MS Dhoni (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni‘s impact at Chennai Super Kings has long been hailed for its calmness, loyalty and unmatched leadership — but former CSK star Mike Hussey has now lifted the curtain on a lesser-known side of the franchise: the off-field bonding culture built around Dhoni’s open-door hospitality.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a fascinating revelation on The Overlap Cricket podcast, Hussey said Dhoni’s room effectively became CSK’s unofficial team lounge during every IPL season. Players drifted in and out at all hours, discussing cricket, bantering, sharing meals — and for some, unwinding with shisha.

“Dhoni is just the most amazing guy. His room is available open 24 hours a day. Anyone can go up there and just sit. He has got his lounge room, players just sit around, they start talking cricket, some of them like the shisha, you know, the flavoured tobacco stuff. That is their way of socialising. Credit to Dhoni, he opens his room up — lots of players go up, they bring food up, it is fantastic,” Hussey said, offering a glimpse into the camaraderie that defined CSK’s IPL dynasty.The anecdote echoes former CSK batter George Bailey‘s earlier revelation that Dhoni often hosted relaxed hookah sessions to help younger players settle into the team. Bailey had said Dhoni’s informal approach broke down hierarchy and helped create a sense of belonging — a trademark CSK value over the years.Hussey also shared a surprising detail about Dhoni’s preparation habits: despite being one of the game’s greatest wicketkeepers, he almost never practised the skill in training.“I think the only time I’ve seen him catch a ball was when we wanted to knock in a new pair of gloves. I’ve never seen him practise his keeping ever. But he bats a long, long time — he hits thousands and thousands of balls,” Hussey revealed.With Dhoni set to return for IPL 2026 after being retained by the five-time champions, stories like these underline why CSK players past and present continue to call the franchise a “family” — one built on trust, comfort and a legend whose door was literally always open.

Despite the growing chatter around their futures and the team’s long-term roadmap, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma appeared unfazed. (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Fresh off their commanding win in the series opener in Ranchi, senior pros Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed no signs of easing up as they put in a high-intensity training shift ahead of the second ODI. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite the growing chatter around their futures and the team’s long-term roadmap, both Kohli and Rohit appeared unfazed. The experienced pair trained side by side, facing a barrage of deliveries from India’s throw-down specialists during an extended net session.

Kohli, in particular, appeared sharp and focused, taking on Raghu’s right-arm pace and Nuwan Seneviratne’s left-arm angles with intent. Under the floodlights, the former captain timed most balls sweetly, though a few fiery deliveries from Raghu zipped past his bat — a reminder of the pace on offer.Head coach Gautam Gambhir watched the action closely, positioned between the nets and keeping a keen eye on proceedings.However, one moment drew attention — after finishing his batting stint, Kohli rested both bats on his shoulders and walked past Gambhir without any exchange. Given recent headlines involving the two, the moment sparked instant curiosity.Rohit, who wrapped up his session shortly after, did pause briefly to chat with Gambhir before heading indoors.Amid the buzz, a clip of former India pacer Sreesanth has been circulating on social media, where he makes a clear appeal to the head coach.“Roko ko mat roko (don’t stop Rohit and Kohli). I will just suggest to Gautam Gambhir that he shouldn’t stop Rohit and Virat at all. Until they want to feature in the ODI series, they should keep on playing. Because they are a thousand times better than the ones currently playing. So all the best to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They are brilliant players,” Sreesanth says in the video.Watch the video hereIndia currently lead the three-match series 1-0 and will be aiming to seal the contest in Raipur.

India enter the Raipur clash with a 1-0 lead after a thrilling 17-run victory in Ranchi. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium is buzzing with excitement as fans gear up to witness another masterclass from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Ahead of the second ODI on Wednesday, the star duo gave spectators a glimpse of what could be in store.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!During India’s net session on Tuesday, Kohli — fresh from a sensational century in the opening ODI at Ranchi — looked in supreme touch. He struck a couple of clean sixes off the bowlers, displaying the same authority that defined his match-winning knock.

