As a former cricketer who has experienced the highs and lows of international cricket, I find it disturbing—if not outright disappointing—to see some veteran journalists and ex-players aiming Gautam Gambhir, India’s newly appointed head coach. Their criticism, often drenched in bias and nostalgia for his predecessors, is not only unfair but also completely tone-deaf to…
I must admit, I was rather provoked into writing this piece for my weekly column after reading Ravi Shastri—former India captain, coach, and one of our better allrounders—name Washington Sundar as his top choice for India’s current allrounder slot. With all due respect to Shastri, I found the choice both surprising and somewhat underwhelming—especially when…
After three riveting Test matches in the much-hyped Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy series, England may have edged ahead 2-1 with a nervy 22-run win at Lord’s, but the larger takeaway is far more heartening—for both sides and for the future of five-day Test cricket. From the outset, this series was expected to test not just skills, but…
By any stretch of cricketing imagination, this wasn’t the kind of theatre Test cricket needed. Day Three of the third Test between India and England had all the ingredients of a classic—except, of course, logic. Or perhaps, a team huddle that didn’t resemble a kindergarten picnic. Let’s start with the Washington Sundar saga. Watching the…
Young captain, fearless squad, and a shot at history By all standards of modern Test cricket, India’s 336-run hammering of England at Edgbaston last week wasn’t just emphatic—it was historic. The victory not only levelled the five-match series 1-1 but also signalled the arrival of a new Indian era led by a youthful yet fearless…
So, MS Dhoni wants to trademark “Mr Cool”. Yes, you read that right. Our man from Ranchi has moved the papers in Kolkata to officially own the tag that millions of cricket fans unofficially stamped on him long ago. As someone who’s shared dressing rooms with hotheads and heartbreakers, I’ll say this upfront—Dhoni has every…
This week, I set out to write about India’s curious knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory—five centuries in a Test and yet, no win in England! But nostalgia got the better of analysis. Especially after remembering the evergreen left-arm spinner, Dileep Doshi. I couldn’t help but slip into memory lane—back to the…
From Langa’s lanes to Lord’s glory, the World Test Championship crown ends decades of despair For decades, South Africa’s cricketing saga was a tale of heartbreak and haunting near-misses. From the cruel rain-rule exit in 1992 to the 1999 semi-final tragedy under Hansie Cronje, the Proteas built a reputation of faltering at the cusp of…
There’s no greater test of temperament and technique in modern cricket than a Test series in England. Swinging Dukes, capricious skies, and relentless media scrutiny—this is the full package. Into this cauldron walks Shubman Gill, not merely as a batsman with a point to prove, but as India’s newest red-ball captain. And make no mistake—he’s…
It has been over four decades since Mohinder Amarnath famously called the national selectors a “pack of jokers.” And yet, those stinging words continue to echo with startling relevance in Indian cricket today. If consistency was ever the defining characteristic of the Indian selection committee, it’s been in its inconsistency. Shreyas Iyer’s latest omission from…
