VA Jagadeesh

Kerala top-order batsman VA Jagadeesh, who topped his team's run tally in the last Ranji Trophy season with 871 runs, has been added to the India 'A' squad for the second and third four-day games against West Indies 'A.'

India A opener VA Jagadeesh said he has set his eyes on scoring his seventh first-class century and help India A get past West Indies A's first innings score of 406 in second unofficial Test match.

The Kerala squad for the first two matches of the Ranji Trophy season has been announced. Sachin Baby will lead the 15-member contingent. Experienced batsman VA Jagadeesh and allrounder Vinoop Manoharan have returned to the squad.

Jagadeesh (40) and Juneja (43) resurrected India A innings with an unbroken 78-run stand as the hosts ended Day Two at 94/2 against New Zealand A.

Captain Sachin Baby and VA Jagadeesh scored centuries to put Kerala in strong position at the end of a rain-affected day two of the Ranji Trophy Group C match at St Xavier's College ground, Thumba on Friday.

Indian interests were well served by two lesser lights even as the much-vaunted Test trio of Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Pujara failed.

VA Jagadeesh, 35, has played 72 first-class matches for Kerala in a career spanning more than 14 years, scoring 3548 runs at an average of 34. He has eight centuries and 18 half-centuries to his name.

In the last few weeks, Sanju Samson must have been through a lot of mixed emotions. His performances for India 'A' and a record double ton in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Kerala opened the doors to the India squad after a long wait of four years.

The Kerala Cricket Association has sanctioned its indisciplined players by suspending five of them and asking 13 cricketers, including the suspended five, to pay a penalty equivalent to three days of BCCI match-fee for one-day matches, which is approximately Rs 1.05 lakh each.

Sreesanth was replaced as captain of Kerala for 2010-11 season by all-rounder Raiphi Vincent Gomez, though he was named in the list of probables.

It was a tricky surface to bat on and the hosts lost four wickets before lunch,but as has been the characteristic of this Kerala side, they fought back brilliantly through half-centuries from three of their batsmen.

Sachin Baby remained unbeaten on 52 as Kerala reached 163 for four in their first innings at stumps on the opening day of their Group C Ranji Trophy clash against Himachal Pradesh at the Eden Gardens.

Playing the new-ball remains Kerala’s bogey. They failed to see out the morning session on a fresh first-day pitch to get bowled out for 63 on day one of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at St Xavier’s College, Thumba.

Australia-bound India pacer Mohammed Shami is yet to join the Bengal team ahead of its Ranji Trophy match against Kerala beginning on Tuesday.

The hosts clawed their way back into the match as captain Sachin Baby (143 off 211 balls; 14x4, 3x6) and Vishnu Vinod (155 batting off 226 balls; 18x4, 1x6) scored free-flowing centuries in a spectacular display of fighting spirit and dynamic batting.

Karnakata's Abhimanyu Mithun starred with five wickets in their three-run victory over Kerala in the second round of the South Zone Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament on Monday.

Jalaj Saxena (58 not out) and Sachin Baby (51 not out) put together 114 runs in their undefeated partnership to help Kerala overcome a jittery start against Hyderabad in their Ranji Trophy Group B match.

Skipper Rajesh Bishnoi slammed a blistering 75 (36b, 5x4, 6x6) to help Rajasthan rally brilliantly, while chasing 173, and beat Kerala by three wickets, with just a ball left, in a Group ‘B’ game of the Syed Mushtaq Ali All India T20 Group B game, at the Sharad Pawar indoor academy ground in BKC on Thursday. It was Rajasthan’s second win on the trot.

Half-centuries by Jalaj Saxena (68) and Vinoop Sheela Manoharan (77) helped Kerala recover from 155 for six to 291 for seven at stumps against Delhi on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'B' match.

Tamil Nadu gained the upper hand on Friday, reducing Kerala to 151 for 9 after making 268 in the first innings on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'B' match.