most adept players of spin. Ashwin's figures of three for 39 at Trent Bridge earned him the Man-of-the-Match award as he outfoxed the batsmen. Where every other bowler was being targeted by the English batsmen in the Leeds game, Ashwin put brakes on the scoring. He didn't try and overuse his variations. His seven wickets in four games at an average of 24 and an economy of less than 4.50 is encouraging for India. Ashwin needs to improve his ground fielding, running between the wickets and continue to take wickets in the middle overs in order to silence his detractors. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/bhuvneshwar-kumar/4001/25023">Bhuvneshwar Kumar</a>: 7.5/10 
 
The only Indian bowler to play all the Tests and ODIs on the tour, Bhuvneshwar is fast becoming Dhoni's go-to man. He troubled Alex Hales with an in-swinging ball and was hard to get away for the batsmen with the new ball. He commanded the respect of the England batsmen as he kept things tight and seldom wavered from the right channel – a series economy rate of 4.32 is testimony to that. After a long tour and a truckload of overs, this 24-year-old will welcome the month-long rest. He took five wickets for 134 runs in the four ODIs. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mohammed-shami/4001/30030">Mohammed Shami</a>: 8/10 
 
The most improved bowler since the Tests, Shami showed why he was touted as India's future strike-bowler when he made his Test debut last year. He felt at home playing the ODIs, ran in with a positive attitude and looked to take wickets at all times - something which wasn't quite visible in the Test series. His speeds were up there and he got the ball to move late. Shami was easily the best bowler in either side with eight wickets with a best of three for 28 at Edgbaston and a series average of a wicket every 19 runs and 24 balls. His economy rate too came down to 4.77 in the series, a marked improvement over his career record. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mohit-sharma/4001/26024">Mohit Sharma</a>: 5/10 
 <keyword id="46772" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mohit-Sharma">Mohit Sharma</keyword> did well in the two ODIs he played but couldn't get a breakthrough as he gave away 35 runs in his nine overs before missing out on the final two matches due to injury. He got the ball to jag away from Cook and tied the opening batsmen down. Also, the Chennai Super Kings and Haryana medium-pacer got the odd ball to bounce more than expected. Mohit came back in the T20I but got hit for plenty as his death bowling skills were tested to the core while being pasted by Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara for 21 runs in an over in Edgbaston. The 24-year-old still needs to do more in order to give selectors the hint that he is one of India's fast bowling options. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/umesh-yadav/4001/28013">Umesh Yadav</a>: 3/10 
 
Umesh did little to stake claim in the ODI playing XI as was largely erratic in the one match he played, giving away 46 runs in his six overs. His only bright spot was the dismissal of Hales, beating him for pace on a short delivery. Pace is fine in the early 140s, but he needs to get the ball to move both ways to make an impact. And most importantly, he needs to hit the right line and length repeatedly. 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dhawal-kulkarni/4001/31006">Dhawal Kulkarni</a>: 3/10 
 
Some may argue that he got a raw deal after playing just one match, in which he went wicketless and didn't trouble the batsmen. His speeds were up there in the high 130 kmph and hit the 140 mark on more than couple of occasions. Uncertainty, although remains over whether he will be retained in the team for the series against West Indies.

