Author: Snehasis Mukherjee

Mumbai registered a dominant 10-wicket win over Bengal in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2024 final at Wankhede Stadium. Bengal’s batting faltered, allowing Mumbai to chase down the modest 86-run target comfortably, with 45 balls remaining. Bengal captain Saika Ishaque opted to bat first after winning the toss, carrying forward the confidence from their semi-final win over Himachal Pradesh while batting first. However, the decision proved costly, as Bengal collapsed to 85 all out in 20 overs. Their struggles were largely due to poor shot selection and poor running between the wickets, rather than an extraordinary bowling performance from Mumbai.…

The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024-25 is in full swing, with all the teams having played at least five or more games. Sydney Thunder lead the standings with eight points from five games (four wins and a loss), while the next five teams are tied at six points each. The Melbourne Stars sit in second-last place with four points (two wins from five games), and the Adelaide Strikers are at the bottom with just one win in five games. Notably, six Indian players are representing four different franchises and they have already made impactful contributions with both bat and…

Nine-man East Bengal put up a memorable fight for their fans and secured a 0-0 draw against arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting. This draw earned them their first point of the ISL season, but it was the players’ determined fight that made headlines. Despite the positives, there are a few areas where East Bengal could get better. Here are the key talking points: Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh’s immaturity Both wingers, Nandhakumar Sekar and Mahesh Singh, are key players for the Red and Gold brigade. However, their actions, made in frustration, were unacceptable. In the 28th minute, Nandhakumar received a straight…

Nine-man East Bengal put up a brilliant fight against Mohammedan Sporting, as the Kolkata Derby ended in a goalless stalemate in the Indian Super League (ISL) at Salt Lake Stadium. Red cards for Naorem Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar Sekar left the red-and-gold brigade in a tough spot, with over 60 minutes remaining. However, Mohammedan Sporting’s inability to find the net left their fans frustrated with the final result. Before the game, rumours circulated that Jeakson Singh might start in central defence alongside Anwar Ali, replacing Hijazi Maher. But East Bengal began with the centre-back pairing of Hijazi and Anwar. Riding…

India started off the four-match T20I series against South Africa with a massive 61-run win at the Kingsmead, Durban. First, Sanju Samson’s outstanding second T20I century set the tone, and then India’s entire bowling unit, particularly the spinners, delivered a strong performance to secure the victory for the visitors. After winning the toss, Proteas skipper Aiden Markram chose to field first. For India, Sanju and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings, but it was not an ideal start for the visitors. Gerald Coetzee dismissed Abhishek for seven runs, bringing India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, to the crease. Suryakumar and Sanju formed a…

East Bengal fans celebrated yesterday as their team returned from Bhutan, having qualified for the AFC Challenge League 2024/25 quarterfinals. The team stayed unbeaten in the group stage, finishing on top with seven points from two wins and a draw. Next, they will face Turkmenistan’s Arkadag FC in a two-leg quarterfinal in March 2025. However, fans will now hope for a turnaround in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) season. East Bengal have lost all six matches so far and sits at the bottom of the 13-team table. This poor start has shocked many, especially given the talent in the…

East Bengal secured a spot in the AFC Challenge League quarter-finals with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Lebanon’s champions, Nejmeh SC, at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu, Bhutan. Their star striker, Dimitrios Diamantakos, scored a brace as the Kolkata giants advanced to the knockouts of an Asian tournament for the first time in 11 years. This tournament has brought new energy to East Bengal’s players, staff and fans. Despite being winless in six Indian Super League (ISL) games, they have qualified for the quarter-finals of this prestigious tournament, remaining undefeated across all three group matches. Despite getting injured in the…

East Bengal’s winless streak finally ended last night, as they defeated Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings 4-0 in their second group stage match of the AFC Challenge League in Thimphu, Bhutan. All four goals came in the first half, making it feel as though the game was already decided. The Bangladeshi side looked completely disjointed, delivering a surprisingly poor first-half performance. However, the real test for the Red and Gold brigade will be in their next match against Nejmeh SC. Yet, this victory has sparked significant talking points among East Bengal fans. First half with World-Class goals and a clean sheet It…

East Bengal aims to get back to winning ways as they face Bangladesh’s Basundhara Kings in the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 group stage at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium. In their tournament opener, the Red and Gold brigade had a chance to end a six-game losing streak from the Indian Super League (ISL). However, they could only manage a 2-2 draw against Paro FC, missing multiple opportunities to score. Meanwhile, Basundhara suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC. Both teams will push for a win, as a loss today could end their progression hopes. Following the draw with Paro FC,…

After a strong start to the series, India’s women’s cricket team suffered a heavy 76-run loss in the second ODI against New Zealand, while chasing a target of 260. With the series now tied, fans eagerly await today’s decider at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. However, the persistent struggle in run chases has become a critical concern for this Indian team in the 50-over format. In the past two years, India has won just one out of their last six ODIs while chasing, with four losses and a tie. Their last successful chase was against South Africa in June 2024 in…