Author: Boria Majumdar

Boria Majumdar at the MCG You want some players to do well. Mohammed Siraj is one such. He hasn’t been himself this series and, as Sunil Gavaskar said, could well have been rested in Sydney were it not been for today’s effort. With India under the pump having conceded a 105-run first innings lead, Siraj needed to step up in Australia’s second innings. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep had bowled their heart out, and the onus was on Siraj to make sure the pressure wasn’t released. His second over did not give much hope. A freebie on Marnus Labuschagne’s pads…

Boria Majumdar at the MCG Ahead of the Australian second innings, you could see Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma involved in an intense conversation. Both were pointing towards field placements and it was evident that there were plans for Sam Konstas. Bumrah had not forgotten the first innings and he was ready. No over the top behaviour. Just ready to bowl with venom and pace and execute a real master-class. From the very first over, it was clear that Bumrah meant business. No loosener and not a single freebie on offer. Konstas just couldn’t get bat on ball and the…

Boria Majumdar in Melbourne Rishabh Pant had just played a shot that he’d not want to remember. India were still less than 200 and the sixth wicket had fallen. There was a familiar dejection among the Indian fans in the stands. Yet again, the batting had failed and Australia were poised to take a 200-plus lead. And, in such a scenario, the game was all but done. Walk in Nitish Kumar Reddy. The very first shot he played was one of confidence. Here was an in-form player who meant business. He wasn’t overawed by Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc steaming…

Boria Majumdar at the MCG Remember Jonny Bairstow? If you don’t, let’s refresh your memories. Over a year ago, during an Ashes series in England, Australia claimed his wicket with a stumping that was deemed “legal” but against the spirit of the game. Let me state this at the outset – I have nothing against teams playing by the rules. In fact, that’s not the issue here. Soon after the incident, the English fans started abusing the Australians. In fact, a former star speaking on conditions of anonymity said this, “Mate, when the players were walking through the Long Room…

Boria Majumdar in Melbourne All eyes were on him, and he clearly wasn’t in the right mindspace. A player who has won the mental battle each time questions have been asked of him seems no longer to be able to. He was dismissed by a nothing ball. Rohit Sharma could easily have left it alone. He could have played a full-blooded pull shot. He did not do either. A half-hearted limp stroke which just lobbed into the hands of Scott Boland and further dented Rohit’s tour numbers. No one can say when a performer needs to call time. It is…

Boria Majumdar in Melbourne Australia were in control when, almost against the run of play, Washington Sundar got the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. Once the cheers subsided, the Australian section of the crowd started to almost celebrate. Coming out was Travis Head – the best batter on view in this series and someone who has singlehandedly tormented India multiple times in the past. The second new ball was still close to 15 overs away and India were facing the daunting prospect of bowling to Head with an old Kookaburra. That was when Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Jasprit Bumrah.…

Soon after the Sydney Test match in January 2019 had been called off and the press conferences from both captains were over, Tim Paine, accompanied by his wife and other family members, was seen pushing his child’s stroller and silently walking out of the SCG. There were a handful of Indian fans waiting outside the ground, but none bothered to walk up to Paine to ask for a picture. Paine, who had led Australia with dignity and poise in the aftermath of Sandpapergate, hadn’t been able to deliver results. Good behaviour, while it was important, wasn’t enough in the absence…

How important is an award? More so when it is the Khel Ratna – the highest sports award in the country? Clearly it is of significance. It is a vindication of what you have achieved and why you are the best in that particular year. Make no mistake, if anyone deserved the Khel Ratna in 2024 it is Manu Bhaker. No Indian has ever won two medals at the Olympics and it is a no brainer she was the best in Paris 2024. And remember, she was almost on course to win a third medal and lost out in a…

Boria Majumdar in Melbourne This is my first cricket tour after serving the ban. And where better to restart than the Boxing Day Test? In fact, Tuesday’s was the first Indian practice session that I had attended in two-and-a-half years. And may I say, I enjoyed it. Observing things closely, which has always been something I have done, making my own notes and the like. In fact, as I was making notes standing right behind the net in which Ravindra Jadeja was batting, I tried explaining to a colleague how he was intent on leaving balls outside off stump. That…

Boria Majumdar in Melbourne Monday was the first time I was back at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) since that amazing T20 World Cup encounter between India and Pakistan – a match now famous for Virat Kohli’s incredible match-winning innings and back-foot punch for six. And the moment I reached the Dennis Lillee statue outside Gate 2, so very iconic of the MCG, it reminded me of an incident which I will always have fond memories of. On October 23, 2022, the MCG was a real spectacle. India v Pakistan was a festival and fans had come in from all…