Within a week of reaching the pinnacle of success, India's coolest captain will be in the heat of action again when he leads Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) defence of its IPL crown.
Super Kings has been the most consistent team in the competition, finishing runner-up in 2008 and semifinalist in 2009, before claiming top honours in 2010.
The team's 2011 campaign begins at its headquarters when it takes on Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk.
After coming back from the brink to lift the trophy in the previous edition, Chennai will once again be the side to beat.
Core intact
Its core remains intact, thanks to a planned approach to the 2011 auction that sought to preserve the heart of the IPL and Champions League-winning outfit.
M.S. Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay and Albie Morkel were retained in the squad and it is on them, as on Michael Hussey and S. Badrinath, that the batting responsibilities will rest.
The all-round capabilities of Morkel, Dwayne Bravo (a new purchase, formerly of Mumbai Indians, who will be available in the latter part of the event) and Scott Styris lend the team flexibility and the bowling department too will be largely in the hands of imports.
Left-arm Aussie paceman Doug Bollinger will join the team after sitting out the first few games, and Tim Southee, New Zealand's World Cup sensation, will add swing to the mix.
R. Ashwin will look to strangle with his off-spinners, and the other bowling options reside in Joginder Sharma, Nuwan Kulasekara and Suraj Randiv.
Chennai also has in its constitution young South Africa all-rounder Francois du Plessis, who brings with him precocious batting potential, a dangerous leg-spinner and electric speed on the field.
