Elated at being named in India's 30-strong list of probables for next year's One-day World Cup, Karnataka pacer R Vinay Kumar has now set his sights on securing a place in the final squad by impressing the selectors with fine Ranji performances.
After restricting Rest to a modest 330 on the opening day, Vidarbha ended the second day at 245 for 6 with Wadkar and Akshay Karnewar (15 not out) holding fort. The hosts still trail by 85 runs.
The domestic season-ending five-day Irani Cup game between newly crowned Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai and the Rest of India, commencing in Mumbai from Sunday, will provide fringe players a good opportunity to stake claims for the national team. The first class match is the last occasion for hopefuls from both ranks to impress the five-member national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil before attention shifts totally to the T20 format, commencing with the ICC World T20 Championships. With the country expected to play over 15 Test matches post Indian Premier League till the end of next season, this match is the ideal platform for these players to strengthen their claims for the long Test haul. Mumbai, who clinched the Ranji crown for the 41st time last week by defeating Saurashtra by an innings, have a settled combination led by wicket keeper batsman Aditya Tare. They appear to be better prepared than the motley bunch of Rest of India, being led by Madhya Pradesh stumper Naman Ojha. However, they would take the Rest of India lightly at their own peril as the latter have a good bowling attack at their command even without originally named Barinder Sran and Nathu Singh who have been injured and replaced by Ankit Rajpoot and Anureet Singh, according to their coach Ashish Kapoor.
'Once you know your car well, then you know to drive the car in the race.'
Reader Girish sent us these pictures from Bangalore.
The Indian selectors retained the same 15-member squad for the third and fourth one-day internationals against Pakistan.
MCA blamed its financial troubles on non-receipt of payments from the Board of Control for Cricket in India for the last 10 months.
Dr KN Lokesh basks in the joy of his son Lokesh being named in India's Test squad for the tour of Australia in conversation with Rediff.com's Harish Kotian.
Rising batsman Cheteshwar Pujara cracked a superb unbeaten century to steer Saurashtra into the Ranji Trophy semi-finals with a five-wicket victory over Karnataka on the fourth and final day of the quarter-final tie in Mumbai on Monday. Chasing a stiff target of 325 set by their rivals, Saurashtra romped home by making 327 for five in the last session of play at the Brabourne Stadium.
Rahul Dravid said on Thursday that he decided to play for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy's quarter-final against Saurashtra on the request of the state side and not from a personal point of view.
Captain Subramaniam Badrinath struck form to make an elegant 143, helping Tamil Nadu reach 421 and then the bowlers grabbed crucial wickets to leave Karnataka struggling at 144 for six at close in the Ranji Trophy match.
Reader Girish sent us a picture of Rahul Dravid from Bengalooru.
The former India captain's double century ensured Karnataka an honourable draw and a point against holders Mumbai in their Elite Division Group A Ranji Trophy in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Skipper Virat Kohli slammed his third double century of the year.
"There is currently an ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation underway in relation to the Ajman All Stars League held recently in Ajman, UAE," ACU general manager Alex Marshall said in a statement.
The BCCI is not happy with his decision to skip the Ranji Trophy match between Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Medium pacers Vinay Kumar and Narvanda Aiyappa shared seven wickets to skittle out Maharashtra for a meagre 276 on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Division Group A tie.
Delhi amassed 538 against Karnataka on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match.
Rajasthan earned three points by virtue of its 64-run first innings lead over Karnataka in their Ranji Trophy Elite "A" Group match that ended in a draw in Mysore on Tuesday
Mohammad Aslam and Shamsher Singh grabbed four wickets each as Rajasthan dismissed Karnataka for 329 and gained a first innings lead of 64 runs
Sunil Joshi took six wickets to help Karnataka dismiss Rajasthan for 393 on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group 'A' encounter in Mysore on Sunday
A brilliant century by 19-year-old debutant Abhinav Mukund, who scored 108 runs, and an unbeaten 93 by skipper S Badrinath, enabled Tamil Nadu score 289 for 5 on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid was all smiles after scoring 214 for Karnataka on the fourth and final day of the Ranji Trophy match against holders Mumbai, which ended in a draw on Tuesday.
Robin Uthappa said 'was innately not happy with something'. It was at this stage that the 34-year-old began maintaining a diary before reaching out for professional help.
Mumbai were 0 for 5 in their second innings before Vinayak Samant rescued them with an unbeaten 51 on the second day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Baroda.
Karnataka all-rounder Stuart Binny said he has "matured" as a cricketer and his selection for the World Cup T20 in Bangladesh has come at a right time for him.
The UP skipper scored 91 to help his team reach a respectable 249 for eight on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka.
Baroda took a 172-run first innings lead against Karnataka on the second day of the four-day Ranji trophy Elite Group 'A' match.
Named as a replacement player for injured Murali Vijay in the Indian squad for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, young Karun Nair said that the call up was a dream come true for him and will boost his confidence.
Skipper Amol Mazumdar scored a dogged 97 before Mumbai were dismissed for 233 in the first innings on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Baroda.
Saurashtra scored 103 without loss in reply to Karnataka's mammoth 570.total of
Virat Kohli showed great strength of character as he played a vital innings of 90 just hours after his father's demise against Karnataka.
The Indian captain said a final decision on his availability for the ODI against Pakistan will be taken by team physio Andrew Leipus.
It is widely believed that the Indian team management was unhappy with Karun's inclusion in the Test set-up.
New Zealand's power-hitter Corey Anderson conjured up an astonishing 95-run knock under tremendous pressure to single-handedly power Mumbai Indians to the IPL play-offs.
Karnataka were 117 for one in reply to Bengal's 331
Captain Virat Kohli has thrown his weight behind India's struggling openers but the tourists' defeat in Perth showed they have yet to find a solution to their top order woes.
It remains to be seen whether veteran Gautam Gambhir can make a comeback to the Indian ODI team after being recently called up to the Test squad to replace the injured KL Rahul.
Tips from the likes of India batting legends Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid during the just-concluded 'A' teams' tri-series, says Mayank Agarwal, will go a long way in shaping his fledgling career.
Their fourth wicket partnership of 229 runs helped Tamil Nadu draw their match against Bengal.
