Having followed cricket for more than six decades, I sometimes find the logic of today’s game rather confusing. The game has certainly evolved, and there is nothing wrong with innovation. But innovation should not mean abandoning the basic principles that have made successful cricket teams successful for generations. I have had the privilege of watching…
There is no question that Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the most exciting young batting talents in Indian cricket. Which is precisely why his behaviour after being dismissed in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo should be a matter of concern—not something to be dismissed as “passion” or “aggression”. Jaiswal had battled his…
Watching Bharat’s ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, I cannot help asking a rather uncomfortable question: is this really the best way for Bharat to construct a Test team? I have nothing against Rishabh Pant. He is an exceptional cricketer and, on his day, can change the complexion of a Test match. But when Pant…
The recent struggles of the Indian cricket team have inevitably revived an old but important question: what exactly is the role of a coach in a senior international cricket team, and how much influence should he actually have over a group of experienced players? This is not about questioning the credentials of Gautam Gambhir or…
As someone who has spent most of my life following cricket with unmatched passion, I never imagined that athletics, boxing, wrestling or long-distance running would one day command my attention with the same excitement. Yet, the recently concluded Glasgow Commonwealth Games made me rethink my own sporting preferences. Like many sports lovers, I too wondered…
Indian cricket has often been projected as a global powerhouse. The success of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the depth of talent in domestic cricket, and India’s financial dominance in the sport have only strengthened that perception. But whenever India tours overseas, particularly England, Australia or South Africa, uncomfortable questions resurface. Are we truly a…
India’s unprecedented clean sweep of five gold medals at the 2026 International Physics Olympiad in Colombia is much more than an academic triumph. It is a reflection of a larger national transformation—one built on planning, investment, institutional support and the belief that excellence is cultivated, not stumbled upon. The same story has unfolded on India’s…
Maheshwar Singh The Hyderabad Cricket Association’s decision to appoint former India Test opener Wasim Jaffar as head coach is, at first glance, a welcome development. More importantly, it reflects an uncomfortable reality—that many former Hyderabad cricketers who once brought immense glory to the state have, over the years, lost the confidence of the cricketing fraternity…
I have never believed in blaming individuals. Administrators come and go. Selectors change. Office-bearers change. But if a system continues to produce the same injustice decade after decade, then it is the system that deserves to be questioned. My question is simple. Why is genuine rural talent from Telangana still treated as an afterthought? I…
Watching England play New Zealand recently was, frankly, a disappointing experience. For a nation once revered as the undisputed home of cricket, England’s current plight reflects a worrying decline in standards. There was a time when playing county cricket in England was considered the ultimate finishing school for cricketers across the world. International stars from…
