Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

By Shamik Chakrabarty in Guwahati Rishabh Pant was told to get ready for the big job by the Indian team management on Wednesday, even as the decision was taken that Shubman Gill would be flying with the team to Guwahati, RevSportz understands. The India captain was ready to push the envelope, but he was always fighting a losing battle in terms of getting fit for the second Test. Playing the second Test against South Africa starting on November 22 could have been counterproductive both for Gill and the team. If he had broken down again mid-game as in Kolkata, it…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Guwahati Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa to be played here in Guwahati from November 22, it is learnt. RevSportz broke the story on November 18 that the India captain was all but ruled out of the series decider. And although he has travelled with the team to Guwahati, he won’t play. Rishabh Pant will lead India in the second Test. Gill suffered a neck injury while batting in the first innings during the first Test at Eden Gardens. That was last Saturday. As the pain became severe, he was…

By Shamik Chakrabarty in Kolkata RevSportz wants to reiterate that Shubman Gill is all but ruled out of the second Test between India and South Africa starting on November 22. The India captain is travelling with the squad to Guwahati today to continue with his recovery process under the BCCI medical team. But to play in Guwahati, he needs to perform a medical miracle. As this website already reported, Gill will start neck exercises in a day. After that, according to specialists, it will take him at least 5–7 days to be fit. India need to fill the No. 4…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kolkata Simon Harmer has sustained a knock on his right shoulder, but it’s too early to determine the extent of his injury, it is learnt. The South African off-spinner visited a private hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday for medical examinations. The reports are awaited. Harmer sustained the injury during the first Test in Kolkata, as he dived to stop a ball while fielding. Harmer was adjudged Player of the Match in the first Test after returning with a match haul of 8/51. Of the scalps he accounted for, six were left-handers. It would be premature to speculate…

Shamik Chakrabarty in Kolkata Shubman Gill is all but out of the Guwahati Test starting on November 22, it is learnt. This is a big blow for India, with the team staring at two whitewashes in three Test home series over the last 12-odd months. India had suffered a 3-0 clean-sweep against New Zealand last year. They have lost the first Test of the ongoing two-match series against South Africa. Gill aggravated his neck injury while batting in the first innings in Kolkata. He retired hurt and as the pain became severe, the India captain had to be admitted to…

By Shamik Chakrabarty in Kolkata Between October 2024 and November 2025, India have played six Tests at home under Gautam Gambhir as their head coach. They have lost four. It’s a diabolical record and a sackable offence for a coach in any sport. In football, the chant would have been: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” As Cheteshwar Pujara said on Star Sports, the team going through transition is a lame excuse. “Look, I don’t agree with one thing that the Indian team losing in India due to transition, it cannot be digested,” said the former India stalwart.…

Shamik Chakrabarty at Eden Gardens Keshav Maharaj responded to a four and a couple of sixes in an over with a delivery that was pushed a little wide outside off. Axar Patel, who had to chance his arm, went for a slog-sweep but top-edged it. Temba Bavuma ran back from midwicket to take the skier. A turnout of 39,769 at Eden Gardens on Sunday was stunned. The Proteas celebrated in the sound of silence. The glory moment came next ball, as Mohammed Siraj edged a Maharaj delivery to Aiden Markram at slip to secure a 30-run victory in the first…

Shamik Chakrabarty at Eden Gardens The Eden Gardens pitch is dividing opinions. On the face of it, batting was extremely difficult on this surface, especially at the High Court End. Then again, Gautam Gambhir played down the pitch factor at the post-match press conference, saying a target of 124 was chaseable. Validation came from afar via Kevin Pietersen, the former England captain, who questioned the technique of modern-day batsmen. “Seeing the wicket first and then the scores and then the result in Kolkata, it can only be put down to batters’ modern-day techniques,” Pietersen posted on his X (formerly Twitter)…

Shamik Chakrabarty at Eden Gardens The dust was settling on the first Test. The team buses had left the stadium. But the groundsmen at Eden Gardens were working assiduously, watering the pitch that had played havoc over the last two-and-a-half days. “Arre match ke pehle paani dena chahiye tha (the pitch should have been watered before the match),” someone quipped. Gautam Gambhir refused to be wise after the event. Last year against New Zealand, India suffered a home whitewash after opting to play on snakepits. The team did well on placid pitches in England in the summer. The team management…

By Shamik Chakrabarty at Eden Gardens For 123 minutes, Washington Sundar had dropped anchor at one end. He was doing his job, but India failed to build partnerships around him. In the end, it came down to the makeshift No. 3 and the extra all-rounder in Axar Patel, whose inclusion forced a rejig in the batting order. The excellent Temba Bavuma, the South Africa captain, made a surprise bowling change at the High Court End. Aiden Markram’s fastish off-spin replaced Keshav Maharaj’s left-arm spin and it did the trick. Markram bowled an off-break that landed on off and straightened. As…