Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy going on, the IPL has taken a backseat and the buzz will perhaps resume once the auction date comes closer, in and around December. However, the controversial founder of IPL – Lalit Modi – is never out of the news, and possible controversies. Modi was recently in the news after the prime minister of Vanuatu ordered the cancellation of a passport issued by the island nation to the fugitive, who is wanted by India in a corruption case. But controversy is nothing new for Modi. Be it during his stint as the president of Rajasthan Cricket…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Birmingham When Shoaib Bashir and Ravindra Jadeja extracted significant turn on the Headingley pitch during days 4 and 5 of the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, one question dominated discussions: “Where is Kuldeep Yadav?” As India’s Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur leaked runs at economy rates of over six and five, and Jadeja conceded 100 runs in the fourth innings – a career first – Kuldeep’s absence was keenly felt. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley helped comfortably chase down the mammoth 371-run target, supported by Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jamie Smith. When India began their…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Birmingham After a five-wicket defeat in Headingley, Team India started their preparation for the crucial second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday. The visitors started their day with an intense fielding session with all the players participating in it. The Indians had dropped multiple game-changing catches in the first Test to go 0-1 down in the five-match series. After the fielding session, which included slip catching, flat catching and direct hit drills, all the players barring Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna, hit the nets to fine-tune their game in the build-up to the Edgbaston Test. Bumrah…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Birmingham Jofra Archer is poised for a potential Test comeback after over four years, included in England’s 15-player squad for the upcoming match against India at Edgbaston. The 30-year-old, who burst onto the international scene in 2019, hasn’t featured in a Test since 2021 due to persistent injuries. Multiple surgeries for a recurring elbow stress fracture and a back injury that sidelined him for the entire 2022 summer disrupted his career. Archer resumed white-ball cricket in 2023, but further elbow issues kept him out for another summer. He joins an unchanged squad from England’s incredible five-wicket…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds Five runs in two innings, just six overs in the first innings and 10 overs in the second with two wickets – that was Shardul Thakur’s contribution upon his return to India Test XI since December 2023. Despite decent cloud cover and windy conditions, Thakur wasn’t used much with the ball in the first innings. And when required to contribute runs with the bat, the Mumbai man disappointed big time, failing to either arrest the lower-order collapse or score brisk runs. When Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna struggled to get going in the first innings,…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds Rishabh Pant is a blockbuster player, no iota of doubt about that. He is an entertainer, a box-office attraction, and someone who will instil fear into opposition minds whenever he is at the crease. Pant is the equivalent of what Ronaldinho was for football. Fearless, a risk-taker and impactful. With the range of shots he has in his armoury, it can look like he is attempting too many things at the same time. He might look silly when things don’t come off, but he is a thoroughbred match-winner, perhaps the biggest for India in Test cricket…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds On Day 1 at lunch in Headingley, India had suddenly dipped into trouble, having lost KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan in the last two overs before the break. Despite having dominated the opening session, they were 92/2. The fans with trumpets at the Western Terrace were getting louder, the home supporters lined up to grab their drinks on a happier note, with England sensing a strong comeback. Post the break, walked in India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill. With the pressure of replacing Rohit Sharma as the leader of the group and Virat Kohli at No.…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds The second game of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle begins at Headingley in Leeds on Friday with England hosting an India side transitioning from the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. England, who placed fifth in the last WTC cycle, meet third-placed India for the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, in a five-Test series promising high stakes and intense cricket. However, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing a heat-health alert for the Yorkshire and Humber region on Thursday, the weather is likely to play a significant role in the series opener. With the temperature…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds Shubman Gill, on the eve of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, reckoned that winning a Test series in England, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand (SENA countries) is a much bigger achievement than winning an IPL trophy, while also revealing his vision for Team India in the longest format of the game. With Gill starting his tenure as India Test captain, he would be looking to end the 18-year drought on English soil. India haven’t won a Test series in England since 2007. “Definitely the Test Series, in my opinion (winning). You…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds Two days before the start of the first of the five-Test series between India and England, the Indian team vice-captain Rishabh Pant confirmed that new skipper Shubman Gill will bat at No. 4, taking the spot from Virat Kohli. The latter has hung up his Test boots. When asked about the batting combination, Pant revealed that while the discussion around the No. 3 spot is still on, Gill is going to bat at No. 4 while Pant himself will bat at No. 5. “There is still discussion going on, who is going to play (at number)…