Author: Gargi Raut

The Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2025 brings with it a renewed sense of hope, not just for Indian badminton but also for its passionate fans who never fail to pack the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi, despite the cold. Every year, the tournament is a reminder of the electric connection between the shuttlers and the crowd. For Indian fans, badminton is more than just a sport, it’s personal. Throughout the tournament, they cheer for their shuttlers with unshakeable belief, chanting names, waving flags and creating a sea of energy that the players draw their strength from. This edition of…

The 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. An intense battle between two cricketing giants – Australia and India. But amidst the rivalry, there are a few names that stood out, especially for India, for not only his runs but also for the character that he displayed. That name was Yashasvi Jaiswal, a young man who shouldered the responsibility multiple times over the course of the series, proving that he was not only capable of handling the weight of the moment but also of shaping its narrative. Perth: The Spark Jaiswal’s journey in the series…

Gargi Raut in Sydney The 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy will be remembered as a tale of promise that unravelled into heartbreak for Indian fans. After a commanding high in Perth, a string of perplexing decisions played a role in their eventual 3-1 series defeat. But at the heart of the baffling decisions was the handling of KL Rahul’s batting position. His abrupt shift from the opening role, where he had flourished, to No. 3 in the crucial fourth Test stood out as a glaring misstep. India’s campaign was already teetering under pressure. The miscalculations came after Australia levelled the series…

Gargi Raut in Sydney While walking into the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the final day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, I felt a profound sense of entering a living, breathing monument. The iconic SCG, with its historic Members Pavilion, standing against the backdrop of the Victor Trumper Stand, is a seamless blend of tradition and modernity. The SCG mirrors cricket itself, a game that has evolved over the years but has its roots firmly in the past, especially considering the drama of Test cricket that unfolded in the final Test, contrasting beautifully with the timeless grace of the venue. Of…

Gargi Raut in Sydney Day 2 of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, came to an exciting end as India’s aggressive approach in challenging conditions took centre stage. With 15 wickets scalped and just 286 runs scored across three sessions, the day was a high-stakes battle, where India went in with bold tactics and disrupted Australian bowlers’ lines and lengths. Young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone for the innings, the moment the second innings began, Jaiswal refused to be daunted by the wicked conditions. The 22-year-old came out all guns blazing, scoring 16 runs off of…

Gargi Raut in Sydney The iconic Sydney Cricket Ground showcased an out-of-the-ordinary pitch as India’s batting lineup faltered in the series decider of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After a collective decision from the management, Rohit Sharma, the skipper, opted out of the match, yet India’s batters struggled on a tacky surface, losing three wickets in the morning session and Virat Kohli shortly after the second one began. While Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja tried to put up a fight, Scott Boland dismantled the Indian innings with his relentless consistency. By the end of the day, it was Pant who had the…

Gargi Raut at the SCG The Indian cricket fraternity was abuzz on Wednesday morning with reports of rifts in the dressing room, sparking widespread speculation about unrest within the team. With just a day to go before the final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, anticipation ran high over who would address the media. After much waiting, the Indian head coach entered the press conference room, setting the tone with a striking opening statement. “Everything is under control,” said Gautam Gambhir. “Being in Sydney with an opportunity to draw the series is a good position to…

Gargi Raut in Sydney After months of negotiations between the ICC, BCCI and PCB, preparations for the Champions Trophy are finally underway. The iconic Sydney Cricket Ground played host to the trophy ahead of the final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024. Shane Watson, ICC ambassador, spoke to the media in front of the SCG, addressing key aspects of the Champions Trophy, as well as offering insights into the current form of Indian stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Watson was asked about the Champions Trophy being played in a hybrid model and Pakistan fans being deprived of one…

Gargi Raut in Melbourne On Boxing Day, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw an unforgettable spectacle: a 19-year-old debutant, Sam Konstas, all set to take on an Indian bowling line-up, boasting the world’s best Jasprit Bumrah. Konstas dazzled over 87,000 spectators in attendance with his audacious strokeplay, taking the attack to Bumrah. While Konstas’s debut memerised the crowds and drew comparisons with legends, it also highlighted one of the challenges of transitioning to the highest level of the sport. His performances over two innings offered a contrast and highlighted the potential and pitfalls of a prodigy stepping onto the grand…

Gargi Raut in Melbourne On a bright sunny morning in Melbourne, with the series poised at 1-1 and India five wickets down at the start on Day 3, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja had the perfect opportunity to put pressure back on the opposition. A 30-over old red Kookaburra and the sun pelting down, all hopes were pinned on the left-handed duo. All eyes were on Pant to haul the Indian team out of the rut they put themselves in. When you look back at India’s innings you realise that three wickets were given away to the Aussies. Fans are…