Author: Boria Majumdar

Cricket, it wouldn’t be wrong to suggest, was and is, the true national game in both India and Australia. This is precisely because it could be played against the English as part of the great imperial project. Hockey in India or Aussie Rules in Australia could not, and hence their legacies, like their origins, remain very curious in the sporting hierarchies of the two countries. More recently, however, the India-Australia rivalry has gathered steam with Australia gradually becoming the new Pakistan for Indian cricket fans. This works well for us in India. With bilateral series against Pakistan a thing of…

India’s win at The Oval in 1971 was a miracle. Much like the 2001 victory against Australia at the Eden Gardens, where India won after following on, they came from behind at The Oval to hand England their first series loss in years. While the victory will forever be cited and analysed as a spectacular underdog-success story which marked the initiation of a new order in world cricket, it should also be remembered that India had played well right through the series and had stepped out at The Oval with reputation enhanced. The victory was vindication of a playing philosophy…

15.25 crores. The figure is such that it would send a chill down anyone’s spine. And when a young man of 23 has to justify this price tag, it can just turn into the kind of pressure that’s too much to bear. First of all, Ishan Kishan did not negotiate the price. His franchise saw enough in him to pay that amount, and he had no say in it. So for anyone to say, ‘Oh he was paid 15 crores’ is actually unfair on the young man. Secondly, Kishan has had to do everything he can to forget the extra-cricketing…

He won the award for the best Australian T20I player earlier this year, and was much looking forward to coming to India for the IPL. In fact while playing for the Sharjah Warriors in the International League T20 in the UAE, Marcus Stoinis had one eye on what was going on in India. In 2022, Lucknow Super Giants did not use him well. He either batted too far down the order, or did not get enough balls to get going. This time round, Lucknow have got it right and Stoinis, batting at 4, has delivered more often than not. On…

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has continuously upped the ante over the last week. With the logjam showing no signs of easing just yet, this is all set to continue until the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) finally takes a call on the second hybrid-hosting model proposed by the PCB in Dubai last week. PCB sources say that they already have the support of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for their second proposal, and it is now on India’s Jay Shah, as the ACC boss, to call a meeting and decide on the way forward. And if the ACC under Shah isn’t…

We had written this in hope a month ago. Honestly, we weren’t sure. More so after we heard that he had lost weight and might not feature in the rest of the IPL. He did. And how. More than Mohammed Shami and Shubman Gill, who are established stars, it was pleasing to see Dayal step up in the Gujarat Titans’ emphatic win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Embrace the challenge and come up successful. That’s what sport is. It pushes you. Tests you. Breaks you at times. But also gives you an opportunity to come back. Script your story. Dayal did that…

My first encounter with Shubman Gill was when he had just returned after winning the U-19 World Cupin 2018. And one of the first things he said was, “Saag toh makkhan ke bina nahi ban sakta [Saag cannot be made without makkhan]. Once in ten days, it is a cheat day and if my mother makes it, I have it that one day.” That was the only time the 19 year old looked like one. Within moments of mentioning the saag with makkhan, Gill was back to being the next big batting sensation from India. “The fitness routine in our…

The focus is on Mohammed Shami. In the form that he is in, India will look to him to be top dog come the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, there were three wickets in his opening burst. Time and again, Shami has killed off games in the powerplay itself for Gujarat Titans. And most importantly, he has moved the ball with amazing consistency. Not exaggerated movement. Rather, just enough to make things happen. In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Shami is India’s go-to man to lead the attack. Frankly, Shami has all the skills required to do so.…

Exactly 24 hours ahead of the Japan Open final in 2019, Pullela Gopichand seemed quietly confident. “The courts are on the slower side and in conditions like these, Sindhu will always do well because of her physical agility,” said Gopi. “Players have to play every day and by the time we get to the final, the body starts to give up on you. Sindhu is different for she can keep going for days and weeks. Courts in Tokyo next year should suit her, and there is no question she will have a major chance at the Olympics.” While…

Fifteen seasons and no title. And the 16th was also starting to go pear-shaped before things changed on Sunday with a whopping 112-run win over Rajasthan Royals. All of a sudden, the playoffs seem doable, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have their fate in their own hands. They will no longer have to depend on Rajasthan or Kolkata slipping. All they need to do is win their two remaining games. With a Net Run Rate better than others and with Mumbai Indians playing Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday, the two wins would take RCB to the playoffs. And once there, it…