India's Limited-Overs Report Card Of England

The legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be in the spotlight in what could be his final game at the iconic <keyword id="19921339" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wankhede-Stadium" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Wankhede Stadium" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Wankhede Stadium">Wankhede Stadium</keyword> when defending champions Chennai Super Kings take on Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday. Dhoni returns to the hallowed turf of Wankhede for the first time ever as a non-captain of the <keyword id="19896464" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CSK" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="CSK" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="CSK">CSK</keyword>, potentially in his last <keyword id="19906063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="keywords">IPL</keyword> season. It will also be his first appearance as just a player for any team since November 2005. Even at 42, Dhoni's glove-work remains impeccable and so does his assessment of the game like always. But CSK will hope that his tactical acumen also helps them improve a dismal away record this season, having suffered two defeats on the road. CSK would also hope their recent record against <keyword id="20950501" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="MI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="MI">MI</keyword> - four wins in last five matches including their seven-wicket win here last season - holds them in good stead. Two of IPL's most successful teams with five titles each, both sides are witnessing a tectonic shift of leadership change with Hardik Pandya taking over the mantle from Rohit Sharma at MI and Ruturaj Gaikwad succeeding Dhoni at CSK, but there is nothing that suggests their intense rivalry would expect any such shift. If anything, CSK's bowlers could be put to sword by the rampaging MI batters who have gone hammer and tongs at the flat pitches here, scoring in excess of 230 against Delhi Capitals and chasing down nearly 200 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with more than four overs to spare. Pandya's MI have found their footing after a jittery start. Their batters have done well in the last two outings and Suryakumar Yadav's 17-ball fifty against RCB provides an ominous sign to CSK bowlers, who have shown mastery on slow, turning pitches at the Chepauk but remain untested on flat, batting-friendly surfaces. Ishan Kishan (161 runs) and Rohit's opening stand would thus be crucial in the scheme of things but CSK would also have a lot of assurance with their own batting. Skipper Gaikwad may not be a marauder with the bat but he can be the silent enforcer in the CSK line-up, which has the exuberance of Rachin Ravindra at the top, sturdiness of Daryl Mitchell in the middle and explosiveness of Shivam Dube (176 runs), Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni in the death overs. CSK would also be aware that seeing off the dexterous Jasprit Bumrah (10 wickets) and going after the rest of the MI bowling would be the key, since the others have given away runs at alarming rate while struggling with their line and lengths on placid surfaces. Despite Bumrah's five-wicket haul, MI leaked runs at a high rate to allow RCB get closer to the 200-run mark here a few nights ago. A lot will be riding on Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande for CSK, who both return to their home ground, but Mustafizur Rahman (9 wickets) and the wily Jadeja would be the ones to watch out for given their recent exploits. On their part, teams say "we want to get as many runs as possible" but by the look of it, scores around 220-230 while batting first could be the best way possible to ensure an upperhand at this venue. Teams (from): Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Varma, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood. Chennai Super Kings: <keyword id="19899524" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="MS-Dhoni" source="keywords">MS Dhoni</keyword> (wk), Aravelly Avanish (wk), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, RS Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Sameer Rizvi. Match starts 7:30PM IST. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/telecom-companies-may-hike-tariffs-by-up-to-17-after-the-general-elections-as-per-analysts/articleshow/109240274.cms" target="_blank">Telecom companies may hike tariffs by up to 17% after the general elections, predict analysts</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-rizta-vs-tvs-iqube-which-family-scooter-should-you-buy/articleshow/109233645.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ather-rizta-vs-tvs-iqube-which-family-scooter-should-you-buy/articleshow/109233645.cms" target="_blank">Ather Rizta vs TVS iQube – Which family scooter should you buy?</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/playstation-5-is-now-available-at-a-discount-of-10000-for-a-limited-period/articleshow/109183034.cms" target="_blank">PlayStation 5 is now available at a discount of ₹10,000 for a limited period</a>

