INDIA IS THE BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR 2008

ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER "SUNDAY" ,INDIAN TEAM HAS BEEN DECLARED THE BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR 2008.INDIA HAS REALLY PLAYED LIKE A CHAMPION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,INDIA LOST THE TEST SERIES IN AUSTRALIA,BUT THEY REALLY GAVE THE WORLD CHAMPION AUSTRALIA TOUGH TIME.THEN INDIA WON THE ONE DAY SERIES IN AUSTRALIA DEFEATING AUSTRALIA IN FIRST TWO FINALS.THEN INDIA WON THE TEST SERIES AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA.INDIA DEFEATED SRILANKA IN THE ONE DAY SERIES ON THEIR HOME
GROUND.INDIA WON THE TEST SERIES AGAINST AUSTRALIA B 2-0 WHEN AUSTRALIA CAME TO INDIA.IN THE END OF THE YEAR,INDIA WHITE WASHED ENGLAND WITH 5-0
IN THE ONE DAY SERIES AND WON THE TEST SERIES BY 2-0.
THIS CLEARLY PROVES THAT TEAM INDIA IS THE BEST TEAM AMONGST ALL IN THE YEAR 2008.

SYDNEY HERALD INCLUDES DHONI AND GAMBHIR IN THE WORLD TEST TEAM

AUSTRALIA'S NEWSPAPER "MORNING HERALD" HAS INCLUDED DHONI AND GAMBHIR IN THE WORLD TEST ELEVEN OF THE YEAR.BOTH ARE SELECTED AS OPENNERS.
DHONI IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM.GAMBHIR'S MARE THAN 1100 RUNS IN TEST MATCHES IN 2008,PROVIDED HIM THE PLACE IN THE TEAM.

SIX INDIAN CRICKETERS IN THE GUARDIAN'S WORLD TEST ELEVEN OF THE YEAR

Six players of Team India, including Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, figure in The Guardian newspaper's World Test XI of the Year .
Apart from Tendulkar and Dhoni, the other Indians in Marks' team were Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh.

NO MATCHES OF TEAM INDIA FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS

AS PAKISTAN WAS RESPONSIBLE BEHIND THE TERROR ATTACK ON MUMBAI,INDIAN GOVERNMENT TOLD BCCI TO CANCEL THE TOUR OF PAKISTAN,WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN JANUARY.SO BCCI HAS CANCELED THE TOUR CONSIDERING THE SITUATION.ON THAT TOUR,TEAM WOULD HAVE TO PLAY5 ONEDAYS,3 TEST MATCHES AND 1 20-20 MATCH.SO FOR THE NEXT 2 MONTHS, THERE WOULD BE NO MATCH OF TEAM INDIA.SACHIN SPOKE TO MEDIA AND SUPPORTS THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT.

INDIANS PLAY LIKE A UNIT

DHONI TOLD MEDIA THAT THE REASON BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF INDIAN TEAM IS THAT THEY PLAY LIKE A STRONG UNIT.EVERYBODY IS CONTRIBUTING.EVERYONE IS ENJOYING OTHER TEAM MEMBER'S SUCCESS.TEAM IS A GOOD COMBINATION OF SENIORS AND JUNIORS.SENIORS BACK THE JUNIORS.JUNIORS LEARN FROM SENIORS.

IF ONE OF THE PLAYERS IS NOT IN FORM,OTHER PLAYERS SUPPORT HIM TO GET HIS FORM.RECENTALY DHONI GAVE CHANCES TO YUVRAJ EVENTHOUGH HE WAS NOT IN THE FORM AND YUVRAJ GOT HIS FORM BACK AND PERFORMED EXCELLANTLY IN BOTH FORMS OF CRICKET.SIMILARLY DRAVID GOT HIS FORM BECAUSE THE TEAM STOOD WITH HIM DURING HIS BAD PERIOD.

GAMBHIR IN THE TOP TEN

Opener Gautam Gambhir's stupendous year with the willow on Wednesday helped him jump 10 spots to 10th in the ICC Test rankings, making him
the highest-ranked Indian batsman in the list. The diminutive Delhi batsman has scored more than 1000 runs this calendar year, including three hundreds in his last four Tests. Gambhir, who made 179 and 97 in the second and final Test against england at Mohali, amassed 361 runs in the two-match series against England at an average of 90.25.

GAMBHIR AND SEHWAG -THE BATTING STORMS OF 2008

GAMBHIR AND SEHWAG DESTROYED ALL OPPOSITIONS WITH THEIR BATTING THIS YEAR.SEHWAG SCORED ALMOST 1500 RUNS AND GMBHIR SCORED MORE THAN 1100 RUNS IN TEST MATCHES THIS YEAR.SEHWAG MADE HIS 2ND TRIPLE CENTURY THIS YEAR.FINALLY INDIA HAS FOUND THE FINEST OPENING PAIR IN TEST MATCHES,PROBABLYTHE MOST DANGEROUS IN THE WORLD.GAMBHIR AND SEHWAG HAS ALSO PERFORMEDEXCELLANTLY IN ONE DAYS AND 20-20 FORMS OF THE GAME.

