India dropped Yuvraj Singh for final test against Windies series

Yuvraj Singh's test career stammers again on Thursday when the left-hander, a usual match-winner in one-day cricket, was drop from the Indian team for the third and final test next to West Indies.

The 24-year-old right-hander Rohit Sharma will return Yuvraj in the Mumbai test starting on Nov. 22, Indian cricket board (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

India clinches the three-test series by winning in Delhi and Kolkata. Yuvraj, who turns 30, next month, wasted the probability he got in the series with innings of 23, 18 and 25 next to West Indies.

One of the cleanest strikers of the ball and an lively fielder whose left-arm spin is more than handy in the 50 and 20-over formats, Yuvraj has struggle to strengthen his place in the test side in more than a decade of international cricket.

Active in India's 20 and 50-over World Cup victory in 2007 and 2011, Yuvraj has played 37 tests but never been a repeated choice in five-day cricket.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni sympathized with the left-hander before the team for the third test was announced.

"Yes, he is going throughout a hard phase but it's important to show self-confidence in him," Dhoni said after India beat West Indies by an innings and 15 runs in the second test at Eden Gardens.

"We all know he is brilliant. He has played really well next to all the big bowlers, particularly in the ODI format which means he has talent to do well in test format as well.

"One more reason is that he has been in and out of the side. It's very hard to back yourself. You have that bit of nervousness. It's a bit hard on him. But optimistically he will recover and do well for India," Dhoni added.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Sharma, Varun Aaron.

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India unsighted cricket team arrive in Lahore

The Indian sightless cricket team at home in Lahore yesterday in front of their three-match T20 series against Pakistan, which starts here today.

India captain Shekhar Naik said that holding the series indicate relations between the two countries were improving. “It’s actually nice to tour Pakistan,” Naik told reporters. “I hope this will help get better relations between the two countries.”

Naik added that his team was using the series to get ready for the upcoming World Cup.

Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Nafees Ahmad said the team stands a good possibility of winning the series. “Our team is ready and we have a good chance to win,” he said.

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Cricket: India hush-up series with innings triumph

Pragyan Ojha dismiss Darren Bravo after lunch to activate a West Indies fall down as India claim an innings and 15-run victory in the second test today to take a important 2-0 lead in the three game series.

India dismisses the West Indies for 463 in its second innings eight minutes before tea on the fourth day after the visitors resume the day at 195-3.

India, which had a huge 478-run first innings lead, faced stiff struggle from Bravo (136) and Marlon Samuels (84), before spinners Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin took two vital wickets each to regain control.

It was then left to pace bowler Umesh Yadav to help remove the tail and finish with figures of 4-80.

The West Indies batting lineup showed a new power in its second innings as its free caress play changed the tempo of the game even although it was always destined to lose after being dismiss for only 153 in the first innings.

The West Indies was cruise at 401-4 at one stage before Ojha, Ashwin and Yadav claim a pair of wickets each to choose up the last six for just 62 runs.

"It was a extended fielding session after we got them out happily in the first innings," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "We saw that the track was getting compliment and there was not anything in it for the bowlers.

"I think the first innings was ideal. After that it was a tolerance game. I thought Bravo batted very well."

Bravo was the pick of the batsman and his violence seem to rub on to others. After making 195 against Bangladesh at Mirpur last month, Bravo brings up his second test century in 12 matches.

The 22-year-old left-hander conquered the bowling and reached his century with a four, celebrating by taking off his helmet, pumping his fist in the air and waves his bat on the way to the dressing room.

Bravo earlier survive a chance on 54 when Gautam Gambhir's throw from mid-off went wide of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the batsman approximately at the other end.

Then on 119, he was given not out when replays show a clear bat-pad catch taken by Gambhir at short-leg off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

His fifth-wicket partnership with Samuels made the Indian bowling look walker as they plunder 132 runs off 158 deliveries before Bravo was out caught to a low catch by Rahul Dravid at slip off left-arm spinner Ojha.

Dravid also took a fine one-handed catch to his right off Ojha to release Carlton Baugh for 3, before offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin attentive Samuels’s lbw in the next over to end West Indies' hopes of prolong actions.

Captain Darren Sammy made a stylish 32 off 37 balls with one four and three sixes, but the end was always predictable.

"I'd like to praise the guys at the way they batted in the second innings," Sammy said. "If we put two innings jointly we can pose a challenge to other teams. India showed us how to bat on this track, it called for request. Bravo batted superbly."

Earlier, Chanderpaul, seen as the visiting side's best hope of putting up a resistance, was dismissed when he seemed to be settled in for another big innings.

Chanderpaul hit six fours off 94 balls before he was dismissed by Yadav with the second new ball. Chanderpaul, resume on 21, played-on a release around the off stump much to the joy of the few thousand audience at the stadium.

The final test will be held in Mumbai from Tuesday.

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