MS Dhoni in spotlight as CSK and MI resume rivalry in new era

New Delhi, <keyword id="13937" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rohit-sharma" source="Orion">Rohit Sharma</keyword>'s request to the BCCI for a break from white-ball cricket in South Africa despite being offered T20 captaincy has been accepted, while Jasprit Bumrah has been named his deputy for the two Tests starting December 26. <keyword id="6354486" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli" source="Orion">Virat Kohli</keyword>'s request for a break from limited-overs games too has been accepted as <keyword id="496245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="suryakumar-yadav" source="Orion">Suryakumar Yadav</keyword> and <keyword id="6355454" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kl-rahul" source="Orion">KL Rahul</keyword> will lead the national team in T20Is and ODIs respectively. However, it is understood that Hardik Pandya is no longer an automatic choice for T20 captaincy in the T20 World Cup next year if Rohit decides to play the <keyword id="2293366" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shortest-Format" source="Orion">shortest format</keyword>. "Rohit has been offered T20 captaincy but he is in UK on a holiday and wants an extended break after four months of gruelling season till end of the World Cup. But as captain, he has the highest respect for the dressing room and if he agrees to lead India in T20 World Cup, he will lead," a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity. After the T20 World Cup in 2022, Rohit had actually been reluctant to play the shortest format as he focused on 50-over cricket. Interestingly, most of the players selected for ODIs don't feature either in Tests or T20Is. Only three players have been selected in all three squads -- Shreyas Iyer, Mukesh Kumar and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Axar Patel has been dropped from the T20 squad and Ravindra Jadeja is the new T20 vice-captain for the series. KL Rahul set to keep wickets =================== The national selection committee, on expected lines, has not included Kona Bharat in the Test squad as KL Rahul will now don the big gloves in the Test matches. Rahul as keeper also opens two middle-order slots -- for Shreyas Iyer and reserve batter Gaikwad -- in the Test lineup. It is understood that Mohammed Shami has a chance to get fit before the Test series starts late in December. "Shami's injury isn't very serious at the moment and hence he has been kept in the squad. Prasidh Krishna has been kept as his cover just in case. End of road for Rahane, Pujara, Umesh ========================= Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 89 in the World Test Championship final, has probably played his last Test along with Chesteshwar Pujara. "The two slots that Rahane and Pujara had now belong to Rahul and Iyer. Also, Gill will bat in the middle order and Yashashvi will get a long rope," the source added. Pacer Umesh Yadav has also played his last Test. New-look ODI squad =============== ODI is the least important format right now but looking at the 2025 Champions Trophy, a new-look squad under Rahul will play the 50-over games. Rajat Patidar, B Sai Sudharshan and Rinku Singh, all with fantastic List A records, are in the ODI squad and will form the nucleus of the next 50-over team. Kuldeep Yadav, who couldn't be accommodated in the Test squad, is there in both the white-ball squads. Yuzvendra Chahal, who missed the World Cup, is now back in the 50-over format while Ravi Bishnoi is in the T20 squad. Squads: Tests: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Prasidh Krishna. T20Is: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar. ODIs: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c, wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.

India Squad announced for South Africa Tour - Rohit Sharma in Tests, SuryaKumar Yadav in T20s and KL Rahul in ODIs will lead

Barbados, July 5 (ANI): Ahead of the two-match test series against host West Indies, the Indian team which is currently practising in Barbados met with the legendary cricketer <keyword id="476008" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sir-Garfield-Sobers" source="Orion">Sir Garfield Sobers</keyword>. BCCI tweeted the video of the Indian players meeting the 86-year-old West Indian legend and his wife at the Kensington Oval. "In Barbados &amp; in the company of greatness! #TeamIndia meet one of the greatest of the game - Sir Garfield Sobers," BCCI wrote. <div type="twitter" handle="BCCI" handlename="BCCI" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1676443188482183170"></div> Indian batter <keyword id="6354486" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="virat-kohli" source="Orion">Virat Kohli</keyword>, captain <keyword id="13937" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rohit-sharma" source="Orion">Rohit Sharma</keyword>, <keyword id="6362888" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="shubman-gill" source="Orion">Shubman Gill</keyword>, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran <keyword id="17006" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ashwin" source="Orion">Ashwin</keyword> and head coach Rahul David were seen smiling and discussing with the all-time great. In the year 2022, Virat Kohli was awarded Sir Garfield Sobers trophy while Ashwin had received Garfield Sobers Trophy for being named the ICC Cricketer of the Year as well as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in the year 2017. The former West Indian captain has scored 8032 runs in 93 matches with an average of 57.78. He has bagged 26 centuries and 30 fifities in his test career. A total of eight matches will be played in the series over a month. India will kick off the series with a two-match Test series, the first of which will be played from July 12 to 16 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, Dominica. The second Test match will be played from June 20 to June 24 at the Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad. India are also scheduled to play five T20Is and the squad for the same will be announced later. After the Test series, there will be a two-day gap and the third day, India will square off with West Indies in a three-match ODI series. The ODI series will be important as it would help the Indian think tank assess where they stand in white-ball cricket ahead of the ODI World Cup, which will be held in India later this year. The first ODI will be played on July 27 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados while the second will be played at the same venue on July 29. The third and final game of the series will be played on August 1 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad. After the ODI series, the two teams will lock horns for a five-match T20I series. The first match of that series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad, on August 3. The second T20I will be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Guyana on August 6 while the will be hosted at the same stadium on August 8. The fourth and the fifth T20I fixtures will be played at the Broward County Stadium, Florida on August 12 and 13. India's Test squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Navdeep Saini. India's ODI squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar. 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Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, other Indian players meet West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers

