Author: Boria Majumdar

Jasprit Bumrah is unique. He is the only Indian cricketer who is universally loved by fans. His injury did not lead to a single meme, and almost every fan was worried about him not being there for India. His return to the IPL was celebrated the country over, and in many ways, Bumrah has been able to unite the toxic worlds of Indian cricket fandom. There could be two reasons behind this. First, he is India’s most valuable player by a country mile. In batting, there have been occasions where Rohit Sharma has done better than Virat Kohli and vice…

As I watched the build-up shows on RevSportz from outside the Mullanpur Stadium over the last two days, one thing was apparent. The fans were there in numbers and soaking in every bit of it. The heat wasn’t a hindrance, and brand IPL trumped everything. As Gargi Raut made her way through the masses of fans who had all reached hours before the games started, it was evident that India’s only global sports brand was alive and kicking. The crowds are in fact a telling comment on the tournament’s popularity. Needless to say, a packed 100,000 are expected in Ahmedabad…

Test Cricket: A history, Tim Wigmore, Quercus, April 2025 It is never easy to write a book with a huge scope. And when it involves documenting multiple narratives and understanding complex socio-political contexts, the task becomes even more difficult. Maybe that’s why there is no perfect history of cricket. Or rather, can’t be. Tim Wigmore’s Test Cricket: A history isn’t perfect. but it comes close to being the go-to book if you are looking at one comprehensive narrative of how the format evolved and transformed itself over time. Wigmore is an accomplished cricket writer and has spoken to more than…

It had been a par IPL for Rohit Sharma up until tonight. Some good efforts coupled with ordinary ones, he was still searching for that one extraordinary innings that stood out for him and his team. That’s what happened tonight. When it mattered the most, Rohit came into his own for Mumbai Indians to seal the deal. While Jonny Bairstow provided early momentum, it was Rohit thereafter for a while. All his trademark shots came out and his fans started to find voice. Under pressure, the former India captain played an innings of real class. Fifty came up in no…

My first meeting with Jagmohan Dalmiya was rather strange. Back home for field research in March 2001, I landed up at the Cricket Association of Bengal office wearing a T-shirt and chappals. I had pages of questions for Dalmiya on the lack of transparency in Indian cricket and was rather aggressive to start with. It was the immediate aftermath of the match-fixing scandal and I was out to expose the rot. Dalmiya, after giving me a patient hearing, asked if I would dress the same way if I wanted to research the MCC’s archives. “You said you are from Oxford.…

Three run-outs. That’s how it all changed. After being down and out in the first three weeks of the IPL, Mumbai Indians (MI) have once again made it to the play-offs. Sport is all about grabbing your opportunity and that’s what stands out in this team. Against Delhi Capitals in Delhi, it all seemed done and dusted a month ago. Vipraj Nigam was batting beautifully after a Karun Nair classic, and Mumbai were rock bottom of the league table. Jasprit Bumrah, making a comeback from injury, was hit all over the park by Karun and it seemed that there was…

Pressure. Perhaps the most used word when it comes to sport. Everyone who has played sport will tell you there is always pressure. From fans, parent bodies, sponsors, family and most importantly from yourself. At the end of the day, a sportsperson is alone grappling with her or his own mind. A mind that is full of clutter and is constantly fighting to be freed. Of all the thoughts that keep flooding in, of the possibilities that keep disturbing the equilibrium and finally all the hope and expectation of what can be. It is this pressure that impacted Punjab Kings…

It’s not easy being a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fan. For all the trolling that the franchise gets for not winning the IPL trophy, it might seem that they had never even come close. But the truth is far from that. RCB have qualified for the playoffs multiple times in the last few years, but has fallen short thereafter. There is almost a pattern to their performances. Some brilliant games and then some equally baffling downers. From ecstasy to agony in no time. And yet, the fans have stayed steadfast. As Rajesh Menon, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), suggested, “Two…

Now 33, Shardul Thakur last played a Test match for India at Centurion in December 2023, Feted as Lord after his heroics on the England tour in 2021, he slipped out of the selectors’ thoughts soon after India returned from South Africa. Not picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia last year, he reminded those that matter of his value with some sterling displays for Mumbai in domestic cricket. Those efforts were rewarded with a call-up for the upcoming England tour. In this exclusive interview with Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, Shardul spoke of bouncing back from setbacks and how India…

It’s been 17 seasons with no title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans have grown tired of hearing this. The jibe has kind of become routine. They will play well, win some, but eventually have a few bad games and bow out. It is all kind of routine. Not so in 2025. All of a sudden, they are in the top two and the victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) was yet more reinforcement that things might finally change. All they need to do is win two more games to get that coveted title. Now that they are in the top…