Author: Bharath Ramaraj

As the blazing sun started to slowly fade away, Sri Lanka’s players returned in groups after having a net at the ICC academy in Dubai. Snehasis Mukherjee, my colleague, and I, had our eyes zoomed in on whether Chamari Athapaththu would be one of them. Around 15-20 minutes went by and there was still no sign of the captain. After a while, Chamari and Rumesh Ratnayake, Sri Lanka’s coach, made their way out of the academy. It gave an indication that the captain and coach must have had a rather lengthy discussion over their next game against India. The Asia…

As the blazing sun started to slowly fade away, Sri Lanka’s players returned in groups after having a net at the ICC academy in Dubai. Snehasis Mukherjee, my colleague, and I, had our eyes zoomed in on whether Chamari Athapaththu would be one of them. Around 15-20 minutes went by and there was still no sign of the captain. After a while, Chamari and Rumesh Ratnayake, Sri Lanka’s coach, made their way out of the academy. It gave an indication that the captain and coach must have had a rather lengthy discussion over their next game against India. The Asia…

Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai “We have been waiting for this day, we have come all the way from Mumbai to watch,” said one of the aficionados, who had come with his family to witness India take on Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. “We are big fans of Smriti Mandhana. My daughter and son, all are Indian cricket fans, it is in our blood.” This was around the time when there was scorching heat alongside the humidity. Basically, the conditions were extreme. So extreme that this correspondent’s phone got overheated during a live show and it took about 20 minutes…

There were enough talking points from India’s six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the World Cup game played at the Dubai International Stadium. The dominance of the Indian bowlers, Pakistan’s fightback, India’s lack of intent with the bat, Harmanpreet Kaur’s injury and the furnace-like heat at the stadium. Shreyanka Patil, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana made regular incisions to restrict Pakistan to 105. India then chased down the target in the 19th over. India had to work hard to overhaul the target. With the outfield and the track turning out to be slow, the openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali…

Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai It has been just over 24 hours since India suffered an ignominious loss to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup in the UAE. And we are now less than five hours away from India’s next assignment – a match against arch-rivals, Pakistan. Although India are favourites to emerge triumphant against Pakistan, they would be feeling the pressure. One of those most under the spotlight is Harmanpreet Kaur. The Indian skipper tried to put up a brave front in the ‘captains’ meet’ before the start of the World Cup. But if the outside coating was peeled…

“Fielding isn’t work when you’re enjoying it,” Jonty Rhodes noted it many years ago to Cricinfo. The above-mentioned famous quote by one of the finest fielders the game has ever seen perhaps relates to the current mindset of the Indian women’s team. Although in a rather negative sense. During the ongoing World Cup, in training sessions, it doesn’t seem as if the girls and the coaching staff are not showing dedication towards fielding. Before their opening fixture versus New Zealand, the players practised for close to 90 minutes. Once again, before the India-Pakistan encounter, the fielding coach, Munish Bali conducted…

Where to start?? This is a question that one visualises several times after watching India’s loss to New Zealand, in their first match of the T20 World Cup. New Zealand generated more swing and their spinners did relatively better. New Zealand’s fielding was a couple of rungs higher as was their batting. Sophie Devine’s captaincy too seemed to be of a higher standard. Basically, looking at the above-mentioned lines, one can gauge the fact that India suffered a crushing loss. For starters, let’s think of India’s fielding efforts. It has been underwhelming over a period of time. The personnel have…

Sophie Devine’s brilliance (57 not out, 36 balls) turned out to be the difference between New Zealand and India, as the New Zealand Women came out victorious in their Women’s T20 World Cup opener in Dubai on Friday. India could muster only 102 in a chase of 161. Georgia Plimmer, who didn’t have much to show for before today’s effort, also played her part with a sprightly innings of 34 in 23 deliveries. It was her stand of 67 in just under eight overs with Suzie Bates that laid the platform for New Zealand’s above-par total. The feature of Plimmer’s…

Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai “Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.” That phrase acts as an apt description for Hannah Rowe’s two spells at the Hagley Oval Stadium in the 2022 World Cup encounter between New Zealand and Pakistan. Initially, Sidra Amin and Muneeba Ali took on the gauntlet of chasing down a sizeable target by cracking some fine pulls while facing Rowe. At the completion of her first spell, she had gone for plenty. At that point of time, Rowe might have believed the stars weren’t exactly aligned in her favour. Destiny, though, had something else in store for…

“Ab Udar Marro!!” Harmanpreet Kaur said loudly after the fielding coach Munish Bali cracked a shot a little too hard, with the ball crossing the boundary rope straight down the ground, at the ICC Academy. Harmanpreet, the designated fielder at that position, attempted to pouch the catch, but to no avail. From her voice, it seemed like a mixture of sarcasm, alongside a light-hearted joke. It so happened that the fielding coach smashed the next shot exactly where Harmanpreet had previously mentioned — a little more towards the long-off region. For a couple of seconds, one wondered whether Harmanpreet would…