2008-THE GREAT YEAR FOR THE MASTER BLASTER

SACHIN ACHIEVED REMARKABLE MILESTONES IN 2008.HE BROKE LARA'S RECORD OF HIGHEST TEST RUNS AND CROSS 12000 RUN MARK.HE MADE HIS 41TH CENTURY IN TEST CRICKET AND 42ND CENTURY IN ONE DAY CRICKET.HE WAS HONOURED WITH "PADMAVIBHUSHAN" AWARD.STILL MORE TO COME IN 2009.

DHONI'S GREAT CAPTAINSHIP MAGIC IN 2007-2008

DHONI HAS MADE TEAM INDIA,THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD TODAY WITH HIS KARISMATIC CAPTAINCY.SINCE HE BECAME A CAPTAIN,TEAM INDIA HAS PERFORMED LIKE A CHAMPION IN ALL FORMS OF THE GAME.INDIA HAS WON 7 SERIES UNDER HIS SUPREME CAPTAINCY.UNDER HIS CAPTAINCY,INDIA WON THE 20-20 WORLD CUP,INDIAN OIL CUP,CB SERIES,IDEA CUP,BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY,HERO-HONDA CUP AND RBS CUP.DUE TO HIS EXCELLANT CAPTAINSHIP,AT THE END OF 2008, INDIA IS AT THE 2ND POSITION IN BOTH TEST AND ONE DAY FORMS OF CRICKET.GOOD LUCK FOR 2009.

INDIAIS NOW AT THE 2ND POSITION ON ICC RANKINGS

INDIA HAS JUMPED TO THE 2ND POSITION AFTER WINNING THE TEST SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND,LEAVING SOUTH AFRICA BEHIND.NOW INDIA HAS 118 POINTS ,JUST BEHIND AUSTRALIA WHO HAS 130 POINTS.INDIA SHOWED A GREAT PERFORMANCE IN ALL FORM OF GAMES INCLUDING 20-20,50-50 AND TEST MATCHES.NOW NO.1 PLACE OF AUSTRALIA IS I DANGER.DEFINITELY INDIA IS THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD TODAY.

INDIA WON THE TEST SERIES AFTER THE 2ND TEST RESULTS IN A DRAW

As expected, the Mohali Test petered out to a draw with Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh getting some functional but meaningless batting practice on a hollow final day. Neither got to their centuries and India's declaration left England a hypothetical 403 to win or, more pragmatically, 44 overs to bat.
Ishant Sharma removed Alastair Cook cheaply, but that was as good as it got for India - Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss denied them further success, batting out the remainder of the Test.

INDIA GOT THE EDGE AGAINST ENGLAND

This was a time to boss England, but instead India were forced to scrap. Any thoughts that India had of quickly piling onto to a 151-run lead, taken through Harbhajan Singh's quick strikes on another foggy morning, evaporated in the afternoon sunshine as England turned in a vigorous spell. In an enthralling session between lunch and tea, a disciplined England seam attack removed Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to rattle India, and suddenly the hosts were on the back foot. Sitting on a 1-0 lead going into the final day of the series, they needed a counterpunching innings from Yuvraj Singh to get back into safe territory, ending the day 285 in front with six wickets in hand.

INDIA IN THE DRIVING SEAT ON 3RD DAY

It started India's way and ended India's way. Kevin Pietersen's 15th Test hundred, reeking of swaggering brilliance, had combined with Andrew Flintoff's determination to bail England out of trouble on an absorbing day in Mohali but their dismissals in fading light swung the advantage right back to the hosts. Pietersen blended solid defence with trademark flashes of audacity to steer England out of choppy waters after two wickets had fallen in five balls. Then, in a manner eerily similar to how they started the day, India nipped out two wickets in successive overs, capping a thrilling end to an entertaining day's cricket.

DRAVID RETURNS TO FORM AFTER 8 MONTHS

India's top and lower order piled on the frustration for England on day two in Mohali, building on the foundation laid yesterday by Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid. The duo added India's second highest second-wicket stand during which Dravid ended one of the most publicised droughts in recent memory with a confidence-building hundred, before India's tail wagged. England wrested four wickets for 19 runs in the afternoon session and five after tea to reel India in from 320 for 1, but face a three-day rearguard.

