Author: Bharath Ramaraj

Are you ready for some snarl and bite from the fast-bowling tribes? With the two-Test series between India and South Africa starting in Centurion on December 26, it is time for a pack of speedsters to leave the batters with bruised egos on tracks set to offer bounce and movement. Both sides have been battling with injuries to key fast bowlers. India have already lost Mohammed Shami to an ankle injury. Who are the contenders to take his place in the XI? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the bowlers expected to step in for Shami? Here’s a lowdown…

Mitchell Starc became the most expensive signing in Indian Premier League history, with Kolkata Knight Riders forking out a mind-blowing INR 24.75 crores for the Australian left-arm pace bowler in the IPL Auction 2024. Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans all tried to buy the veteran fast bowler, but to no avail. His base price was 2 crore. Just 90 minutes earlier, Pat Cummins had broken the record for the most expensive buy in any IPL auction. Incidentally, before the start of the auction, that record was held by Sam Curran, the England all-rounder, who was bought by…

On December 19, 2023, the Coca-Cola arena in Dubai will be a hub of cut-and-thrust activity as the ten IPL franchises bid for a slew of players in the auction preceding the 2024 season. Some big names would be bought by the franchises. But in addition to the stars of the cricket world, there would also be considerable interest shown in picking up the services of young Indian players. So, who are those Indian cricketers that we need to keep an eye on? Here’s a list compiled by RevSportz. Sameer Rizvi Rizvi is renowned for his batting against spin bowling…

The India-South Africa T20I series had enough thrills and spills. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Reeza Hendricks, Rinku Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased their pyrotechnics, while the Indian bowlers stepped up at the right time in the third game. So, with the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies looming, what are the three points that we learnt about this young Indian team? Kuldeep weaving his magic Kuldeep Yadav showcased his quality by bagging six wickets for the cost of just 43 runs in the series. It included a five-for in the final game. Granted that…

There is always a touch of calm attached to the planned city of Navi Mumbai. From Central Park to Joggers Park and Nerul Lake, the serenity of the place is unmistakable. That kind of placid calmness was visible from the time Shubha Satheesh took a leg-stump guard and patted her helmet before taking strike on her India debut at the DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai. Shubha launched a sublime square-drive while facing only her second ball in Test cricket. More than delving deep into the technical aspects of the game, it was the way she brandished the willow…

In the 34th match of IPL 2023, Sunrisers Hyderabad needed 13 runs off the last over to beat the Delhi Capitals. In an age when even five sixes are cracked in the final over, it seemed to be a simple equation. But surprisingly, from a state of sure-footed security, Hyderabad slipped to a seven-run defeat. Capitals’ come-from-behind win was down to one man – Mukesh Kumar. So, what was Mukesh’s successful template in that last over against Hyderabad? How does Mukesh nail one yorker after another in an era made up of well-pressed bats, or batters shuffling around their crease…

When Vrinda Dinesh, the Karnataka opener, is at the wicket, it’s difficult to miss that lissome spirit attached to her style of play. She seems to have that little bit of extra time on her hands. If the ball is shorter in length, she effortlessly pushes back to pull. If it is fuller, out comes the straight and cover drives. And if it is drifting down the leg-side, the flick is always around the corner. She isn’t afraid to play the lap either. Zooming through Vrinda’s wide range of shots and composure, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there…

It could be a lonely, hot or cold day. There might be no spectators or hi-tech cameras in sight in the practice arena. But amid the eerie silence, Annu Rani, the javelin thrower from a small village in Uttar Pradesh, chases her dreams. It is a battle with her willpower to make incremental improvements every single day. Rani currently holds the national record in Women’s Javelin with a best of 63.82m – a mark that she achieved at the Indian Open, in Jamshedpur, in May last year. Her creditworthy performance was less than one metre short of the bronze-medal…

Just over a week ago, India slipped to a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the World Cup final. After the completion of the tournament, a much-changed Australia and a new-look Indian side have locked horns in a T20I series. However, something else has hogged the headlines in the cricketing landscape – IPL retentions, releases and transfers, especially Hardik Pandya’s move to Mumbai Indians. So, which players have been retained and released? What are the perceived weaknesses of the various IPL franchises? What could be their strategies going forward into the auction? Let’s scratch beneath the surface to get the bigger…

Just over a week ago, India slipped to a heartbreaking loss to Australia in the World Cup final. After the completion of the tournament, a much-changed Australia and a new-look Indian side have locked horns in a T20I series. However, something else has hogged the headlines in the cricketing landscape – IPL retentions, releases and transfers, especially Hardik Pandya’s proposed move to Mumbai Indians. The Gujarat Titans’ skipper is all set to play for his old franchise. So, which players have been retained and released? What are the perceived weaknesses of the various IPL franchises? What could be their…