Author: Ishaan Shahane

Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval had a dream start for the hosts. Mitchell Starc struck with the very first delivery, removing the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal. The early setback put India on the back foot, leaving KL Rahul to steady the ship, along with incoming batter Shubman Gill, in a bid to rebuild in tough conditions. Rahul, who initially appeared uneasy at the crease, gradually found his rhythm as his innings unfolded. Meanwhile, Gill looked composed from the outset, confidently playing each delivery on its merit as the duo worked to steady…

Ishaan Shahane from Jeddah The final press conference on Day 1 of the IPL auctions featured Hemang Badani of Delhi Capitals (DC) and Daniel Vettori of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who shared their perspectives on their team’s auction strategies. Vettori expressed his disappointment over losing T Natarajan, acknowledging his immense value to SRH. “Natarajan is one player we will miss the most,” Vettori admitted. “But every team faces this—whether you seize opportunities early or wait for specific players later. We’re happy with how the auction played out. “Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel were surprises for us; we didn’t expect them to…

Ishaan Shahane from Jeddah Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR, shared insights on their high-priority bid for Venkatesh Iyer. He explained, “We wanted Iyer at any cost. His multifaceted skill set adds immense value and strengthens the team significantly.” Mysore also emphasised the franchise’s focus on retaining their core, maintaining continuity from the 2024 winning combination. CSK’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, expressed his satisfaction with Ravichandran Ashwin’s return, calling it a “homecoming”. Fleming remarked, “Ashwin’s world-class skill set and versatility make him a key asset. His bowling, batting, and experience will contribute in multiple ways.” He highlighted Ashwin’s adaptability and stated,…

Ishaan Shahane from Jeddah Ricky Ponting, Parthiv Patel and Shashwat Goenka addressed the media at the IPL auction. The trio answered key questions about the proceedings. Parthiv, the Gujarat Titans assistant coach, expressed satisfaction with their auction strategy. He stated, “Our plan was to invest in marquee players, and we are happy with the buys we have had so far.” He was particularly enthusiastic about securing Jos Buttler, emphasising his versatility and leadership. “We are very happy to have Buttler in our side. He can bat at any position that suits the team’s balance. He’s also been a leader, which…

Ishaan Shahane in Jeddah The IPL mega auction is just hours away from kicking off in Jeddah, capturing the attention of the cricketing world. Touted as potentially the biggest IPL auction ever, the anticipation has been high. Discussions around the highest-bid prospects, team strategies, and marquee players have dominated the build-up. Now, the stage is set for the action to unfold. As highlighted repeatedly, Rishabh Pant is expected to be the crown jewel of this auction, with predictions of record-breaking bids for the star. Other top Indian names like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh are also…

Ishaan Shahane in Jeddah With just 24 hours to go until the highly anticipated IPL auction kicks off, the cricketing world is buzzing with excitement. This year’s auction heads into uncharted territory as it unfolds in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—a fresh and intriguing setting for the cricketing fraternity. With most franchises still holding significant portions of their purse, the two-day event promises to be a fascinating display of strategy and squad-building. Adding to the intrigue is the reintroduction of the Right to Match (RTM) card, which could play an important role in how teams finalize their rosters. All eyes will also…

Day four of the Ranji Trophy Round Five brought a mix of strong performances and decisive results. The matches between Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, as well as Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, concluded in draws. However, Saurashtra showcased exceptional bowling to defeat Chandigarh by an innings and 59 runs. Meanwhile, Mumbai secured a convincing victory over Services, delivering solid performances with both the bat and ball. Moreover, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Siddesh Lad remained unbeaten on 55 and 73, respectively, guiding their team to victory. Tamil Nadu also dominated, outplaying Railways as R Sonu Yadav and S Ajith Ram picked up four wickets…

Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy Round 5 showcased an extraordinary cricketing feat. Anshul Kamboj’s took a 10-wicket haul for Haryana, dismantling Kerala’s batting line-up singlehandedly. However, Haryana’s batsmen couldn’t capitalise on the momentum, struggling at 139/7 in their innings Meanwhile, Uttarakhand face an uphill task in reaching Rajasthan’s massive 660. Yuvraj Chaudhary played a valiant knock, currently unbeaten on 144, but with limited support, Uttarakhand teeter at 347/9. After a dismal first innings, Uttar Pradesh staged a remarkable comeback, posting 325/5, thanks to stellar centuries from Madhav Kaushik (134) and Aryan Juyal (109). However, Karnataka will need to regroup…

Day two of the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy brought a flurry of action with both high scores and crucial wickets. Mahipal Lomror starred for Rajasthan with a remarkable 300*, powering his team to a massive 660/7, supported by Kartik Sharma’s brilliant 113. Uttarakhand, facing a daunting trail of 551 runs, is currently 109/2. Over in the Karnataka vs. Uttar Pradesh match, KL Shrijith impressed with a solid 110, while Uttar Pradesh closed at 78/1, still 108 runs behind. Saurashtra’s Chirag Jani added vital runs, narrowly missing a double century with 198, helping Saurashtra post 531/9. Chandigarh, however, is…

The Current Team The much-anticipated IPL mega auction, set for November 24 and 25, presents an exciting opportunity for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to fine-tune their squad. Although KKR have retained six key players, they’ll be eager to address specific gaps to achieve a balanced lineup ahead of the new campaign. After last season’s success, the franchise faces heightened expectations from a passionate fanbase. KKR’s retained players are Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh. The Auction purse for KKR KKR have invested 57 crores in player retentions, but under the IPL rules,…