Saturday night will see a clash between the master and the apprentice. MS Dhoni, who is on the last bend of his career and has been turning up only for <keyword id="13886" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword> (CSK) since his retirement from international cricket last year, will lead the three-time champions against Delhi Capitals (DC), who will be captained by Rishabh Pant, his long-term successor as India's first choice wicketkeeper. Pant has said in the past that he wants to emulate Dhoni but seems to be carving his own niche. While his power-hitting has already been well-known, his batting went a notch higher since the last Indian Premier League (IPL) as he helped India win the Test series in Australia and against England at home. His wicketkeeping skills came as a pleasant surprise during both series and now it will be his captaincy skills that will be put to test. Pant replaced the injured Shreyas Iyer, who is nursing a shoulder injury. The last year's runners-up have also added Steve Smith to their squad. Their pace bowling attack, comprising Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, <keyword id="149050" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Umesh-Yadav">Umesh Yadav</keyword> and Ishant Sharma along with all-rounders Chris Woakes, Tom Curran and Marcus Stoinis, is among the best in the league. Experienced and acclaimed spinners like off-spinner R Ashwin and leg-spinner Amit Mishra make up a very strong bowling line-up that will test the CSK batting line-up that performed very poorly in the last edition. The CSK batting will rely a lot on Faf du Plessis but the return of Suresh Raina, who missed the last season, will be a boost for the three-time champions as they look to do better this time than the seventh place finish they got last season. India's Test batting stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara too has been included in the CSK line-up for his first IPL in seven years. The India No. 3 batsman was seen using a higher back-lift and hitting sixes in one of the net sessions. CSK blundered last year by not reading the pitches well and not playing their spinners early enough. They realised their mistake and started to give Mitchell Santner and Imran Tahir matches. But it was too late by then. One man who could make a difference is Shardul Thakur, who has done exceedingly well for India since the last IPL. He would be leading their pace bowling along with Deepak Chahar or Aussie Jason Behrendorff, who has come in for Josh Hazlewood. But essentially, CSK's fate on Saturday will depend on how their batting stands up to DC's bowling. DC squad: Rishabh Pant (captain/wicketkeeper), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, Sam Billings, Shimron Hetmyer, Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Umesh Yadav, Tom Curran, Avesh Khan, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, Ripal Patel, Lukman Hussain Meriwala, M Siddharth, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Chris Woakes, <keyword id="3788898" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vishnu-Vinod">Vishnu Vinod</keyword> (wicketkeeper), <keyword id="128070" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aditya-Tare">Aditya Tare</keyword> (wicketkeeper) CSK squad: MS Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Suresh Raina, Narayan Jagadeesan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KM Asif, Karn Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Faf du Plessis, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Dwayne Bravo, Lungi Ngidi, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, <keyword id="2102949" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="K-Gowtham">K Gowtham</keyword>, Cheteshwar Pujara, M.Harisankar Reddy, K.Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth, R Sai Kishore <h4 style="color: rgb(44, 44, 45);">SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/nokia-x20-specifications-nokia-new-phones-price-in-india/articleshow/81981039.cms">Six new Nokia smartphones announced – price, specifications and availability details you should know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/founders-take-note-heres-why-most-startups-fail/articleshow/81981138.cms">Founders, take note: here’s why most startups fail</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-phone-app-now-lets-you-record-calls-automatically-from-unknown-numbers/articleshow/81982791.cms">Google Phone app now lets you record calls automatically from unknown numbers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/adar-poonawalla-serum-institute-of-india-has-bought-stake-policybazaar/articleshow/81985425.cms">Serum Institute of India buys into IPO-bound insurance unicorn PolicyBazaar, as True North sells part stake in secondary sale</a> </h4><h4 style="color: rgb(44, 44, 45);"></h4>