DRAVID AND GAMBHIR GAVE INDIA A STEADY START

This was a day of accumulation that offered little out-and-out entertainment - 179 runs and one wicket came off 72 overs - but one that belonged entirely to India. The gloomy weather, which accounted for 18 lost overs, was lifted by Gautam Gambhir's fourth, and most watchful, Test century and - a sight to please every Indian fan - Rahul Dravid's return to relative form in an innings of sweat, composure and immense character.

SACHIN'S CENTURY GUIDED INDIA TO THE HISTORIC TEST WIN

After all the recent weeks, India couldn't have picked a better moment to create history, completing a famous six-wicket victory in Chennai by chasing down the fourth-highest total in Test cricket. And there could be no better figure than Sachin Tendulkar to mastermind the uplifting success with a century of such serenity that he made the pressure-cooker environment seem like an afternoon in the park. Along with Yuvraj Singh, he added an unbroken 163, sapping the England spirit that had carried them into such a dominant position.
The closing stages were dominated by scenes of a hysteric crowd cheering dot-balls as Yuvraj ensured Tendulkar had time to reach his 41st century. The moment came with perfect symmetry as Tendulkar swept Graeme Swann to fine leg to reach the hundred and complete victory. All the previous times India have come up short in run-chases, and claims that Tendulkar doesn't contribute at crunch times, will be forgotten

SEHWAG SETS THE PLATFORM FOR AN INDIAN VICTORY

For four days this Test has bubbled up and it finally burst into life on the fourth evening as Virender Sehwag pummelled an exhilarating 83, giving India an audacious start to chasing a daunting 387 for victory. Most of this match has been spent marvelling at the concentration of Andrew Strauss, who earlier in the day became the tenth England batsman to score twin hundreds but his innings, as well as Paul Collingwood's resolute 108, were quickly forgotten amid Sehwag's 68-ball onslaught. Rattled, the visitors were only calmed by a late Graeme Swann strike who trapped, crucially, Sehwag.
England didn't quite know what had hit them after Kevin Pietersen confidently declared on 311 for 9 - following a curiously negative afternoon session - as Sehwag and Gautham Gambhir added 117 in 22 overs.

DESPITE STRAUSS'S TON,INDIA IN A GOOD POSITION ON THE FIRST DAY

Despite a fine century from Andrew Strauss, a brace of wickets apiece for Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan reduced England to 229 for 5 at the close although the surface is threatening to break up later in the game. Against the odds England controlled the first two sessions and were 164 for 1 at tea after an opening stand of 118. However, India hit back strongly, led by another outstanding display of reverse swing from Zaheer. He removed Ian Bell with the second ball after tea and bounced-out a scratchy and skittish Kevin Pietersen. Andrew Flintoff did well to survive his early trial by spin and swing, and faces a huge role on the second day with nightwatchman James Anderson for company.
Strauss's effort was a remarkable show of concentration. Barring three short innings during the Stanford week, this was his first knock since the end of the English season. He brought up his 13th Test century off 191 balls, but his dismissal late in the day, offering a low return catch to Amit Mishra, put India firmly ahead on points.

FINALLY ENGLAND AGREED TO PLAY THE TEST SERIES

DESPITE SOME HESITATIONS EARLIER,FINALLY ENGLAND AGREED TO PLAY THE TEST SERIES.ENGLAND REALLY SHOWED A COURAGE AFTER THE MUMBAI TERROR ATTACK.AT THE END CRICKET HAS WON AGAINST TERRORISM.ENGLAND TEAM DECIDED TO GIVE IT'S 50% MATCH FEE.

ENGLAND WILL COME TO INDIA FOR A TEST SERIES

England will tour India for their two-Test series with a full-strength squad after an evening of meetings in Abu Dhabi finally gave the trip the go-ahead. For the time being, however, Mohali remains in doubt as the venue for the second Test, although ECB officials will visit the stadium in the coming week.

ENGLAND CRICKET TEAM IS NOT SURE OF PLAYING IN INDIA

ENGLAND CRICKET TEAM IS WAITING FOR THE WORDS OF THE SECURITY PERSONNALS OF INDIA TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PLAY IN INDIA NEXT WEEK.RIGHT NOW ENGLAND TEAM IS IN ABU DHABI.EARLIER ECB OFFICIALS VISITED CHENNAI AND MOHALI TO CHEAK THE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS

SACHIN SHOWED SOME HOPE TO THE PEOPLE AFTER THE MUMBAI ATTACK

SACHIN FELT A DEEP PAIN BECAUSE OF THE DEATHS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN MUMBAI BY THE TERRORISTS.HE SHOWED THE SMILING MOON TO THE PEOPLE OF MUMBAI INDICATING THE COURAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF MUMBAI.HE WENT TO SEE THE RANJI TROPHY MATCH IN MUMBAI AND ENCOURAGE THE TEAMS AFTER THE ATTACK.