VVS Laxman scored a splendid 73 not out as India clinched a nail-biting win over Australia in the first Test at Mohali on Tuesday. Chasing 216 to win, the home team got to the target with a wicket to spare.
The very mention of an India-Australia series would invariably revolve around the stylish-yet-defiant VVS Laxman and his epic 281 at the Eden Test nine years ago.
With two days left and the track expected to deteriorate, the Proteas are faced with a stiff task of saving the second Test. Can India pull off victory and reign as the top Test team? India Abroad's Harish Kotian is at the ground posting updates as they happen. Follow what's the latest from the Test on Harish's MyPage!
Rejecting suggestions that selection goof-ups led to India's humiliating defeat in the first Test against South Africa, chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth on Monday said he is still ready to face the sack if held responsible for the debacle.
Dhoni, who turned a year older Sunday, shook a leg with daughter Ziva in the presence of wife Sakshi as his teammates, in his preferred minimalistic manner.
VVS Laxman heaped praise on current Test skipper Virat Kohli, saying the Delhi batsman possessed strong basics and is a complete batsman in all formats of the game.
Vijay Shankar could well be the 'joker in the pack' if the Indian team management decides to try him
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram reckons that trio of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid gave India's batting line-up a 'monstrous' look in the just-concluded Test series against Sri Lanka.
Statistical highlights on the fifth day of the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.
VVS Laxman's fluent century guided India to a convincing five-wicket victory to level the three match series 1-1 on Day 5 of the third and final Test, at the P Sara Oval, in Colombo, on Saturday.
Images from Day of the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, on Saturday.
India are hoping that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and VVS Laxman will bat long enough -- like they did against South Africa early this year -- and heavens do them a favour by opening up on Thursday to salvage the first Test against Sri Lanka.
India found themselves in trouble despite Virender Sehwag's unbeaten half-century after Sri Lanka had amassed a huge first innings total on day three of the rain-affected first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, on Tuesday.
He no longer plays for Australia, but Andrew Symonds showed he is still one of the most dangerous players around. In fact, he forms an integral part of the Deccan Chargers middle order and he proved that yet again with a cracking knock of 53 against Kings XI punjab in the IPL match in Cuttack on Friday.
Images from the Indian Premier League match between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers in Chennai, on Sunday.
'There cannot be a batsman in the world less liable to panic than Kane Williamson'
Playing at Eden Gardens is a great feeling, and getting 1000 runs at the venue will always remain special," said the ace batsman, after his fluent knock of 143 helped India pile a mammoth 643 for six declared in their first innings on Day 3 of the second Test against South Africa.
Images from the third day's play in the second Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Tuesday.
VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit centuries in a record partnership before India declared their first innings on 643 for six on day three of the second and final Test against South Africa, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Tuesday.
Mumbai batsman Rohit Sharma has been called up as cover for VVS Laxman for the first Test against South Africa, beginning in Nagpur on February 6. The stylish Hyderabadi batsman is yet to recover fully from the finger injury he suffered while fielding during the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong last month.
Stylish middle order batsman VVS Laxman is worried with India's dwindling spin resource and doesn't see a quality tweaker in the horizon.
It was Adam Gilchirst's sensible and aggressive captaincy that changed the fortunes of the Deccan Chargers in IPL-II, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said on Tuesday.
After being ruled out of the second and final Test against Bangladesh due to a hamstring injury, Indian fast bowler S Sreesanth will return home on Saturday.
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed feels the categorisation of Test and limited overs spinners is the need of the hour. According to Mushtaq, skill-wise, Lyon and Ashwin are on par with greats like Saqlain Mushtaq and Muttiah Muralitharan but not best suited for the one-day game.
India opener Gautam Gambhir had his numero uno status intact while team-mate Virender Sehwag slipped a place to sixth in the latest ICC ranking for the Test batsmen.
Virender Sehwag on Friday slipped to fifth position, loss of one place, in the ICC ranking for the Test batsmen but his fellow opener Gautam Gambhir held on to his top position.
VVS Laxman feels the presence of a famed batting line-up and the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium should work to India's advantage even if New Zealand manage to set the hosts a competitive fourth-innings target on the fifth and final day of the second Test in Hyderabad.
Shaken by the match-fixing scandal, Indian cricket was going through a turbulent time at the start of the 21st century when Sourav Ganguly took charge of the team.
Indian opener Gautam Gambhir regained the number one spot but veterans Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman lost ground in the International Cricket Council's Test Rankings, issued on Sunday.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that Ravi Shastri is doing a good job as Team Director.
Images from the fourth day's play in the second Test between India and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Wednesday.
India Abroad's Harish Kotian is at the Eden Gardens posting updates as they happen. Follow what's the latest from the Test on Harish's MyPage!
Both Hardik and Shankar are known to hit big sixes, the former using a bit more brute power with his impeccable timing.
Their number one ranking under threat, India cannot settle for anything less than a win as they go into the second and final Test against South Africa at the Eden gardens today. Can India bounce back and square the series? India Abroad's Harish Kotian is at the ground posting updates as they happen. Follow what's the latest from the Test on Harish's MyPage!
Kerala pacer S Sreesanth, ruled out of the first Test against South Africa following a hamstring tear against Bangladesh in Chittagong last month, declared he is fully fit and ready to take on the Proteas.
Virat Kohli's current and former team mates congratulated the newly-married couple.
England, set a massive target of 628 in their second innings, were 56 without loss at stumps on day three, a tidy start but still facing the daunting prospect of surviving two more days in Bridgetown.
Senior Indian batsman VVS Laxman will return home after a hand injury ruled him out of the second and final Test against Bangladesh starting on Sunday in Dhaka.
The cricketing fraternity took to Twitter to react to the roller coaster finale following an eventful IPL season which produced some unprecedented moments on the field.
The high-profile cricket advisory committee will submit its final report on the appointment of the new coach at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's working committee meeting in Dharamsala on Friday.