It's master vs disciple: Dhoni takes on Pant in today's second IPL match as CSK clashes with DC

Former India batsman <keyword id="6363956" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="VVS-Laxman">VVS laxman</keyword> has backed India's present coaching staff to remain in charge until next the 2015 World Cup. The 39-year-old said undergoing wholesale changes just six months prior to the World Cup is not a good move. 
 "I am hoping the <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> will stick to the support staff we had for the one-dayers till the World Cup. The tournament is only six months away so there isn't enough time to chop and change," Laxman said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. 
 "I have worked with <keyword id="19692" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravi-Shastri">Ravi Shastri</keyword> in 2007 when we toured Bangladesh and he is a very positive person, immense knowledge of the game, he was himself a great leader for Mumbai and he captained India in one Test that India won convincingly. I am glad Bharat Arun and R Sridhar got their opportunity to coach at the highest level because they have a good track record at the India A and Under-19 level, and Sanjay Bangar because of his recent success with Kings XI Punjab." 
 
Laxman also gave his insights about India's mixed tour of England and said that important tours such as this will hold the players in good stead for the future. "I have always regarded tours of South Africa, Australia and England as important for a team to become better," he said. "I am sure the Indian players have learned, the way they bounced back showed a lot of character and definitely they will turn into much better players." 
 
Speaking about the current generation of Indian cricketers, Laxman said the players are keen to learn and this was visible during the England tour. 
 
"I know for a fact that players like [Virat] <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/virat-kohli/4001/25007">Kohli</a>, [Ajinkya] <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ajinkya-rahane/4001/32045">Rahane</a>, [​Cheteshwar] <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/cheteshwar-pujara/4001/4106">Pujara</a>, [Shikhar] <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Dhawan</a> take a lot of pride in what they do in Tests and more so in overseas conditions. You've seen the way <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/murali-vijay/4001/4102">M Vijay</a> adapted to the Test series, he didn't play his natural game, played with a lot of controlled aggression. So they focus on Tests and I don't agree that they don't give enough emphasis to Tests." 
 
Laxman also opined that even though the ODI series win against England was a comprehensive one, India still needed to focus on their death bowling and the opening combination to become a force to reckon with. 
 
"In the T20 they gave away 50 runs in the last three overs, which is a lot, so I think these two issues are a problem. Also the way India start with their batting will be important because of two new balls and conditions suiting the fast bowlers," he said. "Luckily for India they are playing a tri-series before the World Cup and that too against the Australians in their own backyard. It will be a good experience for the players to get used to the conditions." 
 
Rahane, who replaced the injured <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rohit-sharma/4001/4095">Rohit Sharma</a> in the ODIs had a good outing with 192 runs in four matches and many believe he can be a good bet to open the innings. Laxman, however, said the conditions in Australia are better suited to Rohit. "The wickets in Australia will suit him [Rohit]. He had a successful ODI series in 2007 when he was young and inexperienced. His style of batting will suit Australian conditions, so I will definitely go back to Rohit and have Rahane as a back-up but play him in the middle order."

