Das keeps his sights on Tests

India's new-found opening star, Shiv Sunder Das, has preferred to focus on Test cricket rather than the one day version.

"Tests have given me success, and a firm footing within the team, I'd like to concentrate on that, at least for now," Das said on Saturday on his return from Zimbabwe.

Das's exploits in Zimbabwe with the bat and in the close catching cordon saw him named Man of the Series at the end of the two-Test series.

Relaxing at his home on Bhubhaneshwar's in Tankapani Road, Das insisted that he was not disappointed at not being considered for the one-day series in Zimbabwe.

"I don't like it when people say that my not being picked for the one-day squad is a sign of discrimination," the opener said.

"I've got a break of close to a month, during which I want to concentrate on improving my batting, and my fitness level. Preparation for Tests is my priority just now."

Pointing out that India's Test calendar has upcoming tours Sri Lanka and South Africa, Das told rediff.com: "There is a lot of tough cricket ahead, I've got the time to prepare for that."

Das, who was given a hero's welcome in his hometown when he landed here late on Friday, however dismissed the notion that he was unsuited to the one day game. "The question is not whether I am suited to the one day game," Das explained. "But with the world's best opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly playing for us, there is no real scope for me at this point."

Das said that in one sense, he was happy with his exploits in Zimbabwe, where he scored 239 runs in four innings at an average of 79.66, including three successive fifty-plus scores.

However, he said that he was disappointed at the team's failure to win the series. "I am happy that I was part of the Indian team which won a Test match on foreign soil after quite some time, but I would have been far happier if India had won the series," he remarked.