Rohit, too, was present in the nets and spent time closely observing Kohli from the sidelines, much to the delight of those in attendance.India enter the Raipur clash with a 1-0 lead after a thrilling 17-run victory in Ranchi. The first ODI featured a vintage Rohit-Virat show, reminiscent of their exploits in Sydney, igniting the crowd and setting the tone for the series.The pair stitched a 136-run stand for the second wicket. Rohit scored a fluent 57 off 51 balls, laced with five fours and three sixes — enough to surpass Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record for most sixes in ODIs. The Indian skipper came into the match needing only three to go past Afridi’s tally of 351.Kohli was the standout performer with a brilliant 135 off 120 balls, hammering 11 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 112.50.Watch the video here After a promising start from Yashasvi Jaiswal (18 off 16), India stumbled briefly as Rohit, Ruturaj Gaikwad (8) and Washington Sundar (13) were dismissed in quick succession. However, partnerships between Kohli and KL Rahul — who made an impactful 60 off 56 — and later Rahul with Ravindra Jadeja (32 off 20) helped India post a strong 349/8 in 50 overs.South Africa’s chase began on the back foot, with India’s pacers reducing them to 11/3. A steady 66-run stand between Tony de Zorzi (39) and Matthew Breetzke brought them back into the contest. Cameos from Dewald Brevis (37 off 28) kept the pressure on, though half the side was down for 130.A defiant 97-run partnership between Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (80 off 39) suddenly tilted momentum toward the Proteas, but Kuldeep Yadav’s timely strikes swung the game back India’s way.Corbin Bosch (67 off 51) kept the chase alive deep into the innings, but India held their nerve, sealing the match by 17 runs. Young pacer Harshit Rana impressed as well, finishing with 3/65.The win gives India a crucial advantage as they look to clinch the series in Raipur. Fans now await whether the “Ro-Ko show” continues to headline India’s batting brilliance once more.

NEW DELHI: With both teams taking key positives from the series opener in Ranchi, the second ODI between India and South Africa promises another high-octane contest. The three-match ODI series now moves to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, where the hosts will look to seal the series on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The opening clash in Ranchi lived up to expectations, with India edging out South Africa by 17 runs in a thrilling finish. The spotlight once again fell on the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who stitched a memorable 136-run stand after an early setback. Their partnership laid the foundation for a strong total, much to the delight of a packed stadium.

Batting first, India posted a commanding 349/8. Kohli was the star of the innings with a sublime 135 — his 52nd ODI century — while Rohit contributed a fluent 57. KL Rahul also chipped in with a solid 60, and Ravindra Jadeja provided valuable late runs. Despite a mini-collapse triggered by Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch, India managed to put up a competitive target.South Africa’s chase began on the back foot as Harshit Rana struck twice in two deliveries, removing Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock. Arshdeep Singh then dismissed skipper Aiden Markram to leave the visitors in trouble. The Proteas showed resilience through Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, and Dewald Brevis, who built crucial partnerships. However, Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket spell proved decisive in breaking South Africa’s rhythm. Jansen’s explosive knock and Bosch’s fifty took the match deep, keeping the contest alive until the final over, but India held their nerves to secure a 1-0 lead.As the attention shifts to Raipur, one key question remains — will weather affect the fixture?

Will rain play spoilsport in 2nd ODI in Raipur?

The good news for fans is that weather conditions are expected to remain clear. Raipur is forecast to have zero chances of rain, with temperatures ranging between 28°C during the day and dropping to 15°C at night. According to AccuWeather, cloud cover may hover around 39%, but no rainfall is expected. However, the air quality index (AQI) will likely remain in the “poor” category.With ideal playing conditions predicted, fans can expect a full game — and potentially another thrilling showdown.

India vs South Africa 2nd ODI: Squads

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (c) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv JurelSouth Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Prenelan Subrayen

Rohit Sharma broke a long-standing record, surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI cricket. (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is on the verge of achieving a monumental milestone in international cricket. Ahead of the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, Rohit stands just 41 runs away from becoming only the fourth Indian to breach the 20,000-run mark in international cricket. If he reaches the landmark, he will join an elite club featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar tops the chart with 34,357 runs, followed by Kohli with 27,808 and Dravid with 24,064.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!So far in his international career, Rohit has scored 19,959 runs in 503 matches at an impressive average of 42.46, including 50 centuries and 110 half-centuries. His runs are spread across formats with 4,301 in Tests, 11,427 in ODIs, and 4,231 in T20Is.

Rohit has had a solid run in ODIs this year as well, scoring 561 runs in 12 matches at an average of 51.00, with two hundreds and three fifties, including a best of unbeaten 121. Since stepping away from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup and opting out of Test cricket in May, ODI cricket is now his sole active format. After the South Africa series, he is likely to feature in the ODI series against New Zealand at home.His recent form reflects consistency and intent. During the Australia tour last month, Rohit struck a fifty and a hundred in the three-match ODI series. He carried that momentum into the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, where he scored a fluent 57 off 51 balls.Rohit also broke a long-standing record during that match, surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI cricket. Entering the match needing three sixes to go past Afridi’s tally of 351, Rohit reached the milestone in style and now sits at 352 sixes—achieved in just 269 innings, a full 100 fewer than Afridi.

