Author: Boria Majumdar

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham I was in the same press box in 2019 and vividly remember England attacking the Indian spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. They were in top shape ahead of Edgbaston and all of a sudden things changed. The game was played in one of the corner pitches which meant the boundary was short on one side and the English batters targeted the Indian spinners. Things were never the same for the duo thereafter. This morning one of our colleagues, someone I have regard for, Arani Basu from the Times of India, comes up to…

Boria Majumdar, Edgbaston It was October 2002, and I was a PhD student at Oxford University, working on the history of Indian cricket, when I got a call from an auctioneer in London. He had helped me with material and sounded very excited on the phone. “Come and see what I have found,” he told me. When I met him the next day, I was in disbelief. I was actually holding in my hand a letter from Douglas Jardine, addressed to Duleepsinhji, which said that he had finally figured out a way to stop Don Bradman, and he wanted to…

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham Wickets were falling at the other end. Rishabh Pant, his vice-captain, had played a reckless shot and given it away. It was a stroke that could have yet again prompted Sunil Gavaskar to say “Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” If that wasn’t enough, Nitish Kumar Reddy left an incoming delivery on off stump and was bowled all ends up. At 211-5, England had wrested control. In fact, Shubman Gill looked acutely disappointed when Pant got out, for he knew that India’s chance to seize the initiative might have been lost. Thereafter, he needed to regroup. He played within…

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham On World Sports Journalists Day, the intent is to unite as a fraternity and not be divided. Stories will come and go – our legacy is in our hands. Today is World Sports Journalists Day. All that needs to be said is it is a very small fraternity. And yet, a deeply divided one. While there will be competition and it is only natural, we need to be united and back each other up. There is a larger cause – document stories as storytellers for millions to feel inspired. While we compete, we must also have…

He was always the first boy in class. Everyone said to him that he is the best student around. Yes, Shubman Gill was always destined to be the captain of India. But then, it is one thing to be captain and a very different thing to be able to make a mark and deliver. He is no longer competing for honours at the school and college level. He is now pitted against the world’s best in what is one of the most hostile places to play cricket. Edgbaston, for the record, hasn’t been too kind to India and England’s record…

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham Don’t be surprised if India ring wholesale changes for the second Test. There could be as many as four changes in the team that played the first Test at Headingley. While the playing XI hasn’t been finalised yet, it can be said that each of these changes are being seriously mulled on. The first is certainty. Jasprit Bumrah will be resting and will be replaced by Akash Deep. He has been bowling well at the nets and is finally niggle free. Akash had a reasonable Australia tour and in helpful conditions could pose a few problems…

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham Rishabh Pant was the star for India in the first Test at Headingley. Hundreds in both innings of a Test match on English soil is a very rare achievement. No Indian keeper has been there and chances are it won’t happen again very soon. Add keeping wickets for 182 overs and you understand the magnitude of his achievement. When you add the medical miracle he has been through a year earlier, you realise why he is a generational talent. Rishabh has been someone I have always had time for. Over the years I have seen him…

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham Lalit Modi is a feisty character. And I have always loved asking him the tough questions. Enjoyed pushing him. Unless you question Lalit and challenge him, you will never get him to open up. I have always believed that while Lalit should be credited for setting up the IPL, he subsequently became bigger than the brand and paid the price. The brand is always bigger than an individual and that includes Lalit Modi. So while there could be no IPL without Lalit, it is also true that the brand was thereafter good enough to survive and…

Boria Majumdar, London It was long planned. Lalit Modi had graciously invited the entire RevSportz team to his house for tea and agreed to a roundtable with us. As decided, we reached sharp at 2 pm and Lalit was waiting, looking relaxed in the inner patio of his lavish 2 Belgrave Square mansion. “What do you want to drink,” he asked, as all of us settled down, on what was a very warm London afternoon. As some real nice and chilled lemonade got served, we got down to business. From the stampede during this year’s IPL-winning celebrations in Bengaluru, how…

Boria Majumdar in Birmingham In the last 24 hours I have received close to 100 messages, asking me what my plans are with RevSportz. Some have even asked me what will happen to the 50 journalists working for the company. It was essential for me to spell the vision out. RevSportz is a dream that I am living. It was meant as a breath of fresh air in India’s sports media landscape and will only grow from strength to strength. And I will lead this change with every bit of passion and ability that I have. We started the journey…