Virender Sehwag pin hope on Ravichandran Ashwin

Virender Sehwag has hope that Ravichandran Ashwin, India's best cricketer in the Test series next to the West Indies, will carry on to present well and get more awards in future.

The BCCI had announced Ashwin's name for Dilip Sardesai Award after his series winning presentation next to the Windies.

Appreciating the Indian Cricket Board's choice to award Ashwin with Rs 5 lakh prize money, India's stand-in-skipper Sehwag said Ashwin was going in the right direction.

"It's truly good for him. I am truly happy for Ashwin because he has performed really well. It's good that his presentation is respected by the BCCI," said Sehwag.

"May he get more awards in future? When you get award from the government that's the biggest achievement. Getting a national award like Arjuna or Padma awards is the biggest achievement for a sportsperson.

"I hope in coming years he performs well. I am sure that Ashwin will get those also," he added.


Ashwin picked 22 wickets in his debut Test series, as well scoring a century in three matches against the West Indies and picked up two men of the match awards en route to being adjudge the player of the series.

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India strike West Indies by 5 wickets to lead series 1-0

India hit West Indies by five wickets in the first test to take a 1-0 go ahead in the three-match series on Wednesday.

Sachin Tendulkar cut down short of his 100th international ton but his luminous 76 helped India beat West Indies by five wickets in the first test on Wednesday.

Tendulkar, who reach 15,000 test runs on Tuesday, together his 62nd test half-century as India chase down the 276-run victory aim just after the lunch smash with the loss of five wickets.

India’s run-chase had a solid basis lay by Virender Sehwag’s fifty on day three, and Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman faced every confront posed by the WIndies on Wednesday; however, it was disaster for the swarm as the little master once once more unsuccessful to complete his ton of tons.

After Tendulkar bring up his 62nd half century, all eyes were on him even as strokes came with regularity off VVS Laxman’s bat. Tendulkar reacted by playing a few violent strokes that swelled his score to 76. But he misread the length of a Devendra Bishoo delivery and was adjudged lbw at 76.

Rahul Dravid was the first man to fall on to reduce India to 162/3. Dravid could add only one to his immediately score of 30. Tendulkar and Laxman then combined for a 71-run fluent partnership, which broken with the former’s removal from office when India needed just 43 more to win. Yuvraj Singh and Laxman then took the total to 254/4 at Lunch as India scored 102 runs in the first session off 29 overs.

Laxman finished his 55th half century in the post-Lunch session off 91 balls. It was also his 11th next to the West Indies. However, Yuvraj got out for 18 when India wanted just one run to win. Dhoni then came out to accompany Laxman, who hit the winning boundary to end at 61 not out as India won by five wickets.

Debutant Ravichandran Ashwin was named the Man of the Match for his 9-wicket pull in the match.It was a much-needed win for India, who lost their top test ranking after a 4-0 whitewash in England.

The second Test begins from November 14 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

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Harbhajan Singh in weighing up again

Harbhajan Singh could be back in contention when the Indian selectors meet on Friday to select the squad for the first Test beside West Indies.

The Indian off-spinner was drop from the ODI series next to England after a unfortunate show over the last few months.

Young Bangalore off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, having claimed 10 wickets in the 5-0 whitewash over England in ODI series, has made a bold statement next to leg-spinner Amit Mishra and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Harbhajan, after a poor outing in England had an honest show in the recently completed Challengers bagging five wickets from three matches and seven from six outings in the Nokia Champions League Twenty20.

It is no secret that the most important India spinner has the backing of skipper MS Dhoni and the senior players which is sure to weigh winning the selectors as it leftovers to be seen whether they go for a three or four-member spin attack.

Sachin Tendulkar was advice four weeks rest after a toe wound ahead of the ODI series in England and the selectors will hope that he is fit along with another senior Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag has played a few matches for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament after undergo a shoulder surgery and it remains to be seen whether the selectors find him fit sufficient for addition in the team.

The in-form Virat Kohli after an excellent one-day series will be a strong competitor to return to the Indian Test squad.

Ishant Sharma who had continued a ligament wound in his left ankle during the Birmingham Test, played domestic T20 matches for Delhi and should be back in contention if he had procure a fitness certificate from NCA.

If Ishant is fit, he would lead the attack next to Praveen Kumar as Sreesanth, R Vinay Kumar and Varun Aaron would clash it out for the other slots.

The Test squad would be chosen for the first match next to the West Indies at Ferozeshah Kotla from November 6.

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