Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack The back-up generator continued to whir at the Barabati Stadium complex. The game had finished about an hour ago. The post-match fireworks were illuminating. The mid-game floodlights failure was depressing. The back-up generator was used to restart play after a 35-minute stoppage. It felt like an embarrassed Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) was doing overcorrection. Out there in the middle, a turnout of 45,000 revelled in a Rohit Sharma show. The India captain’s international career seemingly had entered the twilight zone. At 37 years of age, Rohit withstood the test of sinew to make a statement return…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack Rohit Sharma’s bat performed a waltz and the Barabati trilled. That 32 x 4.5-inch blade had become thin as a carrot over the past few months. On Sunday, teetering on the Lakshman rekha, the India captain used the willow to marmalise England bowling. A 76-ball century was the outcome. And as Rohit raised his bat, the nation breathed a sigh of relief. He stood himself down in Sydney. Another failure here, and the clamour would have grown exponentially to step down before the Champions Trophy, notwithstanding that it’s a different format. A 90-ball 119 spared Indian…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack Will Varun Chakaravarthy go to the Champions Trophy? Well, he has a definite chance. He has been drafted into the squad as an additional member for the ongoing ODI series against England. On Sunday in Cuttack, he made his debut in 50-over internationals. India’s provisional squad for the Champions Trophy doesn’t have Varun, but changes can be made until February 11. Prior to that on Monday, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir are likely to have a conversation. The 33-year-old from Tamil Nadu is expected to be firmly in their…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack Rohit Sharma was lighting up the Barabati Stadium when floodlights conked off. The stadium has eight light towers, one of them fell asleep. In the majority of the smaller centres, mismanagement could be the name of the game. The floodlights fiasco during the second ODI between India and England here in Cuttack showed the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) in a bad light. At 6.15 pm, with India on 48/0, chasing 305 for victory, lights went off, halting the proceedings. It was a brief pause, for lights came back around 6.23 pm and play was about to…

-Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack The scheduled start of the game is at 1.30 pm. By 10 o’clock in the morning, it felt like all roads in Cuttack were leading to the Barabati Stadium. India versus England is always a marquee clash, irrespective of formats and context. International matches at this ancient city are at a premium. Cuttack has been hosting an ODI after a gap of six years. The craze is massive. The Indian team trained at Barabati on the match eve. England players chose to cool their heels. The fans didn’t mind. They thronged the venue to the extent…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack “What kind of a question is that?” Rohit Sharma had taken exception to a question about his form ahead of the first ODI against England in Nagpur. “This is a different format, different time.” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, a new addition to the coaching staff, is a mild-mannered man. He resorted to the recent past to allay fears about the skipper’s batting travails. “I personally don’t think there’s any problem,” said Kotak at the pre-match press conference, with the stage set for the second game at a rousing Barabati Stadium. More than 20,000 fans turned…

-Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack The old clock tower has stood the test of time. The Barabati Stadium is one venue in the country that has retained its old charm. At the same time, it has failed to intertwine modernity with the old. Vast swathes of concrete galleries offer a throwback to a time when cricket viewing was sepia-stained. Only a handful of enclosures have plastic chairs and those are premium seating areas. The stadium can accommodate around 45,000 spectators, horn-tooters sitting cheek by jowl in the concrete stands. Spectators’ comfort – forget it. The murmurs around Barabati Stadium not having…

-Shamik Chakrabarty in Cuttack Virat Kohli is set to return for the second ODI of the ongoing series against England if things go to plan, RevSportz understands. The former India captain had to sit out of the first ODI due to a swollen knee. According to sources, however, the injury wasn’t serious and he has travelled with the team to Cuttack. So, unless there’s another eleventh-hour issue, Kohli would be part of India’s playing XI in the second match. India will train on the match eve from 5 pm on Saturday. The session is expected to give a clearer picture…

Harshit Rana’s selection ahead of Arshdeep Singh for the first ODI against England in Nagpur raised a few eyebrows. Conspiracy theories sell in Indian cricket, and that Gautam Gambhir connection was once again mentioned. The young fast bowler, who made his ODI debut on Thursday, might have to live with the excess baggage until he makes a name for himself. Arshdeep is arguably India’s No. 1 white-ball seamer when Jasprit Bumrah is not playing. On the face of it, his omission was baffling. Then again, the Indian team management probably chose to look at the bigger picture as Rana was…

Nagpur, February 6 and Rohit Sharma – does the association strike a chord? The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium was the venue of his heartbreak then, in 2010. Circa 2025, and Nagpur is set to host the India ODI captain at a time when his international career is at crossroads. Yes, it’s coincidental that the first ODI between India and England here is on February 6. But the date allows the opportunity of a throwback. On that dreaded February 6 morning 15 years ago, Rohit had hurt his ankle during a practice session 15 minutes before the start of a…