India openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag moved in opposite directions in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after their contrasting performances against New Zealand in the Wellington Test which ended in a draw on Tuesday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is opposed to it but Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Sunday gave a big thumbs up to the controversial Umpires Decision Review System which has not been favoured even by his idol Sachin Tendulkar.
Former India captain Rahul Dravid has said that the national selectors must take a call on whether to continue with struggling Virender Sehwag as an opener in the Test series in South Africa later this year or give someone else a chance.
Acting skipper Rahul Dravid said it was the 'mix and match' strategy in bowling which worked in the team's favour.
India ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will join compatriot Virender Sehwag and a host of other international cricketers for a charity match at the Kia Oval on September 17.
India's injuries worries continued with opener Virender Sehwag struggling with a sore back during the first One-Day International against South Africa in Jaipur, on Sunday.
India opener Virender Sehwag on Tuesday described his blistering 102-ball 146 in the first match against Sri Lanka in Rajkot as his best knock in One-Day Internationals. He also felt that though the Indian fielders dropped a few catches initially, it was the fine fielding effort in the end that took them home.
'There are many players in the team who are senior to me and therefore, I am not thinking on that line,' the Indian opener said.
Recalled opener Phil Hughes has promised Australia the kind of brisk starts which Virender Sehwag so frequently provides for India. Replacing the injured Simon Katich for the third Ashes Test starting on Thursday, Hughes insisted he would not be curbing his attacking instincts against the dangerous English bowlers.
Following India's disappointing performance at the ICC Champions Trophy, veteran batsman Rahul Dravid was dropped from the 15-member squad for the first two one-dayers against Australia. Virender Sehwag makes a comeback after recovering from injury and will replace Dinesh Karthik.
A stunning batting collapse has left India in a precarious position in the opening Test against the West Indies but opener Virender Sehwag says it is nothing to be worried about as the hosts are confident of bundling out the visitors for 150 or less.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly feels the struggling visitors should have played two spinners in the ongoing fourth and final Test against Australia, as the conditions in Adelaide appear "closest to subcontinent".
South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel said on Tuesday the contest between the home side's fast bowlers and India opener Virender Sehwag would be the key contest in the forthcoming three-Test series.
Virender Sehwag would lead a star-studded Delhi line-up comprising the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma when they take on Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy opening round away game at Ghaziabad from November 2-5.
Opener Virender Sehwag registered the second triple century of his career, scoring 309 as India ended the third day in the first Test against South Africa on 468 for 1. The 29-year-old, who also made 309 against Pakistan at Multan in 2004, became only the third player to achieve the feat of two triple 100s, matching Australian Don Bradman and West Indies batsman Brian Lara.
Swashbuckling Indian opener Virender Sehwag has jumped eight places in the ICC ODI Player Rankings after his record-breaking double century against the West Indies in the fourth ODI.
Even though the fourth cricket Test between India and Australia seems to be heading for a dull draw, Virender Sehwag feels that a result is on the cards in the final match of the series at the Adelaide Oval.
Australia spin great Shane Warne picked former India captain Sourav Ganguly as the skipper of his greatest Indian XI. However, the most notable omission in his team was that of former India batting great VVS Laxman, who enjoyed an impeccable record against Australia.
The dashing opener said he would love to lead India in future if given the opportunity.
India, down 0-2 in the series, made two changes to the squad, dropping out-of-form opener Virender Sehwag and pacer Ashok Dinda for Ajinkya Rahane and Shami Ahmed respectively.
It was India's third win in six one-day matches under Virender Sehwag's captaincy and that probably explained his jovial mood at the post match briefing. The stand-in skipper had no hesitation in giving his bowlers all the credit they deserved for the success.
Vice-captain Virender Sehwag is likely to miss India's opening encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Saturday. Coach Gary Kirsten indicated that he is yet to fully recover from a Grade 1 tear in his shoulder.
India's senior trio of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were rewarded for consistent performances last season with nominations in three categories for the 2010 ICC Awards, which will be held in Bangalore, on October 6.
Virender Sehwag is likely to lead India in the first ODI against Bangladesh if Rahul Dravid sits out with a nose injury.
Virender Sehwag exuded confidence about India making it to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
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.
Stand-in India captain Virender Sehwag on Thursday lavished praise on his bowlers for the team's comprehensive 113-run win over Bangladesh in the first cricket Test in Chittagong.
The last time India successfully chased a target of 200 or more outside India was almost one year back - against West Indies at Kingston on May 18, 2006.
Virender Sehwag, who smashed a match-winning 175 in the tournament opener against Bangladesh, was hit on his left ribcage while batting in the nets in Bangalore on Friday.
The Indian opener received a cut on his right finger during practice on Thursday.
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his number one spot but opening batsman Virender Sehwag gained eight places to return to the top-10 in the ICC ODI rankings issued on Sunday.
He was regarded as the world's most destructive batsman in his heydays but legendary West Indian Sir Vivian Richards feels Virender Sehwag holds that reputation in modern cricket and India's chances in the 2011 World Cup will largely depend on the right-hander's form.
India's dashing batsman says the team is training keeping in mind next year's World Cup and not just the tournaments on hand.
Back in the national team after missing the tri-series in Sri Lanka, India's Gautam Gambhir said his opening partner Virender Sehwag's absence will play in his mind but he would take the onus to anchor his team in the Champions Trophy.
Sehwag himself has admitted that Pakistan is his favourite team to make runs against.
India may have flopped in the opening Test against Sri Lanka but opener Virender Sehwag held on to the number one spot, while Sachin Tendulkar gained a place to be seventh in the latest ICC rankings for batsmen issued on Friday.
Virender Sehwag is set to return to the Indian side and play in the Wednesday's tri-series final against Sri Lanka. The dashing opener, who was back in training on Tuesday after resting the previous days, says he is raring to make a contribution and give India victory.
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