Bangalore, India - Virender Sehwag's 319 in the first Test of the just-concluded series against South Africa has taken him to the top spot in the CASTROL Cricket Rating for the year 2008. Sehwag, who capped a memorable comeback to the Indian team on the tour of Australia with an innings of 151 in the final Test, went on to become only the third batsman
in Test history after Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara to score two triples in Test cricket after his triple century during the Chennai test match against South Africa.

Sehwag currently leads the rating with 57 points. At second place in the CASTROL Rating is Ishant Sharma, the find of the Australian tour. He has 49 points to his credit. India missed him in the first two Tests against the Proteas, but he made up for his absence with critical strikes at Kanpur.

Not very far behind Ishant are two individuals, who have distinguished themselves in varying roles in the recent past. Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni occupy the third and fourth spots with 48 and 46 points respectively.

For the fifth spot there is a tie between batting mastero Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, who won the man of the series during the just concluded South African series with 45 points.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT :

Mr. R. MURALI
M/s. I P A N
Bangalore, India
E-Mail : R.Murali@ipan.com