Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

Shamik Chakrabarty in Colombo In the end, it was a tie. India had the game under control via a 57-run sixth wicket partnership between KL Rahul and Axar Patel. Then, the Sri Lankan spinners struck again. Shivam Dube (25, 24 balls) played a good hand to take the tourists on the cusp of victory. But two wickets in two balls put paid to their hopes. India would be disappointed, but there are two more ODIs still to be played in the ongoing series. Here are the three things that we learned from the first game in Colombo on Friday… Tail-enders…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Colombo The Impact Player rule is likely to stay in the IPL, it is learnt. It is, however, unlikely that the tournament will see a return of the uncapped player rule. The IPL had a meeting with the 10 franchise owners on Wednesday, and according to sources, the majority was in favour of retaining the Impact Player rule. A member of the IPL Governing Council also batted for it. “This will add a new tactical, strategic dimension to the game,” the IPL had said in a press release, while introducing the Impact Player before the 2023 edition.…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Colombo The tuk-tuk driver was frustrated. He followed the T20I series with interest but has now lost hope. Sri Lanka were in good positions in all three T20Is. They bungled bigtime. “Only good for the IPL and the LPL; no good for the country,” he let out his anger. The ODI series began today at Premadasa Stadium here in Colombo, and yet again, the hosts were affected by a middle-order muddle. This has been happening repeatedly. The land of so many batting legends – from Roy Dias to Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, via Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Colombo In microcosm, this is just a three-match ODI series, devoid of context and much relevance from India’s point of view. The bigger picture tells a different story. India will play just six ODIs before the Champions Trophy next year and apart from this series, they have three more 50-over games, against England at home in February, before the big event. In a congested calendar, ODIs are an outlier, fast losing their currency away from marquee tournaments. But India need to have a look at a few things and they don’t have much time. Irrespective of…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Colombo KL Rahul went first into one of the nets. Rishabh Pant went later. As India trained at the Premadasa Stadium on the eve of their ODI series opener against Sri Lanka, the focus was on the two players who might be competing with each other for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s slot. Pant was out of the Indian team for a year-and-a-half. And as he was recovering from a horror car crash, Rahul was slotted into the ‘keeper-batsman’s role and performed commendably. Now that Pant is back to the fold, who would be the team management’s choice? Rohit Sharma…

Only a few days ago, Kapil Dev had tried to raise the spirits of Anshuman Gaekwad via a video message. He urged his former India teammate to get well soon, so that the two could sit for a drink in the near future. Kapil and almost all his 1983 World Cup-winning teammates decided to donate their three months of pension amount from the cricket board for Gaekwad’s treatment, who was battling cancer. The BCCI also released Rs 1 crore for the former India opener. All proved to be futile. Gaekwad stood firm, as former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd oversaw…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Colombo For a long period, Virat Kohli batted at the nets, first taking throwdowns, followed by match simulations. India had an optional practice session at Premadasa Stadium here in Colombo on Wednesday, and the focus was on getting into the ODI groove ahead of the three-match series that starts on Friday. The ODI contingent had arrived in Sri Lanka a couple of days ago and started to train under assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. At the conclusion of the T20I series, other players and coaching staff reached Colombo from Pallekele on Wednesday afternoon. The players who took part…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Sri Lanka “One thing is for sure, you always ask tough questions, controversial questions,” Washington Sundar said tongue-in-cheek at the post-match press conference. The young all-rounder usually likes to stay poker-faced at pressers, but after dishing out a match-winning performance in the third T20I against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, he broke into a smile. The question was about his irregular game time. Washington made his international debut in 2017. Over the next seven years, he has featured in only 49 T20Is, 19 ODIs and four Tests. In the IPL too, he has mostly warmed the bench. The…

Sanju Samson would be disappointed. He was given another opportunity in a dead rubber, but yet again, he wasted it. Chances are at a premium at the international level. Sanju is fluffing his lines for fun. The #JusticeForSanju hashtag on social media from his die-hard fans notwithstanding, he is testing the patience of the national selectors and the Indian team management. It’s surprising that a player of Sanju’s talent has failed to bridge the gap between the IPL and international cricket. Yes, it’s not easy for him, always playing while looking over his shoulder. But that’s the way it is.…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Sri Lanka Riyan Parag made one turn sharply after pitching. Kamindu Mendis went forward to negotiate the turn, but the ball went past the outside edge. Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, promptly brought in a slip. The field change was logical and expected, but Parag is a genuine part-timer and Surya could have stuck to a more defensive field. He chose to be proactive, knowing fully well that Parag might not be as consistent with his line and length as a specialist spinner. The skipper, though, backed his bowler. India have already sealed the three-match T20I series…