Everything happens for a reason in MS Dhoni’s life, even a ban for two ODIs due to slow over-rates. In a cricket-packed calendar, India's wicketkeeper-captain has been on the road interminably, without getting a chance to rest. Where the selectors failed, the match referee Jeff Crowe did not, putting Dhoni out of the action for two matches. Timed perfectly to coincide with his completion of five years in international cricket, the ban gave Dhoni an opportunity to visit Devri temple, about 65 kms from his home-town Ranchi, as a gesture of gratitude to the divine for what has so far been a prosperous and, on most occasions, fortunate career. "He came here to pray for his good luck in international cricket and on the completion of his five years in international cricket," said Amit Panda, a priest. Surely, Dhoni would have also had a word of thanks for the ban – he got a breather while India went on to win both matches comfortably.

Sreesanth has the uncanny knack of attracting attention even when he’s not actually trying. The modified itinerary of the Sri Lanka ODI series meant another stop at Nagpur, which hosted the first Twenty20 international.

But when the Indians returned to their team hotel in the city, they made an unusual request not to be booked on the fourth floor because that was where Sreesanth apparently picked up the swine flu virus which confined him to bed while his team-mates were getting hammered on featherbeds.

The Kolkata-based Telegraph has quoted a senior Indian player saying that the team insisted on being booked elsewhere. Apparently, the floor was later allotted to the Sri Lankans, who may have avoided swine flu, but seem to have attracted a plague of injuries instead.