Author: ROHIT JUGLAN

Rohit Juglan and Amit Shah from Manchester On the eve of the Manchester Test, Team India players were seen having intense indoor practice sessions as continuous rain in Manchester forced training indoors. However, a few players, including Arshdeep Singh and captain Shubman Gill, were also spotted doing fitness and fielding drills out on the field. But it was Sai Sudharsan who caught everyone’s attention. The young southpaw batter was seen doing shadow practice from both ends of the ground, visualising bowlers and playing his shots accordingly. This is part of a pre-match routine he follows, as he prefers not to…

Rohit Juglan in London With Gautam Gambhir still in India, tending to his ill mother, VVS Laxman is expected to oversee India’s preparation for the Headingley Test until his return. Laxman, who heads the National Cricket Academy (NCA), is already in London ahead of India Under-19s’ month-long tour of the United Kingdom. The junior side will play five ODIs starting June 27, with two Tests scheduled for Beckenham and Chelmsford in July. Aside from his academy duties, Laxman continues to coach the Under-19 and A teams. In Gambhir’s absence, he also guided a second-string India team in a T20 series…

By Rohit Juglan India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has had to return to India due to a family emergency. His mother has suffered a heart attack and is currently in ICU undergoing treatment in Delhi. He is currently with the family to deal with the crisis. We have also been told that Gautam should be returning to England early next week to resume national duty. At this time of crisis, we wish his mother a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with the family. India start their intra squad match today in Beckenham and it will be a four…

The effects of the tragic Air India plane crash that took away 241 lives were felt during Team India’s training session at Beckenham with multiple players and members of staff heard murmuring about the accident. With India opting for an optional session on the eve of the intra-squad match, the mood in the camp was sombre as well. With the four-day intra-squad game set to start in Beckenham from Friday, players kept it light ahead of what will be one final audition before the Test series commences at the Headingley in Leeds from June 20. The pacers from both India…

Day two of India’s practice session at Beckenham was a light workload day as the team eased into rhythm through the early days of this long tour. While the workload was light, it did not have many standout moments, it was a slow morning. The main bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, were all rested today. The nets felt a little calmer without the heavy spells. Karun Nair looked in good touch. He batted in the nets ahead of the intra squad game and was also slotted into the slip codron as he participated in slip-catching drills.…

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Tests, the Indian team, on Thursday, arranged a new-look slip cordon during their final training session before the intra-squad match in Beckenham. While Rishabh Pant donned the big gloves, Karun Nair stood at first slip followed by KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. If the team goes by this slip cordon, Nair is all set to feature in the XI for the opening Test against England in Leeds, to be played from June 20. He smashed 204 for India A against England Lions in the first unofficial Test followed by scores…

As the World Test Championship Final kicked off between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s, there was a noticeable absence, Team India. For the first time in three cycles, India are missing from the biggest Test match of the calendar. But while the eyes of the cricketing world are on London, in Beckenham, something equally important is taking shape, a quiet rebuild for the Indian Test team. India had their first official practice session yesterday ahead of the much-anticipated five-match Test series against England. And it already gave a glimpse into the direction this new-look side is heading. Yashasvi Jaiswal…

Not every day is about bouncers and batting drills. In Buckenham, where India is preparing for the five-match Test series against England, the start of a new World Test Championship cycle, today was a rare and welcome breather. With their warm-up match scheduled to begin on June 13, the Indian team enjoyed a relaxed day. Players fanned out across the city for coffee, shopping, and casual strolls, soaking in the calm before the cricketing storm. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and T Dilip were spotted out and about, while Arshdeep Singh, Sai Sudarshan, and Prasidh Krishna also made the most of…

India’s tour of England is underway, and while the spotlight is on matchdays, much of the groundwork, quite literally, is being laid at Beckenham. The South East London venue, known for its batting-friendly white-ball tracks, is hosting the Indian team for a crucial training camp ahead of the red-ball leg. But are these wickets ideal for preparing for a full-fledged Test series in England? Josh Marden, the head curator at Beckenham County Ground, joined us for a candid chat about the pitch prep, team inputs, and what goes into creating a wicket that serves both seamers and batters. Q: Josh,…

By Rohit Juglan Rishabh Pant’s return to England as Team India’s vice-captain kicked off with an intense, purposeful practice session — but it wasn’t without a brief scare. The southpaw, who has fought back valiantly from his accident, looked sharp in the nets at Beckenham. Yet, it was a quiet, reassuring moment off the field that truly stood out: a smile, a handshake, and two simple words — “All OK.” Pant began his session with a clear plan. First up were throwdowns from Dayanand Garani and Raghu, as he worked on rhythm and footwork. From there, it was straight into…