Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds The intensity was top-class, as the Indian players and coaching staff stepped onto the field at Headingley in Leeds on Wednesday. After a quick glance at the lush green pitch, which will have 8-millimetre of grass for the game, the new strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux led the players for a round of warm-up in synchrony following which there was a fun fielding session led by T Dilip. However, as soon as the nets started, one player stood out. Jasprit Bumrah looked like a different beast with the new Dukes in hand. Even when…

Subhayan Chakraborty from Leeds Shortly after arriving in Leeds, many Team India players and members of the support staff were seen having a stroll around the Leeds City Centre. Some others chose a round of golf. The likes of KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy went for coffee in the nearby joints, while Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj opted for a walk. Karun, after having a quick coffee, went to play golf. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling coach Morne Morkel were off to the nearby golf course. Batting coach…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Leeds As preparations for the first of the five Tests between India and England continue at the Headingley in Leeds, scheduled to start on June 20, chief curator Richard Robinson is contemplating leaving a considerable amount of grass on the pitch. He thinks 300 is going to be a good first-innings total. Before the clock hit the noon mark on Monday, four days before the first Test, Robinson and his fellow ground staff were seen grinding it out, rolling the pitch, which boasted a lush green look, while also maintaining a decent amount of moisture. It hasn’t…

With Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) winning the IPL 2025 trophy after 18 long years, Vijay Mallya, the founder of the franchise in 2008, in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, talked about his raw emotions of seeing RCB lift the trophy, the journey of Virat Kohli with RCB, how his failed bid of Mumbai got him Bengaluru, Lalit Modi’s initial pitch about the tournament, the celebrations outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that turned tragic, the growth of IPL and much more. Here are the excerpts: Q) Serious things first, what is your reaction to what happened outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium?…

As Shubman Gill steps into the role of India’s Test captain for the upcoming India versus England series, he inherits a team in serious transition with critical decisions looming large. With the first Test at Headingley just two weeks away, the team combination remains a closely guarded secret, as both Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have stayed tight-lipped during the pre-departure press conference. With the Indian team set to start a camp at Beckenham from Sunday, a key dilemma revolves around pace-bowling all-rounder’s slot, with Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy in contention. However, their recent performances with India A…

It was a majestic evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their trophy drought by defeating Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final by six runs. Those watching the match saw Virat Kohli break down during the last over, as he experienced a quick flashback of all the struggles and heartbreaks with the franchise over the past 18 seasons. With every Josh Hazlewood delivery in the 20th over, Kohli struggled to hold back his emotions. After sealing the win, the RCB players jumped, hugged, cried, and danced, rejoicing in a historic moment for the…

The big day has arrived when the Indian Premier League will crown a new champion, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to take on Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The summit clash is expected to be a fascinating contest, with two table-toppers locking horns after each securing 19 points at the end of the league stage, differentiated only by a slight margin in net run rate. RCB emerged victorious in Qualifier 1, directly entering the finale, whereas PBKS took the longer route, defeating Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to reach the final stage of what has been…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Ahmedabad With the Indian Premier League 2025 final one-sleep away, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings captains, Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer, addressed the pre-match press conference, sharing their excitement on the eve of the summit clash at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While the pressure and expectations are there to lift the glittering trophy, both captains acknowledged that they want to “control the controllables” and play the best cricket possible on the big day. “Expectations come naturally, especially when you’re leading a team like RCB in a final, but I always focus on what’s in my…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Ahmedabad The Indian Premier League will crown a new champion when Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Punjab Kings in the grand finale on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With Qualifier 2 between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians starting on Sunday and concluding on Monday due to rain interruptions, Punjab Kings will have no rest day before taking on RCB, who enjoyed a five-day break. Nevertheless, both teams share an equal hunger to lift the glittering IPL trophy. Despite Mumbai Indians posting 203/6, Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 87 off 41 balls stood out against the five-time…

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will be host to a high-stakes clash between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2025. The winner earns a coveted spot in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) while the loser bows out. With both teams packing firepower, the do-or-die encounter promises a thrilling spectacle. Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, are riding high after a commanding 20-run victory over Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator. Rohit Sharma’s vintage 81 and Jonny Bairstow’s explosive 47 off 22 balls showcased MI’s batting depth, while Jasprit Bumrah’s match-turning spell underlined their…