Moving to the No. 1 place in Test Cricket, the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni described the status as a dream come true. He also conceded that it would be a tough job to maintain the top slot.

After the team swamped Sri Lanka by an innings in the third Test to win the series 2-0 and become the world’s best Test team, Dhoni said, “It was a dream come true. But what we actually do is to try and play every game well and ratings take care of themselves. It was a constant process for the last 18 months. Whatever Test cricket we have played we have played really well. I think it’s a team effort.”

“It’s a bit of a concern we are playing only two Test matches in the next six months. It will be tough for us to maintain this top position. At the same time we have done something remarkable. We would celebrate the feat rather than thinking about anything else. At the moment we would like to just be with the achievement, which is because of the whole team,” he said.

Dhoni felt the side was blessed in its journey to the top by the fact that more or less the same cricketers played for the last some months without injuries.

Dhoni felt the dressing room atmosphere also contributed a lot to the achievements on the field.

Indian opener Virender Sehwag who broke a number of records on his way to the huge 293 runs in the third test topped the batting charts with 491 runs from three matches with an average of 122.75.

Sehwag was declared man of the match and player of the series.

Rahul Dravid took the overall second place in the batting chart with 433 runs from same three matches with an average of 108.25.

Harbhajan Singh who claimed 13 wickets from three matches but conceded 533 runs. Zaheer Khan took 10 wickets while Sreesanth and Pragyan Ojha made 8 and 9 wickets rom two matches each.

Related posts

• Delhi Daredevils Vs Mumbai Indians: Sehwag back in form (0)
• Dhoni is a ‘Successful Captain’ without loss (0)
• IPL Best Performers – Delhi Vs Chennai (0)
• I belong to Middle order says Sehwag (0)
• Match 20: India Vs England: Wil Dhoni make miracle happen (0)

As the day one ended for Sri Lanka with 366/8, the day 2 began with a weak performance and were all out for 393 and left India to take over the ground.

The Indian opening duo Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay stood steadily making the Lankan team suffer under the sun. Vijay made 87 runs before he was bowled by Herath. Sehwag was quick with runs and made 100 runs from 101 balls like in ODI’s.

Dravid gave a strong hand to Sehwag after Vijay. Dravid remained unbeaten with 62 runs.

Statistics:

• Rahul Dravid, with an unbroken double century stand with Virender Sehwag, became the first batsman to be involved in 80 century stands of 100 or more.
• Dravid and Sehwag shared an unbroken second-wicket stand of 222 for the second wicket, India’s second best against Sri Lanka, next only to the 232 between S Ramesh and Dravid at Colombo SSC in 1998-99.
• With two double century partnerships for the first and second wickets, Sehwag now shares 10 such stands in Tests. His tally includes an Indian record of six stands for the first wicket.
• Sehwag’s third hundred against Sri Lanka is his 17th Test century in Tests – his ninth at home.
• Sehwag has registered his double century in 168 balls and his feat is the second fastest in Test records. Nathan Astle holds a world record, reaching the double century off just 153 balls against England at Christchurch in 2001-02.
• Virender Sehwag has reached his 250 off 207 balls, bettering his own record off reaching the feat off 225 balls against South Africa during his triple century (319) in the 2007-08 Chennai Test.
• Sehwag became the first batsman to make 200 runs in a day three times for India.
• During the course of his unbeaten double hundred, Sehwag has become the ninth Indian batsman to aggregate 6,000 runs or more in Tests.
• With 284 runs in a day’s play, Sehwag has established an Indian record for most runs in a day’s play – the third best in Test records – Australia’s Don Bradman (309) is the only one to make 300 runs in a day’s play against England at Leeds in 1930, followed by 295 by England’s Wally Hammond against New Zealand at Auckland in 1932-33.
• Sehwag’s distinction of completing 6,000 runs in 123 innings is the third fastest by an Indian player, next only to the 117 innings taken by Sunil Gavaskar and 120 by Sachin Tendulkar.
• Sehwag, for the first time, has registered seven sixes in an innings and became the first Indian to reach a tally of 75 sixes.
• Virender Sehwag’s unbeaten 284 off 239 balls is the highest individual innings by an Indian batsman against Sri Lanka, outstripping his own record of 201 not out at Galle in 2008.
• Sehwag is the only Indian batsman to register two double hundreds against Sri Lanka.
• Sehwag’s outstanding knock of 284 not out is the third best against Sri Lanka, next only to the 313 by Younis Khan for Pakistan at Karachi in February this year and 299 by Martin Crowe (New Zealand) at Wellington in January/ February 1991.
• Sehwag’s aforesaid innings is the highest by any batsman at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. The first two batsmen to make double hundreds at this venue are – Vinoo Mankad – 223 against New Zealand in 1955-56 and Dilip Sardesai – 200 not out against New Zealand in 1964-65.
• Sehwag’s knock included 40 fours and seven sixes which means 202 runs through boundaries. He is the first Indian batsman to make 200 runs through boundaries. Sehwag surpassed his own record of 198 (42 fours and five sixes) during his innings of 319 against South Africa at Chennai in 2007-08.
• Sehwag has now recorded four innings of 250-plus – a tally exceeded only by Sir Donald Bradman (5).
• India (443) have posted their highest total in a day’s play, eclipsing the 417 for the loss of two wickets on the first day of the Kanpur Test against Sri Lanka last week.
• Angelo Matthews became the 14th batsman and the second Sri Lankan after Mahela Jayawardene (vs. West Indies at Galle in 2001-02) to be dismissed on 99 (run out).
• Matthews became the first batsman to be dismissed on 99 in a Test match for Sri Lanka against India. Overall, Matthews is the third Sri Lankan after Russell Arnold (vs. Pakistan) and Mahela Jayawardene (vs. West Indies) to miss a Test hundred by one run.
• Vijay (87) has posted his highest innings – his first fifty in Tests.
• Pragyan Ojha (3/101) has registered his best bowling performance in Tests.

