Author: Gargi Raut

Gargi Raut at Old Trafford When Washington Sundar was first announced in the team, social media scoffed, many shook their heads and questioned his place in the team. With a proven wicket-taker, Kuldeep Yadav, warming the bench, many asked: Why Washington Sundar? The last time he had played a Test for India was in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney where he scored a cumulative 26 runs. Many thought that Washington didn’t deserve a place in the team in a high-stakes Test series. On the fifth day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Washington walked off the field and answered…

Gargi Raut at Old Trafford On Day 4 of the fourth Test match at the Old Trafford, with the series hanging in balance, India having conceded 669 runs and down two wickets in consecutive deliveries, KL Rahul stood at the non-strikers end, head down, tapping the pitch, knowing he can’t change the game from where he stood even if he wanted to. And just when it seemed like the match was poised for a quick finish Rahul stood tall, calm, composed and unbending, alongside skipper Shubman Gill that evoked memories of another Rahul from a different era. Throughout Rahul’s career,…

Gargi Raut at Old Trafford In the fourth Test at the Old Trafford, to their misfortune, Indian fans have only witnessed one-sided action. England are on the verge of sealing the series with a crushing win. They have a lead of 186 runs and have three wickets in hand. They have dominated in every department, out-batting, out-bowling and out-thinking a weary, listless, low on belief and undercooked Indian side. On a pitch that was offering nothing to the Indian bowlers, Joe Root’s 150 was a technical masterclass against a captain who lacked ideas and intensity. At 544-4, it is safe…

Gargi Raut at the Old Trafford What is bravery? What is courage? Can it be put in a box? Can it be expressed in words? Rishabh Pant taught us that it can certainly be shown on the field – when he showed up to play a cricket match two days after his father’s funeral and played the saviour for his IPL franchise, when he walked out of a burning car, knee dislocated at a 90 degree angle, covered in burns and lacerations; and when he made a comeback to the field 15 months later, after many had said that he…

Gargi Raut The National Sports Bill has been tabled by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, aiming to address ten major issues in India’s sports ecosystem. From grievance redressal and athlete protection to tenure reform, the bill takes a comprehensive approach to sports governance. A key highlight of the bill is the proposed empowerment of the National Sports Board (NSB). If the bill becomes an Act, the NSB will hold overriding authority, including the power to grant recognition to or suspend any National Sports Federation (NSF) in case of election or financial inconsistencies. The strength of the executive committee will be…

Gargi Raut at Old Trafford At the end of Day 3, at the Lord’s cricket stadium, there was a shift in the series. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett were walking out to face the new ball but the Indian team was running out of patience. The England openers were trying to run down the clock and the Indian captain wasn’t having any of that. With seven minutes available, Crawley and Duckett employed time-wasting tactics and made sure India could only bowl one over in the final few minutes of play. The Indian team, especially skipper Gill did not hold back…

Gargi Raut at Old Trafford Rishabh Pant, India’s Test vice-captain, has been one of the best batters in the series. Time and again, when India have been in trouble, Pant has shouldered the responsibility of steadying the ship for the team. Similar was the situation when Pant walked in post-lunch, with both Indian openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, and the skipper Shubman Gill losing their wickets in quick succession. Pant was batting with a strike-rate of 77.08, hitting his anxiety inducing audacious shots, attempting sweeps and slogs against the English bowlers and finding the boundary time and time again.…

Gargi Raut at the Old Trafford With Akashdeep injured and Arshdeep Singh also nursing a cut on his finger, India suddenly finds itself thin on pace options. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are the only fully fit frontline pacers. Given the conditions at Old Trafford – wet, overcast, and with a pitch that’s expected to aid seamers – India would want to field its strongest possible bowling attack. But how do they balance that with batting depth? And who gets the nod among the fringe players? The net session on match day -2 offered a few clues. Typically,…

Gargi Raut at Old Trafford India’s bowling attack has once again come under the spotlight ahead of the fourth Test against England, with injuries, rotation plans, and workload concerns leaving the line-up wide open. The series has already seen major shifts. India began with a disappointing five-wicket loss in Leeds, where Jasprit Bumrah stood out with a five-for, but the rest of the attack lacked bite. Prasidh Krishna was expensive, Mohammed Siraj was steady but not threatening, and India failed to take 20 wickets. That quickly changed in the second Test at Edgbaston, where Akash Deep’s debut heroics – 10…

Gargi Raut in Manchester India’s bowling attack has once again come under the spotlight ahead of the fourth Test against England, with injuries, rotation plans, and workload concerns leaving the lineup wide open. In the first Test at Leeds, India suffered a disappointing five-wicket loss. The major concern was the bowling unit. Jasprit Bumrah stood out as the lone performer, picking up a five-for in the first innings. Mohammad Siraj played second fiddle but didn’t leave a strong impact. Prasidh Krishna lacked consistency and turned out to be the most expensive bowler. India also dropped crucial catches and, more importantly,…