Mahendra Singh Dhoni: Change in fortunes with change in formats for Indian skipper

 

The win against the Dinesh Chandimal-led side, is Dhoni's second consecutive series win after hammering Australia 3-0 in a historic whitewash.

Not long ago, there were questions being raised about Dhoni's personal form, and also whether he was the right man to lead India after the team suffered a 1-4 defeat in the ODIs against the Aussies.

But ever since the T20Is began, Dhoni has rediscovered his mojo.

While the comebacks of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh has strengthened the middle-order, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah have given more bowling options to Dhoni.

Also the fact the the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 will be played on sub-continental tracks, Dhoni has some world-class spinners at his disposal and if the tracks assists spinners, there aren't many leaders who can capitalise on them better than Dhoni.

While he is yet to score a big knock for the team, with everything going his way, a swashbuckling innings shouldn't be too far away.

 

IND vs SL, 3rd T20I: Clinical India trounce Sri Lanka by 9 wickets

 

The win also helped India win the three-match series 2-1 and maintain their numero uno position in the ICC Twenty20 ranking. It also meant that Mahendra Singh Dhoni has lead the team to back-to-back Twenty20 series win following their 3-0 success in Australia.

Hero of the match Ravichandran Ashwin produced a dream spell to taking four wickets in a mind-blowing opening spell after MS Dhoni won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to bat first at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

The 29-year-old spinner, who won the man of the match award, was also adjudged player of the series for his nine wickets.

Today, Ashwin's efforts were ably supported by other pace and spin bowlers. Part-timer Suresh Raina was impressive, chipping in with two wickets, even as Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja produced good spells.

Ashwin thus recorded the best bowling figures for an Indian bowler in T20I. His figures read 4-1-8-4.

Chasing a tricky looking 82, India lost opener Rohit Sharma early, but Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane kept cool and won the match with 37 balls remaining.

The Delhi batsman, who had played a pivotal role in India's series leveling win at Ranchi with maiden T20I fifty, played a gem of innings of 46 runs off 46 deliveries. After bidding his time, the left-handed batsman hit a six and four of successive debutant Asela Gunaratne in the 14th over to wrap up the match and series.

He and Rahane stitched a undefeated 55-run second wicket partnership to make sure India avoid any slip chasing the target. Rahane made a patient looking 22 off 24 deliveries.

The Delhi batsman was the top scorer with 106 runs at an average of 53. He was the only batsman to cross the 100-run mark.

The lone wicket in India's innings was claimed by Dushmantha Chameera. The 24-year-old paceman had a great series, and was the hero in Sri Lanka's win at Pune. He scalped five wickets in the three series, same as India's old war-horse Ashish Nehra.

Sri Lanka's total of 82 was also their lowest total in this format. Their previous lowest total was 87 against Australia, at Bridgetown in a 2010 World T20 match.

Talking about records, it's India's biggest win in terms of wickets.

After convincing wins over World Champions Sri Lanka and Australia, India will enter the Asia Cup T20 as favourites. The tournament proper starts on February 24 in Bangladesh.

MS Dhoni on Yuvraj Singh: Can't promote him over 'extraordinary' Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina

Dhoni has to find a suitable position for the left-hander who is in need of batting practice ahead of the WorldT20 in March.

Despite playing in all the T20Is against Australia, Yuvi had to wait until the third match to get a chance to bat.

"If you see, Yuvi bats for us at number five. Now it is a bit difficult to promote him above five because in top four, two openers are there and Yuvi can't bat there.

"At No. 3 Virat Kohli is batting and Suresh Raina is there at number four. These four have extraordinary record in T20 in India or outside. So it is slightly difficult," said Dhoni at the post match press conference in Ranchi.

Though Yuvraj produced two important hits to help India win the 3rd T20I against Australia, the World Cup winner is clearly not back to his best.

The Punjab batsman failed to deliver in the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka in Pune and came in to bat only in the last couple of overs in the 2nd T20I on Friday.

Dhoni, however, said he would like to give the left-hander more batting opportunities.

"Going in the 17th or 18th over and playing straight away will be difficult because he is a proper batsman who can hit.

He has always found it slightly difficult. So, we will see how it goes. But definitely, I will try that he too gets exposure and batting opportunity in coming matches.

"But again we want to win games and that will be our priority. But we will see how it goes," said the captain.

Ajinkya Rahane continues to occupy Virat Kohli's number three slot at the moment.

It remains to be seen whether Dhoni will promote Yuvi to that position in the decider against the islanders on Sunday.

India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I: Thisara Perera becomes 4th bowler to pick hat-trick

In the second T20I match at Ranchi, the Sri Lankan pace bowler took the wickets of Hardik Pandya, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh of successive deliveries to claim the feat.

After that brilliant 19th over, the 26-year-old all-rounder ended with a figure of 3-0-33-3. Thanks to his exploits, Lankans somehow managed to restrict the innings under the 200-run mark.

Aussie great Brett Lee became the first bowler to pick a hat-trick in T20I, against Bangladesh in 2007 at Cape Town during their ICC World Twenty Group F match.

Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Alok Kapali were his victims.

New Zealand pair Jacob Oram and Tim Southee were other bowlers to have achieved the feat.

Oram took the wickets of Angelo Mathews, Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekara in Colombo in 2009, while his Southee dismissed Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal in Auckland in 2010.

Virat Kohli replaces Aaron Finch as No. 1 batsman in T20Is

According to the latest list released by the ICC, Kohli who had scores of 90 not out, 59 not out and 50 in the three-match series, gained 47 ratings points to move ahead of Finch with 892 ranking points to his credit.

Finch gained 14 points himself thanks to scores of 44 and 74 in Adelaide and Melbourne, but his hamstring injury in game two ruled him out of the final match of the series at the SCG on Sunday.

India's Suresh Raina moved up three places to 13th after his impressive series, while opener Rohit Sharma also moved up four places to be placed 16th in the list.

David Warner, who scored 17 in the opening match before heading to New Zealand for the one-day international series against the Black Caps, dropped six spots to 18th.

West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, who is currently banned by the ICC due to an illegal bowling action, retained top spot in the bowling rankings ahead of fellow Windies slow bowler Samuel Badree.

The latest rankings also confirmed India's ascension to No.1 in the world, while Australia have plummeted to eighth spot following the 3-0 series defeat. The new rankings come as all nations fine-tune their preparation for the World T20 in India in March and April, the sixth version of the Twenty20 international showpiece event.