NEW DELHI: Indian batter Virat Kohli on Tuesday confirmed that he will be available to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy starting December 24, news agency PTI reported, quoting DDCA president Rohan Jaitley.Kohli, who now plays only ODIs for India, is currently part of the ongoing series against South Africa. He is set to appear in the Hazare Trophy for the first time since February 2010, when he played against Services.The 37-year-old scored his 52nd ODI hundred in the series opener in Ranchi, showing he remains in rhythm despite featuring in only one format. Earlier this year, he retired from Test cricket. He had also stepped away from T20Is after India won the 2024 World Cup in Barbados.“He has confirmed his availability to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. How many games he will feature in, that is not clear yet. Obviously, him being around will be a massive boost to the Delhi dressing room,” Jaitley was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.Delhi will begin their campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru on December 24. They will play six matches in total.Large crowds are expected when Kohli features in domestic cricket. Earlier this year, more than 12,000 spectators attended a Ranji Trophy match when Kohli played his first first-class game in more than 12 years. He used the Ranji game to prepare for international cricket. Later, in a surprise call, he announced his retirement from Tests ahead of the England tour.The BCCI has made domestic participation compulsory for contracted players unless they are injured or on national duty.Rohit Sharma, who also retired from Tests ahead of the England tour, is set to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Both Rohit and Kohli scored runs in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. The match was their first international appearance in months after the tour of Australia. Kohli did not score in the first two games of that series in Australia, but hit a half-century in the final ODI. Rohit had scored a hundred in the same match in Sydney.

Harshit Rana during the first ODI cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at JSCA International Stadium Complex, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Harshit Rana, who has entered the India setup across formats during Gautam Gambhir’s tenure as head coach, said he is not affected by claims that he is receiving preferential treatment. The fast bowler said he avoids outside conversations and focuses only on his work on the field, as India prepare for their next ODI in Raipur.Harshit Rana said he does not pay attention to claims that he is getting preference from India head coach Gautam Gambhir, adding that such talk affects performance and he prefers to stay focused on his cricket.

Rana, 23, has made his India debut in all formats during Gambhir’s stint, beginning with the Perth Test on last year’s Australia tour. His returns have been mixed so far, but Gambhir has continued to support him.“If I start listening to all these things, put them in my mind and take the field, I won’t be able to play cricket,” Rana said when asked about criticism, including from social media. “I try to avoid as much as possible. I just pay attention to what I have to do on the ground. I don’t care about what is happening outside or what someone is saying about me. I just focus on my hard work and what I am going to do on the ground,” he said ahead of India’s training session at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur.Rana took 3/65 in the first ODI in Ranchi, taking two early wickets before slightly losing control later in South Africa’s chase.He said he is working with bowling coach Morne Morkel and Arshdeep Singh to improve his new-ball skills.“With the new ball I am practicing a lot with Morne (Morkel) and I keep talking to Arshdeep a lot. I feel that Arshdeep has a lot of experience and he keeps helping and guiding me during practice,” Rana said.On the one-ball rule after the 34th over, Rana said the team checks which of the two balls has aged more before choosing.“You know that bowlers do not get so much help in today’s cricket so this rule is very helpful for us and it is always on the mind to see which ball is getting older. And everyone is involved in choosing that ball,” he said.Rana also said the presence of senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has supported his growth.“It’s a big deal for me and obviously, for the whole team because if such experienced players stay with you in the field and in the dressing room, then the environment of the team is very good.”

Temba Bavuma and Rohit Sharma (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: South Africa captain Temba Bavuma believes that while playing against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is not a new experience, their presence undeniably strengthens the Indian lineup. The experienced duo played key roles in India’s 17-run win in the opening ODI of the three-match series, with Kohli scoring his 52nd ODI century and Rohit contributing 57. The second ODI will be played on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“The inclusion of those two guys that does bolster the team. Like we said at the start of the series, these are two guys who have a lot of experience and a lot of skill and that can only benefit the team. It is not something that we are not aware of,” Bavuma said during a press interaction before South Africa’s training session at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium.

Reflecting on their longevity and stature in world cricket, Bavuma shared a personal memory, recalling Rohit Sharma’s rise as a young batter.“We played against, Rohit… I think it was in 2007, the T20 World Cup, I was still in school then. I mean, these guys have been around, so there is nothing new. These are world-class players,” he said.He added that facing such players is part of the sport and makes the contest more thrilling.“(Coming up against them is) nothing new, we have come across it. We have been on the bad end of it. But we have also had good times against them. It all just makes the series a lot more exciting.”Bavuma also addressed recent controversy around South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad’s use of the word “grovel,” saying the matter required no clarification.“No, I don’t think it is distracting (and) no it’s not for me to clarify,” he said.The Proteas skipper praised Marco Jansen for his brilliant 39-ball 70 in the first ODI.“From an all-rounder point of view, I don’t know where the rankings sit (but) I am sure Marco Jansen, in any one of the formats will definitely be in a top 10… He is only growing into his own and becoming a lot more comfortable under his skin.”Despite the defeat, Bavuma insisted there was little between the sides.“We were 15 runs (17) short of them… India played well, their two stalwarts stood up but we were not too far off.”Speaking about Test cricket, Bavuma expressed hope for longer, high-quality bilateral series.“All of us have been crying for more cricket especially against the top nations… Those are for, I guess, the people in suits, the Cricket South Africa.”With a smile, he added some players might want those longer series sooner rather than later.“Some of us are getting a little bit old, so we’re not going to go too long to make another four match Test series against India,” he said.