VVS Laxman was named vice-captain of the 16-member squad for the three-match series against South Africa, beginning December 15.
Deccan Charges captain VVS Laxman told reporters in Delhi that his injured right wrist will take two weeks to heal completely, which virtually gives him no chance to play in the remaining matches. His team's last league tie is on April 27.
It is learnt that fielding coach Sridhar, who has watched Vihari from his junior days, is monitoring his training sessions and also giving him throwdowns.
Praising Suryakumar Yadav, Laxman, who featured in 134 Tests, 86 ODIs for India, said the 30-year-old right-hander has the potential to be a part of the World T20 squad.
VVS Laxman won a bagful of brownie points when he opted out of icon status, and the consequent million-plus paycheck, in order that his franchise could employ that money to buy big players. The codicil was, he wanted to lead the side.
The veteran left-hander played a vital knock of 87 as India ended day two of the third Test against South Africa on 288 for nine, taking a first innings lead of 23 runs. VVS Laxman (50) was the major contributors in the Indian innings while Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were the most successful South African bowlers with figures of three for 60 and three for 57 respectively.
Former India players give thumbs down to Kohli's move to bat down the order. Do you, dear reader, support Kohli's decision to bat down the order? Tell us in the comments section below.
Virender Sehwag's career best 319 against South Africa catapulted him to the 12th spot in the ICC Test Rankings.
The South Zone team will face the West Zone in the Duleep Trophy match at Vadodara from October 20 to 23.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh were on Saturday promoted to grade 'A'.
The veteran right-hander said India's goal is to be the best Test team in the world and that starts with the home series against South Africa. He believes that if India performs as it did in Australia there is no way why they cannot achieve it.
VVS Laxman, the captain of the Hyderabad team in the IPL, said the presence of Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was a big asset.
India is slated to play three ODIs and two Tests in Bangladesh.
As India and Sri Lanka clash in a three-Test series, here's a look at the career records of the Indian players.
The first T20 International between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Sunday was abandoned due to damp patches on the track, with Assam Cricket Association (ACA) groundsmen failing to prevent the rain water from seeping into the covers. The umpires held several inspections but the dampness on the pitch did not allow a single ball to be bowled, much to the disappointment of a strong 35000 crowd at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, which was hosting only its second T20I.
The dropped catch of VVS Laxman in the Adelaide Test was the moment which compelled Adam Gilchrist to decide that it was time quit.
Brad Hogg has made Sourav Ganguly his bunny by dismissing him four times in the current series, but he is eager to take Sachin Tendulkar's wicket on Friday after the unbeaten centurion roughed him up on the first day of the fourth and final cricket Test.
It was touted as a pacer's paradise but a slow WACA has left both the Indian and Australian teams a bit surprised and the two sides say the one-time 'fastest track in the world' is now aiding spinners more than the quickies.
Virender Sehwag on Tuesday evaded questions on the controversial selection of the Indian team's head coach after being pipped by Ravi Shastri for the high-profile job.
After his third successive Test century at the Sydney Cricket Ground, VVS Laxman on Thursday said he had a special relationship with the venue which helped him produce his best on the famous turf.
Paceman VRV Singh and opener Wasim Jaffer have been included in the squad for the four-Test series.
"I had to bat at five or sometimes six and I missed quite a few hundreds because we did not have wicketkeeper-batsmen like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik earlier," Ganguly told TV channel CNN-IBN.
VVS Laxman returned to the top 20 of the ICC Rankings for the first time in three years after his scintillating performance against Pakistan in the first Test in Delhi
Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said the wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a very vital for his team.
VVS Laxman substituted grit for flair as he helped India recover to 228 for six against Pakistan in the first Test.
India went in with two spinners and as many pacers in the first Test against Pakistan.
India will go in with the experience of VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh the first Test against Pakistan.
'With the amount of workload nowadays, it's very, very difficult'
India Test captain Virat Kohli has suggested Daniel Vettori's name for the position of the coach.
VVS Laxman struck a fine hundred to help Lancashire gain a 205-run lead against Warwickshire on the second day of the Division one county match at Old Trafford.
Rahul Dravid said he was looking forward to coaching the India 'A' team.
Bhuvneshwar took six wickets at an economy rate of 4.65 in the three ODIs
Dinesh Karthik was out on 91 as India ended Day 1 in the third Test against England on 316 for 4.
Dinesh Karthik was out on 91 as India ended Day 1 in the third Test against England on 316 for 4.
Former captain and BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee member Saurav Ganguly maintained that skipper Virat Kohli will be consulted over the selection but is not the main person to decide on the issue.
Suspense over a role for former captain Rahul Dravid in the BCCI continued with Board secretary Anurag Thakur saying that his services would be sought at an appropriate time.
Both teams retained the eleven that played in the drawn third Test at St Kitts.
Wasim Jaffer and VVS Laxman scored half-centuries in their return to the Indian team.
