Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

Subhayan Chakraborty in Perth KL Rahul has often found himself at the receiving end of social media criticism. Trolls, especially from the IPL generation, have made life tough for him online due to his perceived lack of ‘intent’ in the shortest format of the game. However, Rahul has somewhat been India’s rescuer in the longest format, particularly in overseas conditions. Yes, fans might point to his Test average of 34.29, which doesn’t quite reflect his talent. Yet, one can’t overlook that some of India’s finest overseas Test innings in recent times have come from Rahul’s bat. Even on Saturday, while…

By Subhayan Chakraborty from Perth Leading India is never an easy task, especially with the regular skipper and key batters missing. But Jasprit Bumrah is cut from a different cloth. Calm and composed during the pre-match press conference on the eve of the Perth Test, Bumrah was fiery and decisive with the ball in the final session of Day 1 against Australia. In his initial six-over spell, Bumrah caused all sorts of trouble for the hosts. India were under pressure, bowled out for a meagre 150 after a stellar bowling display by the Aussies. Coming off a 0-3 whitewash at…

Subhayan Chakraborty at the Optus Stadium “5-0 to Australia,” said one local fan outside the Optus Stadium in Perth as the Indian team bus carrying a few players and coaching staff left the venue on the eve of the opening Test between the two top sides. “It could be reversed,” cheekily quipped an Indian fan waiting to catch a glimpse of the Indian players. The banter and anticipation is there to be seen. Not only among the fans, but it could get quite fiery between the two teams when play begins, and why not? The long-standing and storied rivalry…

Team India, on Tuesday, conducted their first training session at the Optus Stadium in Perth as the opening Test of the five-match series, starting on November 22, drew closer. The dome-shaped stadium could be intimidating, as seen through the eyes of Devdutt Padikkal, who was asked to stay back with the Indian team after his assignment with the ‘A’ side. Among the players, the southpaw was the first to walk into the hallowed ground, taking a 360-degree view of the stadium as his eyes lit up in wonder. Steadily, the coaching staff and a few players, including Virat Kohli…

The Team Rajasthan Royals, despite assembling a strong core, have failed to clinch the IPL title in recent seasons. The Royals have showcased some impressive cricket over the past few years, yet they’ve consistently fallen short when it comes to being a dominant force in the final stages of the tournament. They reached the playoffs twice in the last three seasons, finishing as runners-up in the 2022 edition. However, the Royals are now aiming to construct a squad capable of breaking through and securing their first title since the IPL’s inaugural season. Under Sanju Samson’s captaincy, RR have made significant…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Kolkata The draws for the sixth edition of the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz were revealed in Kolkata on Tuesday. The spotlight is on Magnus Carlsen, the former chess world champion, who is set to challenge Indian teenage sensation R Praggnanandhaa in both Rapid and Blitz sections. Carlsen, a five-time world champion, returns to the tournament after his triumph in 2019. Scheduled from November 13 to 17 at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Alipore, Kolkata, the event boasts a prize pot of USD 41,500, equal for men and women. It maintains its tradition with Open…

Nitish Kumar Reddy has been taking massive strides in the world of cricket. From winning the Emerging Player of the Tournament in IPL 2024 to making his debut for India in the T20Is against Bangladesh, Nitish is being trusted as someone who can become India’s premier fast-bowling all-rounder in the future. For the 21-year-old, the much-awaited India’s tour of Australia will be the first real challenge in his short international career. Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Nitish, in a freewheeling interview, talked about a range of things – from getting the India cap, dealing with pressure, Gautam Gambhir, tips from…

For any cricket enthusiast in India, following India’s tour of Australia is nothing short of a thrilling rollercoaster ride. From waking up as early as five in the morning to going through the emotional, topsy turvy challenges of taking on the Aussies throughout the day, it has always been a treat to follow the Blues in the chilly Indian winters. As a fan growing up, going to bed early, setting the alarm clock just to watch two top teams locking horns in a fiercely competitive environment became a norm. It wasn’t every day we witnessed India playing Test cricket Down…

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to approach the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee and is also considering withdrawing from the ICC Champions Trophy following the BCCI informing the global cricket body that they will not play their matches in Pakistan, according to sources familiar with the matter. ICC has formally conveyed the BCCI’s stance to the PCB as well. The BCCI has not obtained government clearance to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, which is scheduled for February 2025. While there has been discussion about adopting a hybrid model where India’s matches could be held in Dubai, the PCB…

Dhruv Jurel has carved out a notable presence for himself. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter turned heads with his stellar performances in the unofficial second Test for India A against Australia A, making a compelling case for his inclusion in the Indian playing XI in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In the second unofficial Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jurel found himself walking in at dire moments for India A. Facing a top-order collapse in both innings, he displayed an uncanny ability to stabilise the ship. His 80 off 186 balls was nothing short of heroic, coming after a time when the…