Author: Bharath Ramaraj

As David Warner announced that he is all set to hang up his boots from the longest format at the end of the SCG Test against Pakistan next year, one particular memory came flooding back. To reminisce that fond memory, one has to travel back to a time when Warner was known more as a T20 specialist. And the first few deliveries he faced during the second innings of the Hobart Test against New Zealand in 2011 indicated that he was perhaps better suited for the shortest format. Even before opening his account, Warner was beaten on the outside edge a…

In 2021, at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, it was New Zealand’s date with destiny as they hoisted the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) trophy. India, who ended up second-best on that occasion, have since willed themselves to one more WTC final, against Australia, at The Oval. As Australia and India crank up their preparations, what could be the specific areas that both teams would look to work on? The obvious ones would be for batters and bowlers to adjust to the different conditions. But there is another crucial aspect of the game that would be of prime focus for…

Sometimes, the first impression is really the best one. Ollie Robinson, the England pace bowler, is one of those cricketers who can leave a lasting impression, the first time you watch him bowl. During the third week of September 2019, Sussex completed a rather disappointing County season, as they finished mid-table in Division 2. Around that time, Sussex Cricket had just released a video of all the wickets picked up by Robinson in the County season. Just a peek through the video, and one could notice Robinson’s unrelenting control and skill-set: Barring one strangle down the leg-side and a catch…

July 19, 2021. The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) match between Kovai Kings and Salem Spartans ended in a no-result because of rain. Amid rains lashing the Chepauk Stadium, the TNPL seemed to have unearthed a rough diamond in the form of B Sai Sudharsan. After all, at the tender age of 19, Sudarshan had swept, slogged and lofted M Ashwin to compile an impressive 43-ball 87. That sparkling innings caught the eye of another Ashwin – R Ashwin – who basically wanted Sudarshan to be selected for the Tamil Nadu side after he had played only one TNPL game.…

Shubman Gill cracked seven fours and 10 sixes in the Qualifier 2 game against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium. But the quality of the shots on view was such that every one of them seemed worthy of being included in the highlights package. How do you leave out all those flicks and glances? What about Gill charging down the deck and lofting a 106-metre six, which left even Hardik Pandya in a state of disbelief? Surely, one has to upload the shimmy down the pitch and the subsequent adjustment he made to short-arm-jab a six off Cameron Green.…

Before the start of the IPL 2023, Lucknow Super Giants looked like one of the front-runners. But the question mark against Lucknow was whether they would be able to take a couple more steps and hoist the trophy. Eventually, they had to again be satisfied with losing out in the Eliminator Round. What we predicted? Lucknow would qualify for the playoffs. They had enough power-hitters in the batting unit –Quinton de Kock, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran and Krunal Pandya. They also had enough hit-the-deck pace bowlers – Mark Wood, Yudhvir Singh, Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan. Mohsin also…

It has been less than 24 hours since Mumbai Indians thumped Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator Round of IPL 2023. During that small window of the last 15-18 hours, the narrative surrounding the Mumbai side has centred on their ability to bounce back after finding themselves in the lower rungs of the points table in the first half of the season. Just that, in a tournament like the IPL, matches come thick and fast, and one loss could end Mumbai’s comeback fairytale. The Rohit Sharma-led side would look to continue on their winning momentum when they lock horns against…

In the second over of Lucknow Super Giants’ innings, Prerak Mankad, their all-rounder, made some room while facing Akash Madhwal. The obvious idea was to make use of the width and crack one through the line over covers or extra-cover. The reality turned out to be something else. He could only slice the ball to the fielder at deep backward point. For a moment or two, you wondered why Mankad lost the shape of his shot? The next frame or replays solved the puzzle surrounding the dismissal. Madhwal perhaps cocked the wrist, with the ball and palm presented to the…

Akash Madhwal put on a spellbinding performance in Chennai, as Mumbai Indians registered a crushing 81-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator Round of IPL 2023. Mumbai will now take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. Here are the highlights from the game. Madhwal fires on all cylinders! Five wickets for just five runs. It turned out to be a dream day for the bowler from Uttarakhand. With a smooth run-up and repeatable action, Madhwal bowled at brisk pace and troubled the Lucknow batters by getting the ball to skid through. Prerak Mankad was the first of his dismissals as…

Test cricket demands that a bowler adapts to different climes. A certain bowler might be endowed with the required tools to pick up a bagful of wickets in India. However, a tour of England or Australia would offer different challenges. With the World Test Championship final against Australia to be held at The Oval in England, the Indian pace bowlers have to work out methods in their training workshops in order to pick up 20 wickets. For a few minutes, let’s peel away the outside cover to understand the bigger picture of how the Indian pace attack might go about…