Laxman Backs Coaching Saff, Wants Rohit To Open In World Cup

He has been the cynosure of all eyes ever since his savage assault on Kings XI Punjab yielded him 87 runs off just 25 balls. And although Chennai Super Kings lost the second Qualifier, Suresh Raina gave a timely reminder of exactly what he is capable of. Come June 15, Raina will yet again be keen to prove that his consistency is not just confined to the Indian Premier League and that he still remains one of India's best bets in the middle order. 
 With an international cricket career spanning almost eight years, Raina has been through several peaks and valleys. However, his biggest setback came when he was dropped from India's ODI set-up just before the Asia Cup in March following a string of below-par performances in the previous nine months. He managed just one half-century (that too against a poor <keyword id="41570" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</keyword> side) in his previous 20-odd ODI innings for an average under 26. His last four series have fetched him just 291 runs from 15 innings against Australia, West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand with the short ball repeatedly doing him in. 
 In his absence, India struggled in the Asia Cup, winning only against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Raina's exploits in the World Twenty20 a month later in Bangladesh saw him batting in a entirely different zone. He used the warm-up games to get back into the feel of things with an unbeaten 54 against England and carried it into the Super 10s with 63 runs in four innings. Then came the <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword>, where the Uttar Pradesh batsman once again went past 400 runs to earn himself a ticket to Bangladesh, where he gets to <keyword id="1411" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="captain">captain</keyword> the side in the absence of MS Dhoni. 
 Now that Raina is back in the squad, he has a stiff task at hand. Moreover, the absence of <keyword id="17805" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shikhar-Dhawan">Shikhar Dhawan</keyword>, <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword>, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami means he is the senior-most player in the side who has his own captaincy record standing against him. Raina has led in nine ODIs previously, out of which India have lost five - two of which came against Zimbabwe in a tri-series including Sri Lanka in 2010. Back then too, Raina was handed a relatively lesser experienced side. 
 
If one is to examine Raina's graph, his batting has taken a hit during captaincy. In his first series against West Indies in 2011, he averaged a shade over 20 and in the tri-series it was 27.66. He is yet to register a half-century in nine innings with a best of 43 and this is a perfect platform for the 27-year-old to prove his mettle as a leader. A lot will depend on how and where he bats. With an inexperienced line-up in picture, India would want its batting to revolve around him in order to provide resilience and if required, finish the game off for the side. 
 
One thing that is sure to help Raina is the fact that he is coming off another sublime IPL season. He had 523 runs from 16 games at 40.23 with five fifties, becoming the only batsman to score in excess of 400 runs in every edition of the tournament. India can also take heart from the fact that his pep talk with former India captain Sourav Ganguly has helped him deal with chest-high deliveries better. Raina looked fairly at ease in the World T20 and the IPL. 
 The equation in Bangladesh might sound more simple than it actually is. And in such circumstances, where Bangladesh will look forward to pulling off their biggest ever series win against the current ODI world champions, Raina's role becomes all the more crucial. His biggest challenge will be to decide the batting order which is relatively weakened with the exclusions of big names. Cheteshwar Pujara has played two ODIs in Zimbabwe - one was a fourth-ball duck and the other was an awkward 24-ball 13. With Ajinkya Rahane and <keyword id="6405247" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Robin-Uthappa">Robin Uthappa</keyword> likely to open the innings, Raina would fancy batting Pujara at No.3 with the rest to follow. 
 Rahane has 687 runs from 27 games, Uthappa 786 from 38, Ambati Rayadu 243 from 10 and the recalled <keyword id="13829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manoj-Tiwary">Manoj Tiwary</keyword> 251 from eight games. Apart from this, Wriddhiman Saha and Stuart Binny have batted just once for India in ODIs and Kedar Jadhav and Parvez Rasool haven't played yet. All this is far from an ideal scenario for Raina to mark his comeback into the 50-over fray. His bowling unit looks fragile too hence, a lot would be expected of Mohit Sharma (23 wickets from 16 games) and Umesh Yadav (11 wickets in 12 matches) based on successful IPL 7 stints. Amit Mishra too needs to come good and repeat his World T20 heroics. 
 
The task as hand is not as easy as it seems for the free-flowing left-handed batsman. A tour of England is around the corner and a good outing against Bangladesh could do Raina's confidence a world of good. Based on current form, Raina's place in the side seems safe at the moment but with the World Cup 2015 being the big picture, he surely is aware of the many capped and uncapped players that are waiting in the wings.

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