The flop show of India's senior batsmen in the Test series loss to Australia notwithstanding, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni refused to say anything on their future, insisting that decisions would not be taken in haste.
Run-machine Sachin Tendulkar has been nominated in ESPNCricinfo's awards list for the best ODI batsman in 2010. Tendulkar, who scored an unbeaten 200 -- one-day cricket's first double hundred -- against South Africa in Gwalior on February 24, is among ten batsmen in the list, which includes compatriots Virender Sehwag and young Virat Kohli. India's ever reliable VVS Laxman earned a nomination for the best Test batsman.
Ace batsman VVS Laxman and World champion wrestler Sushil Kumar were among seven sportspersons honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri on Tuesday for their contribution in their respective disciplines.
As Indian team's pathetic show continues in Australia, former players say time has come to remove Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Test skipper and senior players like VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid should plan their timely retirements.
The 'big-four' of India's batting department need to fire in unison to fish the team out of troubled waters if the visitors want to make a comeback in the third cricket Test against Australia, starting Friday at Perth, feels Yuvraj Singh.
Indian batting legend Rahul Dravid turned 39 on Wednesday. As his team-mates wished him in Perth, he must have surely asked for victory in the third Test, starting at Perth on Friday, as a birthday gift.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni preferred to sit out of the three-day match against Somerset, and in his absence Gautam Gambhir is leading the side. Another notable absentee is VVS Laxman, but pace spearhead Zaheeer Khan is playing and his clash with Andrew Strauss is eagerly anticipated.
In good news for India, their bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan and fellow pacer Ishant Sharma appeared to be fit to play in the opening Test against Australia beginning in Melbourne, on Monday.
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor feels India's in-form batsmen have not been tested enough in the past few months and they might find the going tough on bouncy pitches here when the Aussies unleash their young pacers during the upcoming Test series.
Congratulatory messages poured in for the Virat Kohli-led Team India following their clinical win over England in the 4th Test in Mumbai on Monday.
Uncertainty continues to reign over medium-pacer Munaf Patel's availability for the first Test against West Indies at Sabina Park starting on Monday.
There is a school of thought that Dhawan should be given at least the last six ODIs in January against Sri Lanka and New Zealand and then the call should be taken, before the Australia ODIs at the end of March.
'Happy Onam to all Malayali friends .. specially to my friend @sreesanth36'
One short of his 100th international century, Sachin Tendulkar, on Sunday, sought divine blessings when he visited Kali Temple at Kalighat while his fans organised havans to wish him luck.
Statistical highlights of the fourth day's play in the first Test between India and the West Indies at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium, in Delhi, on Wednesday.
Former Indian cricketers lavished praise on senior batsman VVS Laxman for showing "exemplary" grit and determination while leading India to a thrilling one-wicket win over Australia in the first Test despite battling back spasms.
The tributes continue to flow for Rahul Dravid following his retirement from international cricket.
Former Indian captain and under-19 cricket coach Rahul Dravid will deliver the fourth MAK Pataudi Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on Tuesday.
India's most successful Test skipper Sourav Ganguly says the time is not right for senior players to retire and selectors should not force them to quit the game.
Justice D K Jain has now reserved his orders after the BCCI and complainant Sanjeev Gupta also stated that no further arguments are required.
Troy Cooley is considered one of the best fast bowling coaches in world cricket. His moment of glory came as England's bowling coach during the historic 2005 Ashes, when the home team's fast bowlers were a nightmare for the Aussie batters.
England coach Andy Flower feels India's poor performance in the just-concluded Test series should in no way diminish his team's achievement of humbling a side which features some of the most experienced players in international cricket.
According to reports, the BCCI's cricket advisory committee, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, has asked Dravid about his interest in the big job.
In that Test, India beat Australia by 171 runs to become the third team in the history of Test cricket to win a match after being forced to follow-on.
Being emotionally detached from results contributed significantly to the stellar success of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who retired after creating an enviable legacy, former India teammate and batsman VVS Laxman said.
Batting and fielding averages from the recently concluded four-match Test series in Australia.
Australia were on the brink of a series sweep after reducing India to 166 for six in their pursuit of 500 runs for an unlikely victory at the close of play on the fourth day of the fourth Test on Friday.
Already under severe pressure to retain his place in the Test squad, VVS Laxman's IPL career may just come to a halt as none of the nine franchises are keen on roping in the senior batsman as a full-time player.
It is perhaps the last time that India's batting trinity of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman will play a Test in Australia and host captain Michael Clarke paid tribute to the veterans, saying they should get the respect they deserve.
Rizwan had been suffering from intermittent fever, persistent cough, and chest tightness for 3-5 days before being hospitalised.
"I feel honoured as I have been bestowed with one of the most prestigious awards. It is indeed satisfying that my achievements while playing for the country have been rewarded. The biggest honour, however, is the opportunity to represent my country for so many years," said Laxman after the announcement was made.
He might be drawing flak for his flopshow in the ongoing Test series against Australia but veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman has no plans of hanging up his boots just yet.
VVS Laxman's will be the first head to roll after the shambolic tour of Australia as India embark on the unpleasant task of phasing out their ageing stalwarts, local media reported on Sunday.
However, it is not known why former captain and current national coach Anil Kumble, an equal contributor along with these five during Indian cricket's golden phase, has not been included in the felicitation list.
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman lived to fight another day for India in the second innings of the opening Test against England at Lord's on Sunday.
'There is a plan to add a '19 plus' level where all these boys could be integrated'
VVS Laxman should be the first veteran head to roll in a batting revamp if India are to secure their future in Test cricket, several former players have said in the wake of a second crushing defeat in Australia.
# VVS Laxman (72 not out) has recorded his 51st half-century in Tests -- his ninth against the West Indies.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his concern over rising levels of pollution in New Delhi and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take all necessary steps to address the problem.
Veteran Indian batsman VVS Laxman rose seven places to a career-best sixth in the ICC Rankings for Test batsmen after playing two crucial half centuries in the drawn match against the West Indies in Bridgetown.
