Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

-Subhayan Chakraborty from Chennai Before the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, finalists, Kolkata Knight Riders got a golden opportunity to train at the venue as they gear up to lift their first IPL trophy since 2014 and third overall after stellar display of all-round cricket so far in the tournament. KKR finished first in the group stage while dismantling SRH in the Qualifier 1 in Ahmedabad and the mood in the camp showed glimpses of a happy and confident side. KKR began their practice session with a light…

Subhayan Chakraborty from Chennai Walking around the MA Chidambaram Stadium on the eve of Qualifier 2 game of IPL 2024 between SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, one would hardly guess that a crucial match was scheduled at this iconic venue. This stands in stark contrast to the IPL opener, where Bells Road in Triplicane was buzzing with fans eager to secure tickets. The reason? Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were playing, and their talismanic captain MS Dhoni was back in action. However, with CSK failing to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs, the atmosphere on Thursday was markedly subdued. Despite one…

Subhayan Chakraborty from Bhubaneswar Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion in javelin throw, clinched the gold medal in what was his return to competition on Indian soil, after a gap of three years, at the Federation Cup held in Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium on Wednesday. India’s ‘golden boy’ wasn’t at his fluent self as he maintained a controlled approach, conserving energy while delivering consistently strong throws. There were other factors as well which led to Chopra not going full throttle at the event with little gap between the Doha Diamond League, and mounting heat and humidity in Bhubaneswar. Chopra’s best throw…

Subhayan Chakraborty from Bhubaneswar There’s a buzz around Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, venue for the 27th Federation Cup athletic championship. From auto drivers to hotel staffers, almost everyone knows India’s golden boy is returning home. After three years of international triumphs, Neeraj Chopra is set to grace home soil again, headlining the final day of action. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and Odisha Sports have made entry free for the event scheduled to start at 7pm on Wednesday. As soon as Neeraj landed in Biju Patnaik International Airport, a swarm of reporters encircled the Olympic and world champion for…

Leading the charge for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Virat Kohli once again showcased his prowess in an eye-catching batting show against the Punjab Kings. At the picturesque stadium in Dharamsala, Kohli’s knock was a testament to his enduring brilliance and unmatched consistency in the Indian Premier League (IPL). From the outset, Kohli set the tone for RCB’s innings, capitalising on the invitation to bat first from Punjab Kings’ stand-in skipper Sam Curran. Demonstrating his trademark risk-free style of accumulation, Kohli was all class after initial challenges, including a dropped catch on nought. A few mistimed hits landed in no…

Royal Challengers Bengaluru extended their winning streak to four matches as they defeated Punjab Kings by a massive margin of 60 runs. It kept them in the IPL 2024 playoff race, while bolstering their net run rate significantly to 0.22. Chasing RCB’s 241/7, PBKS were bowled out for 181 in 17 overs. RCB, however, still need a few other results to go their way. PBKS, on the other hand, are now out of the top-four reckoning. Virat Kohli dominated the show with the bat, with support from Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green. RCB, then, followed it up with a professional…

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is heating up as Punjab Kings (PBKS) prepare to lock horns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in what promises to be a thrilling encounter in match 58 of the tournament. Set to take place at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, both teams find themselves in a similar position on the points table, with four victories each and eyeing a crucial win to bolster their playoff chances. PBKS, currently standing at the eighth position, had a roller-coaster journey in the recent matches. After securing wins against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR),…

Time and again, Kolkata Knight Riders have relied on Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy to bail them out. The two came into play in a big way once more on Friday, after Shreyas Iyer turned to them during the Powerplay, with KKR defending a lowly total of 169 at Wankhede Stadium. It had been 12 years since KKR’s last victory over Mumbai Indians in Mumbai, and after the first innings, consensus among the pundits on broadcast and social media was a home team win. For KKR, the turnaround started with Narine and Varun. The spinners operated in tandem, finishing with…

Kolkata Knight Riders recorded their first win against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium after 2012, by defending an apparently low total of 169. It was a complete bowling performance by the Knights, with Mitchell Starc, Andre Russell and the spin duo of Narine-Varun shining with the ball. Starc will be delighted to finish with four wickets, including three in his final over that ended the match. KKR strengthened their second place on the points table with 14 points from 10 matches. MI are officially out of playoff contention, with six from 11. Salt-Narine duo fails Sunil Narine and Phil…

After five matches at home, Kolkata Knight Riders move to Wankhede Stadium to take on a struggling Mumbai Indians on Friday. Despite Mumbai boasting 23 wins in 32 matches between the two, KKR will enter the contest as favourites. They are second on the points table with 12 points from nine games. MI are ninth with six points from 10 matches. The last win for KKR at the Wankhede came back in 2012. But Shreyas Iyer’s team has emerged as a force to reckon with this season, showing exceptional teamwork from the outset. The opening duo of Phil Salt and…