Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai For a moment, rewind to the India versus Australia semi-final in the Champions Trophy in Dubai earlier this year. India chased down a victory target of 265 in 48.1 overs, with Virat Kohli anchoring the innings via a 98-ball 84. The remarkable part of his innings was that he took 56 singles. Kohli has a healthy lead at the top for taking most singles in ODIs. According to the stats put out by different platforms, his singles count in that format had reached 5,870 after that game, way above Kumar Sangakkara’s 5,688, who stays a distant second.…

Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai Before the start of the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, the Indian team management’s message to the players was about stability. The idea was to play a set combination for all the three matches without any unnecessary tinkering. For example, Ruturaj Gaikwad, an opener, was told that he would be the No. 4 here for the entire series. After scoring his maiden ODI hundred in Raipur, Gaikwad spoke about how the team management’s confidence in him helped his game. Similarly, Washington Sundar was slotted at No. 5 with a rider that KL Rahul, the stand-in captain…

KL Rahul wasn’t so generous in his praise for South Africa’s batsmen. Ruturaj Gaikwad lavished praise on Aiden Markram & Co. The common thread that connected India’s stand-in captain and the team’s No. 4 batsman after the defeat in the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday was dew. “Not really a (tough one) given how much dew there is and how difficult it is to bowl in the second innings,” Rahul told the host broadcaster at the post-match presentation. “Thought we did well in the last game. Today, the umpires were nice to change the ball. Toss plays a big…

Is the current team management, where Gautam Gambhir is the head coach, a victim of perception? Take the case of Ruturaj Gaikwad, an opener, who is batting at No. 4 in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. The demotion didn’t go down well with a section of the critics who questioned the decision. Gaikwad was picked for the series as a replacement for Shreyas Iyer, India’s ODI vice-captain and the team’s designated No. 4 in this format. Yashasvi Jaiswal was already part of the set-up as the reserve opener and it was natural that he would pair up with…

Gradually, it came down to 48 off 42 balls. With six wickets in hand, the game was sitting in South Africa’s dug-out. A classy hundred from Aiden Markram and a Dewald Brevis blitzkrieg had all but pulled off a memorable run chase for the Proteas. But Matthew Breetzke and Marco Jansen got out in quick succession and India hoped. Tony de Zorzi jarred his hamstring while taking a second run and although the equation still favoured the tourists – 27 required off 30 balls – a tail-ender, Keshav Maharaj, was at the crease to accompany Corbin Bosch. South Africa went…

It’s official now. Shubman Gill is back in the Indian T20I squad as vice-captain. The team selection took place here in Raipur on Wednesday, and Gill has been included on the condition that he passes the fitness test. RevSportz reported it early this afternoon. The official announcement came in the evening. “Subject to fitness clearance from BCCI CoE,” said the BCCI press release. As this website also reported, Hardik Pandya, too, is back in the fold. The all-rounder missed the Australia tour and the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa. His return is a real positive for the team…

Shamik Chakrabarty, Raipur Ruturaj Gaikwad lined up Keshav Maharaj. It was the 28th over of India’s innings after KL Rahul once again lost the toss and was sent in by his counterpart, Temba Bavuma. A sweep or a four was the prelude. Gaikwad then danced down the track and launched Maharaj a few rows back over deep mid-wicket. The left-arm spinner, a veteran, looked clueless. He followed up with a long-hop, which Gaikwad happily dispatched to the wide mid-on boundary. A belter had been laid out here in Raipur for the second ODI between India and South Africa, but Ruturaj…

Shubman Gill is back in the Indian T20I squad as vice-captain, it is learnt. The selection took place here in Raipur on Wednesday, and Gill has been included with the rider that he must pass a fitness test, according to a source in the know. An official announcement regarding the squad is expected later in the day. RevSportz exclusively reported yesterday that Gill was pain-free and that his chances of making the T20I squad remained strong. The five-match series against South Africa starts on 9 November. Usually, the selection committee names squads for ODIs and T20Is at the same time…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Raipur India were done with their practice session on the match eve and the players were heading towards the pavilion when the fans, a lucky few hundreds, who were allowed inside the stadium, started chanting, “Rishabh, Rishabh”. The wicketkeeper-batsman walked up to them and signed autographs. Earlier, the cricket enthusiasts watched Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli doing their batting drills. Their day was made. Rishabh Pant is the team’s second choice in the 50-over format, behind stand-in captain KL Rahul in the pecking order. But he still remains immensely popular, notwithstanding that Gautam Gambhir, the head…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Raipur Virat Kohli is set to play for Delhi in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, RevSportz understands. According to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) sources, the former India captain has confirmed his availability and is likely to play three matches of the national one-day championship. The Vijay Hazare Trophy starts on December 24, with Delhi playing against Andhra on the opening day. Their next matches are against Gujarat, Saurashtra, Odisha, Services, Railways and Haryana. While Delhi are playing the first half of the tournament in Alur near Bengaluru, they might play their last three matches at…