Related posts

• Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils: Delhi won toss, opt to bowl out (0)
• Compaq Cup: Match 3: India struggling (0)
• Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers: Another chance for Chennai to prove (0)
• Royal Challengers vs Deccan Chargers: RC hope to bounce back (0)
• Delhi Daredevils Vs Rajasthan Royals: Struggling Royals take on Delhi devils (0)

The first test between India and Sri Lanka began at Ahmedabad today. India won the toss and chose to bat first.

The top order collapsed with Gambhir (1) and Sehwag (16) returning back to the pavillion within 7 overs. Both their wickets were taken by Chanaka Welegedara.

Even Sachin Tendulkar (4) fell for the bowling attack of Welegedara.

The ‘Wall of Indian Team’ Rahul Dravid stood till the end of the first day scoring 177 runs with 26 fours and 1 six. Laxman was bowled by Dammika Prasad and Yuvraj (68) tried helping Dravid but was caught by Dilshan.

Indian skipper completed his 2nd test century with 110 runs when he was bowled by Prasad and caught by Jayawardene.

At the end of day one, India stood at 385/6 with Harbhajan Singh (2 not out) and Rahul Dravid (177 not out) at the crease.

Related posts

• Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab: Yuvraj’s loss is Bangalore’s gain (0)
• Gambir powered India (0)
• In pics: Compaq Cup Finals (1)
• Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mumbai Indians: Mumbai opens with a struggling start (0)
• Royal Challengers Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Challengers bounce back (0)

BCCI selectors today announced a 15-member squad for the first two matches upcoming ODI series against Australia. Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh have been included in the team while Rahul Dravid has been left out.

Yuvraj will have to clear a fitness test on October 25 to get the final affiliation.

Uttar Pradesh tall Fast bowler Sudeep Tyagi is the new face in the team, while Ravindra Jadeja and Munaf Patel have been recalled.

Not just Rahul Dravid but also Yusuf Pathan, Dinesh Karthik, Abhishek Nayar and RP Singh have been dropped from the team. The selectors yet again ignored Pragyan Ojha and Irfan Pathan, while they again reposed faith on Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra.

BCCI also sacked the team’s bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh with out giving any proper reason.

Related posts

• NZ Vs India Second test Preview (0)
• Delhi Daredevils Vs Rajasthan Royals: Delhi won by 14 runs (0)
• 8 Indian players issued show-cause notice (0)
• ICC Annual Awards: List of Short-listed nominees (0)
• Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians: Mumbai won by 98 runs (4)

India won the battle in the finals of the tri-nation Compaq Cup in Premadasa Stadium here. After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and scored 319/5 from 50 overs. The hosts had a huge target to chase. Sri Lanka lost the opening batting power in the beginning with wickets falling to Harbhajan Singh and when Kandamby tried to steal the show from India, Harbhajan was back to take his wicket. Finally the host lost to India after a good struggle that lasted till their 46.4 overs. They scored 273 and India won the Compaq Cup by 46 runs.

From India’s side, Sachin Tendulkar top scored with 138 runs followed by Yuvraj Singh (56 not out) and MS Dhoni (56). Thushara slammed 2 wickets from India’s side but it was Harbhajan Singh who smashed the Lankan team with his excellent bowling and obtained 5 wickets.

Man of the Match as well as Man of the Series was awarded to Sachin Tendulkar.

