Author: Gargi Raut

If you walked around the Lord’s Cricket Ground on the second day of the third Test between India and England, you would immediately notice the sea of red—fans proudly wearing red clothing and accessories in support of a cause bigger than the game itself. This is ‘Red Day,’ dedicated to the Red for Ruth Foundation, which provides support to families coping with the loss of a parent and raises awareness about rare lung cancers. The Foundation was set up by former England captain Sir Andrew Strauss in memory of his wife Ruth Strauss. It is a stark reminder that in…

Gargi Raut at Lord’s Ex-commentators, players, legends and the crowd walking alongside each other on the premises of a cricket stadium is an unusual sight in England. Ravi Shastri getting out of a black cab in front of the Grace Gate at the Lord’s cricket ground, Stuart Broad being denied entry after trying to enter from the media gate at the Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, Dinesh Kartik hauling his own luggage and getting into a cab – These are just a few of the candid, behind-the-scenes moments you might catch if you’re near a stadium during the India vs England series.…

Gargi Raut at Lord’s “What has Nitish Kumar Reddy done to make it to the Indian playing XI?” “He is not ready for the Indian cricket team.” “What is Nitish Kumar Reddy’s role in the team when he is only bowling six overs and not contributing any runs to the scoreboard?” These are some of the questions that were brought up over and over again by Indian cricket fans leading up to the third Test between India and England at Lord’s. Reddy made it to the side in the second Test at Edgbaston, right after India had faced a humiliating…

Gargi Raut at Lord’s One day before the third Test between India and England at Lord’s, both teams held intense practice sessions under the London sun. With the series poised delicately, all eyes were on preparations, team dynamics, and, of course, selection hints. From Rishabh Pant’s press conference to Shubman Gill’s exhaustive net session and Jofra Archer’s surprising absence from bowling, there was plenty to take in. Here are the top three talking points from the day. Rishabh Pant Reflects on Team Environment and His Bond with Gill Rishabh Pant, India’s vice-captain, addressed the press a day ahead of the…

Gargi Raut at Lord’s Visiting Lord’s for the first time is something that every cricket fan dreams about, and finally getting to tick it off your bucket list is a privilege like no other. Lord’s is a stadium that is steeped in history. And cricket just feels alive in a way that is hard to describe until you’re there. Walking up to the famous Grace Gates, I could feel the buzz in the air. Even before you step inside, there’s this sense that you’re about to experience something special. Once through the gates, the view is breathtaking. On one side,…

Gargi Raut in London Fortress Edgbaston has been breached by a young Indian team with Shubman Gill at the helm. The win, heralded by some brilliant performances, including the skipper’s double-century and hundred and a lethal charge by the pace attack that stole the spotlight, was perhaps one of the best performances in the modern era of the game. Played on a pitch that backfired terribly for the hosts, India scripted history with a team that had been written off in the absence of their premier bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. With the loss at Leeds forgiven and the win at Edgbaston…

Gargi Raut in Birmingham The second Test at Edgbaston was a coming of age for many young players under Shubman Gill’s leadership. As a journalist, there are only so many moments that leave a lasting imprint, like watching a young cricketer come to life on the grand stage. Amid the buzz of the second Test, the concerns and doubts over India’s performance in the last Test at Leeds and the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, one bowler was quietly scripting a roaring comeback to Test cricket. And Akash Deep was his name. He produced a spellbinding performance and many of the…

Gargi Raut in Edgbaston If you’ve ever watched a match at the Edgbaston stadium, while walking through the food stall area you will come across a bar called the ‘Bear and Ragged Staff. You also might have seen it stitched on several caps and jerseys. But what many don’t know is that the logo of a bear chained to a staff is more than just a symbol, it holds centuries worth of history and it’s been part of Warwickshire’s cricketing identity since the very beginning. In the logo, the bear is standing besides a broken tree branch, which is known…

Gargi Raut at Edgbaston Flintstones with Nike shoes, an inflatable pig being chased by men dressed in a butcher costume, dhol, banter and creative costumes. There is never a dull day in the Eric Hollies Stand, known for its colour. The people sitting there have a huge responsibility to uphold. No matter what is happening in the game, the Hollies stand is a major source of entertainment in itself. A standalone piece of culture and unity. As you walk through the stands, you come across people dressed in costumes you might not even have thought about. To name a few,…

Gargi Raut at Edgbaston Test cricket, like the name suggests, is a test of mental temperament, resilience and patience, much like real life. For some, sport is more than just a game. It becomes a source of hope in the darkest moments, a space to make memories, and something to look forward to. That’s the story of Himanshu Tanna, one of the volunteers in the press box at Edgbaston. Apart from the usual buzz of the media professionals, photographers, and the support staff, there is one constant presence at the media box and that’s Himansu. He’s not a journalist nor…