Indian Cricket Team Updates

Back in Bangladesh for the ICC World T20, India lost their first warm-up match of the tournament to Sri Lanka by five runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three for 22, while Suresh Raina scored 41 off 31 balls in the encounter. (Also Read:  Results: ICC T20 World Cup Warm-up Matches, 2014 ) Earlier, opting to field first, India restricted Sri Lanka to 153 for six in 20 overs. The Indian spinners struck at regular intervals to keep the SL line-up in check. Ravichandran Ashwin picked three wickets, while Amit Mishra and Suresh Raina claimed one each. Varun Aaron, who gave India their first breakthrough by dismissing Kusal Perera, was the only Indian pacer to get a wicket. Mishra then caught Mahela Jayawardene off his on bowling to leave SL on 65 for two. In the next over, Ashwin followed up with the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan without a run being added to the scorecard. And 12 runs later, Kumar Sangakkara was castled by Raina. Ab...

In what was a close encounter between the familiar adversaries, Sri Lanka emerged victorious by two wickets, owing to a brilliant century from Kumar Sangakkara. Chasing 265, the Lankans got home with four balls to spare. (Also Read:  Stats Highlights: India vs Sri Lanka – Asia Cup 2014 ) Needing 44 overs in the last five overs, it was up to Kumar Sangakkara to take Sri Lanka home. With Thisara Perera for company, the elegant left-hander milked singles and stole the occasional boundary. When he smacked Mohammad Shami for a six off the first ball of the 47th over, the pressure was relieved. A guide down the third man and an edged yorker in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s next over all but sealed the deal for Sri Lanka. The century was brought up with a flick (and a misfield by Dhawan at boundary) and off the next ball he was dismissed by Shami, caught by Ashwin. However, it was too late for India.  Before Sangakkara’s onslaught, the Lankans enjoyed more than their fair share of luck...

Images: India v Sri Lanka, tri-series final, Port-of-Spain, July 11, 2013 RELATED LINKS:  India vs Srilanka – Final, Tri-Series 2013 - Report India vs Sri Lanka - Final, Tri-Series 2013 - Statistical Highlights I am blessed with good cricketing sense: MS Dhoni: Tri-Series 2013

He has made a habit of coming good when the chips are down and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels his excellent finishing skills have a lot to do with the good cricketing sense he is "blessed" with.  Dhoni's 52-ball 45 proved to be decisive as India lifted the ODI tri-nation series trophy after beating Sri Lanka by one wicket in a thrilling final. ( Also Read:   India vs Srilanka – Final, Tri-Series 2013 - Report ) "I think I am blessed with a bit of good cricketing sense. I knew I could get 15 runs off the last over, I'm happy that it worked," said the beaming captain, who returned to the team after recuperating from the hamstring injury which kept him out for most part of the series. (Also Read:  India vs Sri Lanka - Final, Tri-Series 2013 - Statistical Highlights ) Dhoni said he preferred to use a heavy bat in the final over of the title clash against Sri Lanka as it was "perfect for slogging".  (Also See:  Images: India...

India have won three successive ODI series/competitions - 3-2 vs England in India 2012-13, ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and the West Indies Tri Nation series 2013. # India, with their thrilling one-wicket win, have recorded their fourth triumph in nine three-team competitions vs Sri Lanka in ODIs. (Also Read:   India vs Srilanka – Final, Tri-Series 2013 - Report ) # India have won three ODIs by one-wicket margin - their first two being vs New Zealand at Auckland on January 11, 2003 and vs West Indies at Cuttack on November 29, 2011. ( Also Read:  I am blessed with good cricketing sense: MS Dhoni ) # Mahendra Singh Dhoni enjoys superb captaincy record - 83 wins, 48 losses, three tied and eight no-result games out of 142 contested - winning % 63.05. His success rate is the highest amongst the Indian captains (minimum ten games as captain). (Also See:  Images: India vs Sri Lanka - Final, Tri-Series 2013 ) # In Tournament finals, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is avera...

Returning to play in the Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 final against Sri Lanka, MS Dhoni led India to the title with a trademark six by attaining the 202-run target. Despite losing partners at regular intervals, the India captain held up one end and struck two sixes and a boundary in the last over to take India to a one-wicket win at the Queen’s Park Oval in a close encounter.    (Also Read:  India vs Sri Lanka - Final, Tri-Series 2013 - Statistical Highlights ) After asking SL to bat first, Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed both openers, but Kumar Sangakkara (71) and Lahiru Thirimanne (46) carefully rebuilt the innings to set SL on course for a competitive total. However, while attempting to accelerate the run-rate, Thirimanne fell to Ishant Sharma. With a foot in the door after Sangakkara’s dismissal, the Indians forced their way to warp up the SL innings for 201. The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja struck at regular intervals, and bagged two and four wicke...

India and Sri Lanka meet yet again, this time in the final of the Tri-Nation Series at Queen's Park Oval on Thursday, amid increasing speculation that Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be back to the lead the World Cup and Champions Trophy holders. (Also Read:  Preview: India vs Sri Lanka - Final - Tri-Series 2013 ) Dhoni sustained a right hamstring strain while batting against the West Indies in his team's first match of the tournament on June 30 at Sabina Park in Kingston and an announcement was made the following day that he was ruled out of the rest of the competition with uncapped batsman Ambati Rayudu being flown in as his replacement. However India's most successful captain ever has remained with the squad, and while there has as yet been no official word from the touring party, his presence on the field in pre-match warm-ups and in full team uniform during and after the final preliminary fixture against the Sri Lankans on Tuesday increase the likelihood that h...

What Final of the Celkon Mobile Cup, between India and Sri Lanka Where The Queen’s Park, Port of Spain, Trinidad When Thursday, July 11, 2013 The Teams India They suffered defeats in their first two matches, lost their captain MS Dhoni due to injury for the rest of the series and then faced a must-win situation to make the final. Since then, Virat Kohli and his young turks have shown tremendous character and skill to overcome all odds and book a place in the final of the tri-nation series. (Also Read:  MS Dhoni may be back for final against Sri Lanka: Tri-Series 201 3 ) The final will mark the 49th India-Sri Lanka cricketing contest since 2009. A superior ODI record against their familiar foes will augment India’s confidence. They might also receive another massive boost if, as hinted by Virat, MS Dhoni takes field. The Indian captain was earlier ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury. Sri Lanka The team from the Emerald Iles has blown hot and c...

India v Sri Lanka, West Indies Tri-series, Port-of-Spain, July 9, 2013 RELATED LINKS: Sri Lanka vs India : Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Report Sri Lanka vs India : Celkon Mobile Cup 2013 - Statistical Highlights