Scoreboard:

India innings (50 overs maximum)

R Dravid c Dilshan b Jayasuriya 39(56)

SR Tendulkar lbw b Mendis 138(133)

MS Dhoni c Kandamby b Malinga 56(62)

Yuvraj Singh not out 56(41)

YK Pathan c Kapugedera b Thushara 0(1)

SK Raina c Kulasekara b Thushara 8(6)

V Kohli not out 2(2)

Extras (b 1, w 18, nb 1) 20

Total (5 wickets; 50 overs) 319

Fall of wickets:1-95 (Dravid, 17.2 ov), 2-205 (Dhoni, 36.3 ov), 3-276 (Tendulkar, 45.6 ov), 4-277 (Pathan, 46.4 ov), 5-302 (Raina, 48.3 ov)

Bowling:Kulasekara:8-0-38-0-4.75, Thushara:10-0-71-2-7.10, Malinga:10-0-81-1-8.10, Mendis:10-0-70-1-7.00, Jayasuriya:9-0-43-1-4.77, Mathews:3-0-15-0-5.00

Sri Lanka innings (target: 320 runs from 50 overs)

T Dilshan b Harbhajan Singh 42(29)

S Jayasuriya c Nehra b Pathan 36(29)

M Jayawardene c & b Harbhajan Singh 1(5)

K Sangakkara hit wicket b Singh 33(37)

T Thushara b Sharma 15(14)

A Mathews c Raina b Yuvraj Singh 14(11)

T Kandamby b Harbhajan Singh 66(94)

C Kapugedera c Dhoni b Raina 35(42)

N Kulasekara not out 9(9)

L Malinga c & b Harbhajan Singh 0(1)

A Mendis st Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh   7(10)

Extras (lb 3, w 11, nb 1) 15

Total (10 wickets; 46.4 overs) 273 (5.85 runs per over)

Fall of wickets:1-64 (Dilshan, 7.5 ov), 2-76 (Jayawardene, 9.4 ov), 3-85 (Jayasuriya, 10.6 ov), 4-108 (Thushara, 14.3 ov), 5-131 (Mathews, 17.3 ov), 6-182 (Sangakkara, 27.3 ov), 7-252 (Kapugedera, 42.3 ov), 8-264 (Kandamby, 44.3 ov), 9-264 (Malinga, 44.4 ov), 10-273 (Mendis, 46.4 ov)

Bowling: Nehra:7-0-43-0-6.14, I Sharma:7-0-51-1-7.28, RP Singh:5-0-34-1-6.80, Harbhajan Singh:9.4-0-56-5-5.79, Y Pathan:4-0-36-1-9.00, Yuvraj Singh:6-0-24-1-4.00, S Raina:8-0-26-1-3.25

Related posts

• Compaq Cup: 1st Match: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Sri Lanka won by 97 runs (0)
• Sachin meets Saraswathi Vaidyanathan his seniormost fan (0)
• 1st Test: England Vs Australia (0)
• Younis fit for India’s match (0)
• Super Kings emerge DLF IPL 3 Champions (2)

India seems to be struggling to chase a huge total of 307 as they have been losing wickets since beginning. They are also struggling to stand and maintain partnerships.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka innings(50 overs maximum)

TM Dilshan c Dhoni b Sharma 23

ST Jayasuriya lbw b Nehra 98

DPM Jayawardene st Dhoni b Pathan 17

KC Sangakkara lbw b Harbhajan Singh 5

AD Mathews st Dhoni b Raina 19

SHT Kandamby not out 91

CK Kapugedera run out (Singh) 36

KMDN Kulasekara not out 3

Extras (lb 4, w 10, nb 1) 15

Total (6 wickets; 50 overs) 307 (6.14 runs per over)

Fall of wickets:1-57, 2-94, 3-102, 4-172, 5-176, 6-259

Bowling:A Nehra:9-0-62-1-6.88,RP Singh:8-0-58-0-7.25,I Sharma:10-0-67-1-6.70,Harbhajan Singh:10-1-37-1-3.70,YK Pathan:7-0-45-1-6.42,Yuvraj Singh:3-0-20-0-6.66,SK Raina:3-0-14-1-4.66

India innings (target: 308 runs from 50 overs)

KD Karthik c Sangakkara b Thushara 16

SR Tendulkar c Mendis b Kulasekara 27

R Dravid not out 35

Yuvraj Singh c Sangakkara b Malinga 16

SK Raina c Sangakkara b Mathews   0

MS Dhoni not out 0

Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 11) 13

Total (3 wickets; 20.2 overs) 107 (5.26 runs per over)

To bat: YK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, A Nehra, I Sharma

