Author: Shamik Chakrabarty

As umpires Richard Kettleborough and Sharfuddoula were inspecting the Lauderhill, Florida, outfield on Saturday for a match between India and Canada in the ICC T20 World Cup, three Indian players walked up to them to have a chat. Captain Rohit Sharma was accompanied by Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya. The players were relaxed, chatting and smiling. The IPL 2024 looked like a thing of the distant past. Not many moons ago, the boo-boys were attacking Pandya wherever he went. He was the target of the so-called ‘Rohitians’ during the IPL. As he took over Mumbai Indians captaincy from Rohit, rumours…

The International Cricket Council probably expected a bang, when they announced the United States as a co-host for the ongoing T20 World Cup. Unfortunately, the American leg of the tournament is ending with a whimper. On Friday, the game between the US and Ireland in Florida was called off due to rain and a wet Lauderhill outfield. On Saturday, the game between India and Canada suffered the same fate, as the match was abandoned without a ball bowled. It didn’t rain on Saturday, but the underfoot conditions were still wet enough to be deemed risky. The teams expectedly didn’t want…

The big question is whether the T20 World Cup match between India and Canada will take place. This is Florida’s wet season and although the sun has started to play a peek-a-boo, it’s a race against time for the ground staff at Lauderhill to make the outfield ready for the game. India are already through to the Super Eights, while Canada are out of the tournament. There’s nothing at stake, and no team would like to risk injuries. The rain sent Pakistan to the Heartbreak Hotel, but India are sitting pretty with six points from three matches. For them, if…

Just five runs in three innings, including a golden duck, at the ongoing T20 World Cup; has Virat Kohli suddenly lost his form? The answer to this question is an emphatic no. Revisit Kohli’s cover drive against Naseem Shah in the game against Pakistan. There was a hint of out-swing, but Naseem had missed his length a fraction and it was a half-volley. Kohli used the swing to free his arms and a gorgeous drive followed, which went past the cover fielder to the fence. It was the first ball that Kohli faced in the match and he looked to…

That the United States wouldn’t be pulling off an upset was confirmed in the very first over, when Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets. The very first ball of the match, after Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field, accounted for Shayan Jahangir. In the final delivery of that over, Arshdeep removed Andries Gous. From 3-2, it was always going to be an uphill climb for the hosts to put a decent total on the board. They could only manage 110-8, which India knocked off in 18.2 overs to win by seven wickets and reach Super Eights. The…

A few years ago, during a conversation with former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed, who also worked as Pakistan’s bowling coach, the technical side of Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling was in focus. Aaqib analysed Bumrah’s bowling – from his run-up to loading and landing, and delivery release. He explained how the Indian ace is a complete fast bowler. “From run-up to release, Bumrah’s entire approach is completely linear, using his energy in a straight direction,” Aaqib had said. “It gives him more power. To me, he has got the best action in the business.” It was remiss of us not to…

Wasim Akram didn’t mince his words and called for a radical overhaul. Mohammad Hafeez questioned the integrity of the selection process. Waqar Younis slammed Pakistan’s batting. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi reportedly hinted at a “major surgery”. If Pakistan’s loss to their T20 World Cup opener against the United State was a one-off, then losing to India on Sunday was a bottle job. It has pushed Babar Azam’s team towards early elimination. The question is, what next? What does the future hold for Pakistan cricket? “Someone has to bell the cat,” said Akram on his #WazzWithU social…

India pulled off a heist in New York. For 75 per cent of the game against Pakistan, they looked down. But Rohit Sharma’s troops refused to be out. Pakistan, on the other hand, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. They seem to have lost their winning DNA. That apart, we also learned a few other things from Sunday’s game. Bumrah is indispensable After 18 overs, in their chase of 120, Pakistan needed 21 off 12 balls with five wickets in hand. It was still their game to lose. But Jasprit Bumrah bowled the 19th over, gave away just three…

How did Pakistan lose this game? They had to score 120 in 20 overs, and even on a tricky pitch, it was a fairly easy chase. They were 80-3 after 14 overs. From there, they did the most Pakistani thing and lost the game. They have lost their winning DNA. Like last year’s 50-over World Cup match in Ahmedabad, Mohammad Rizwan’s dismissal triggered a collapse in New York as well. Yet again, the Pakistan opener picked the wrong bowler to up the ante. An ugly cross-batted heave to a length delivery was neither here nor there. He was bowled neck…

This is the biggest game of the T20 World Cup. India versus Pakistan generates revenue for the International Cricket Council, which in turn is used for the development of the sport. India-Pakistan matches are not merely contests between bat and ball. They are cultural events, drawing in big crowds in the stands and millions of eyeballs in front of the telly. On Sunday, India and Pakistan will square off in their T20 World Cup Group A fixture and some premium tickets are priced at $10,000. And yet, the 34,000-seater Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York is expected to…