Author: Gargi Raut

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…

Gargi Raut in Melbourne In the midst of the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the series all square at 1-1, India made the arguably questionable call of tinkering with their batting lineup for the Boxing Day Test. KL Rahul, India’s most consistent batter in the series, was moved down to No. 3, and Shubman Gill wasdropped from the side. This was in order to accommodate Washington Sundar in view of the conditions, according toassistant coach Abhishek Nayar. It also restored Rohit Sharma, the skipper, to the opening position. But what happened on Day 2 of the Test left fans with a…

Gargi Raut in Melbourne A 19-year-old Sam Konstas delivered a Boxing Day performance that will be etched in the minds of cricket fans for a long time to come. Ranged against a world-class Indian bowling attack in front of a crowd of over 87,000, the young batter displayed a level of audacity and determination that belied his age and experience. The Entrance of a Fearless Debutant Konstas walked in, in front of a packed MCG and marked his guard; with a curled lip and chanting mantras unknown the 19 year-old was ready to take on India. Tasked with facing Jasprit…

Gargi Raut in Melbourne Melbourne offers the best of festive spirit with Christmas being celebrated today. Yesterday, the open net set-up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground provided a rare chance for fans to watch the Indian cricket team train up close, something that doesn’t happen often back home. The fans, excited to watch their favourite heroes train, gathered in droves and cheered them on. On the other hand, for the players, the proximity of the fans brought both joy and an occasional challenge as they tried to fine-tune their skills ahead of the all-important fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.…

Gargi Raut in Melbourne Andrew McDonald, Australia’s coach, in a press conference ahead of the Boxing Day Test match, confirmed that 19-year-old Sam Konstas would be part of Australia’s playing XI. What stands out about the young batter is that he is as confident as can be. A day earlier, in the press conference that he addressed, he was faced with a flurry of questions about facing the Indian bowling lineup and debuting in front of a packed MCG. To which Konstas replied: “I think it’s just another day for me.” Konstas consolidated his confidence with a solid display of…