Fall of wickets:1-32, 2-67, 3-105, 3-105

Bowling:KMDN Kulasekara:8-1-35-1-4.37,T Thushara:5-0-29-1-5.80,SL Malinga:5-0-22-1-4.40,TM Dilshan:2-0-17-0-8.50,AD Mathews:0.2-0-2-0-6.00

Related posts

• Sachin and Zaheer out of West Indies tour (0)
• Royal Challengers Vs Rajasthan Royals: RC won toss, opt to bat (0)
• Sachin meets Saraswathi Vaidyanathan his seniormost fan (0)
• India at 252/2 at stumps on day 4 (0)
• Gambir powered India (0)

India beat New Zealand by 6 wickets in the Compaq Cup match played at Sri Lanka. With this Kiwis are out of the Sri Lanka tri-series.

New Zealand Daniel vettori won the toss and opted to bat first. But they lost wickets since the beginning and unable to handle Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra, Kiwis were bowled out for 155 in 46.3 overs. Skipper Daniel Vettori top scored with 25, while Jacob Oram contributed 24.

With an easy total, India started to chase but lost Dinesh Karthik in the beginning. Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid did stand for sometime and Sachin top scored for India with 46. Following him it was Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina who completed the match with 35 and 45 runs not out.

Ashish Nehra was adjudged man of the match for 3/24.

Related posts

• Kings XI Punjab Vs Mumbai Indians: Bravo keeps Mumbai hopes alive (0)
• Chennai Kings Vs Punjab Kings: Dhoni upset with Chennai fielding (0)
• Dhoni insured for $10.5 mn (0)
• Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals: A battle between Sachin and Warne (0)
• 8 Indian players issued show-cause notice (0)

After a long break, the Indian Cricket team has headed for a four day conditioning camp at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Coach Gary Kirsten and trainer Ramji Srinivasan will over take the conditioning camp.

Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Harbhajan Singh were tuning themselves for the upcoming tri-series which will be played between India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand from Sept 8 to 14, 2009.

Related posts

• India vs Sri Lanka: Sehwag smashes to create history (0)
• Kings XI Punjab Vs Mumbai Indians: Kings meet Indians (0)
• Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings (1)
• India vs Sri Lanka: India take 1st place in Test cricket (0)
• I belong to Middle order says Sehwag (0)

Former Indian Cricket Captain Rahul Dravid makes a return to India’s ODI team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka and for the Champions Trophy next month. Rahul Dravid replaced Rohit Sharma, who managed 15 runs in three ODI innings in the West Indies and 43 runs in three innings against major opposition in the World Twenty20.

Also the selectors did not want to take risk including Virender Sehwag, who is yet to recover fully from his shoulder injury. He was not expected to make it to the Sri Lanka tri-series and now has been left out for the Champions Trophy as well.

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid who have made a come back to the ODI squad

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who opted out of the West Indies series, makes a comeback. Suresh Raina, who was out because of a hairline fracture of the thumb, also returns. Amit Mishra makes it into the ODI squad, replacing Pragyan Ojha as the back-up spinner to Harbhajan Singh. Dinesh Karthik and Abhishek Nayar have retained their places.

India’s ODI squad: Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, and Abhishek Nayar

Related posts

• Match 1: England Vs Netherlands: Netherland upsets England in the opener (0)
• India Vs Australia: India hit by injuries (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals: Badrinath, Hayden lead to Chennai victory (0)
• Crowe criticizes Sehwag (0)
• Top Shots to perform on IPL Grand Finale (0)

Rahul Dravid finds himself back in the ODI reckoning after the former captain was named in India’s 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy on Monday.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee met to pick the 30 probables for the elite top-eight tournament to be held in South Africa during September 2009, however decided to ignore the likes of Irfan Pathan and Robin Uthappa.

A veteran of 333 ODIs, Dravid has not featured in India’s ODI squad since playing his last one dayer against Australia in Nagpur in 2007.

Senior cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who had opted out of the just-concluded West Indies tour, returns to the side as do the injured duo of Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan.

Hard-hitting Delhi batsman Virat Kohli, Bengal stumper Wriddhiman Saha, Tamil Nadu’s R Ashwin and Murali Vijay also found a place in the list of probables.

UP pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rajasthan medium pacer Pankaj Singh and the Mumbai duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni also found mention in the list.

Probables:

MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, R P Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, M Vijay, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, Wridhiman Saha and Pankaj Singh

Related posts

• Chennai Super Kings Vs Kings XI Punjab: Clash between Kings (0)
• IPL Best Performers – Delhi Vs Chennai (0)
• Tit-Bits : India Vs New Zealand, 2nd Test @ Napier (0)
• Match 1: West Indies Vs India: India Won by 20 runs (0)
• Sachin is the greatest batsman : Hadlee (0)