Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

Subhayan Chakraborty in Mumbai Indian cricketers are always under the microscope, and criticism comes thick and fast when players are not having consistent returns. Over the last few years, players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill have been the mainstay in the middle order and all of them have gone through their fair share of criticism when not on song. Now, the spotlight shifts to KL Rahul, who is in a contest with Sarfaraz Khan for the crucial No. 6 batting position, especially with India’s upcoming five-Test series against Australia around the corner. A…

Subhayan Chakrabarty in Pune India’s journey to qualify for the World Test Championship is currently precarious, with the future participation of veteran players like Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin in doubt due to potential retirements. Their departure could usher in a challenging era of transition for the Indian cricket team. But who are the potential replacements of some of the senior-most players of the Indian team – Rohit, Virat Kohli, Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami – when the time comes for them to bid adieu to the longest format? The likelihood of Rohit Sharma continuing through another WTC cycle…

Skipper Rohit Sharma accepted feeling ‘hurt’ after India suffered a home Test series defeat against New Zealand, as the hosts lost the second Test in Pune by 113 runs to concede the three-match rubber. This was India’s first home Test series loss since 2012 as the Black Caps dominated the proceedings at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Despite the defeat, Rohit didn’t throw his players under the bus as he said he doesn’t doubt anyone’s ability in the longest format of the game. “I do not doubt anyone’s ability. I won’t do much postmortem of this, but batters must…

Mitchell Santner ripped through the Indian batting order in the Pune Test, finishing with his career best figures of 7/53 as the hosts were wrapped up for 156 runs. Santner, before the Pune Test, had 54 wickets in 28 Tests. He had never taken more than three scalps in an innings. His average in seven Tests in Asia stood at a whopping 53.29 but he turned the match in favour of New Zealand single-handedly with the ball. The left-arm spinner changed his pace impeccably to trouble the Indian batters throughout the day. “At the start, I was kind of…

Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel applauded the New Zealand bowlers for adapting to the conditions perfectly as they put constant pressure on India during the second Test at the MCA Stadium in Pune. He also added that it is a great opportunity for someone from the Indian team to inspire a comeback, with the Men in Blue on the verge of their first home Test series defeat since 2012. New Zealand wrecked havoc with the ball while showing immense grit and determination with the bat, as the visitors found themselves at 198/5 in the second innings with a massive…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Pune Washington Sundar ran through New Zealand batting, registering his career-best figures of 7/59 on Day 1 of the second Test, as the visitors were bundled out for 259. Following a surprise call-up to the Indian squad after the Kiwis won the Bengaluru Test, Washington spun a web around the opposition, justifying what was a high-risk selection call by the Indian team management. “Everything that happened today was pleasing, right from the start. Going to play this game, getting to come back to the Test squad, getting to play in the XI. There are a lot of…

Shortly after lunch was called, On Day 1 of the second Test between India and New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, a significant number of fans lined up opposite the media box. They were protesting the lack of free drinking water at the venue as temperatures soared above 31 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Fans reported that the water containers were empty within the first hour of the match. It’s worth noting that ever since the 2023 ODI World Cup, the BCCI mandated all state associations to provide free drinking water during international matches. As fans queued up for…

Subhayan Chakrabarty in Pune KL Rahul, despite a respectable 68 runs in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh, is under scrutiny regarding his position in India’s middle order after failing to perform in Bengaluru against New Zealand. His performance has sparked debate, especially after Sarfaraz Khan’s impressive 150-run innings against the Black Caps. Additionally, Shubman Gill’s recovery from a neck strain and Rishabh Pant’s availability in Pune add to the selection dilemma. While it remains unclear whether Sarfaraz or Rahul will make way for Gill, head coach Gautam Gambhir has voiced his support for Rahul. Gambhir dismissed the influence of social…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Pune After New Zealand shocked India in Bengaluru to take a 1-0 lead, the hosts are looking to make a comeback in the three-Test series. India haven’t lost a home series since 2012, and to avoid a slip-up, they will have to bounce back in Pune. Against this backdrop, the pitch preparation at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium has caught attention. It’s a black soil pitch, but what makes the build-up interesting is how senior curators Tapas Chatterjee and Ashish Bhowmick have been overseeing the preparation of the match strip. On Tuesday morning, two days before…

Subhayan Chakraborty in Pune Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli were among the first to bat at the nets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The session followed a brief stint by pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, as India prepared for the crucial second Test after trailing 0-1 against New Zealand in Bengaluru. The spotlight was on Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul due to concerns over Pant’s right knee and Rahul’s batting form leading up to the Pune Test. While Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep bowled at one net, the emphasis of…