India is a nation of 140 crore people, bursting with cricketing talent. A sport once introduced by colonial elites has now become the heartbeat of the country, producing world champions and turning the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) into the financial powerhouse of world cricket. From Kapil Dev’s underdog triumph in 1983,…
The Indian selectors have announced the squad for next month’s T20 Asia Cup, but the tournament itself remains under a cloud. After the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent tourists at the hands of Pakistan-backed militants, there is growing public outrage demanding that India reconsider playing with Pakistan. The government has yet to…
The passage of the new National Sports Policy in both Houses of Parliament—amid noisy Opposition protests over the Election Commission’s special voter list revision—has sent shockwaves through India’s sporting establishment. For the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), long accustomed to functioning as an autonomous and untouchable powerhouse, this could mark the biggest…
As a former cricketer, I’ve seen bouncers that rattled helmets, but nothing rattles this country quite like the words “India vs Pakistan.” And here we are again — pads strapped on, gloves tightened, and the scoreboard flashing a diplomatic crisis instead of runs and wickets. The Asia Cup 2025 groups are set: India, Pakistan, UAE,…
I jumped with joy — though I must admit, with some disbelief — as I sat in my living room watching the final moments of the fifth Test. England needed just 35 runs with four wickets in hand. Most would have thought it was a done deal. Even I, a lifelong cricketer, momentarily gave in…
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…
