Author: Subhayan Chakraborty

Subhayan Chakraborty in Guwahati As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the start of the ODI World Cup 2023, the Indian cricket team has initiated its preparations with an optional training session at the Amingaon Cricket Stadium. The practice took place on Friday, just a day before their first official warm-up match against England, the defending champions, scheduled to be played at the ACA Cricket Stadium in Barsapara, Guwahati on Saturday. Despite landing in Guwahati on Thursday evening, the majority of the Indian players chose to skip the optional training session. Only four players – namely Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Shubman…

Antim Panghal, a remarkable 19-year-old Indian wrestler, clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 53kg event at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia. In a stunning opening round, she defeated the reigning world champion, Dominique Olivia Parrish of the USA, with a 3-2 victory. Antim continued her impressive run, securing a Paris 2024 Olympic quota for India, a historic achievement for the nation in wrestling at the upcoming Summer Games. “There is difference between junior and senior level but not as big as I used to think. Few countries are very good but those are just two…

India have included both R Ashwin and Washington Sundar in their 15-member squad for the first two ODIs against Australia. With the World Cup looming and the team intent on testing more of the bench strength, regulars such as Rohit Sharma, the captain, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav have been rested until the third and final game. In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul will lead the side. “Ashwin has been playing consistently in Tests,” said Rohit during the virtual press conference to announce the squad. “He has got a lot of experience. It is not about his game time.…

An exciting opportunity awaits fans at the Asia Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made some plans for the India-Pakistan clash at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on September 2 (Saturday). Supporters are warmly welcome to seize this deal and secure their seats with special privileges to go with the charged atmosphere of this highly-anticipated match. Limited tickets are being released for the Grass Embankment and Scorecard Grass Embankment sections, exclusively for the Pakistan leg of the Asia Cup showdown. These tickets are priced at an affordable Rs 1500 (Sri Lankan) each. For takers of the India-Nepal game on September…

In a move that could signal yet another shift in the top leadership of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf appears to be on the brink of being removed from his role as the board chief. This potential change at the helm of the PCB comes as the country grapples with political uncertainties and transition ahead of upcoming elections. Ashraf’s rise to the chairmanship of the PCB was marked by his succession to Najam Sethi, a prominent figure in Pakistan’s cricket administration. Now, ironically, Sethi’s name is once again in the air as a potential successor to Ashraf. The…

In the annals of Indian cricket, a perennial debate rages on about players who could have, should have, and would have made a mark on the international stage. One name that consistently surfaces in this discussion is Sanju Samson. A wicketkeeper-batsman known for his clean striking and undeniable talent, Samson’s journey has been marked by fits of brilliance punctuated by moments of recklessness. As the Asia Cup 2023 squad was unveiled, the surprise exclusion of Samson in favour of Suryakumar Yadav brought this debate to the forefront once again. Over the years, Samson’s name has been synonymous with unfulfilled potential.…

It looks like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have taken significant steps towards claiming back their respective spots in the Indian ODI side ahead of the Asia Cup 2023. Both Rahul and Iyer, who have missed plenty of cricket in 2023 owing to thigh and back injuries respectively, took part in a 50-over simulation game at the KSCA ‘B’ ground on Monday in a bid to prove their fitness for the shorter format and stake a claim in the Asia Cup 2023 squad, which is expected to be announced this week. As soon as Rishabh Pant, who is currently undergoing…

In the world of cricket, the tale of Sanju Samson is one of potential unfulfilled, opportunities squandered, and a reputation tarnished. Once heralded as one of the most promising cricketers of his generation, Samson has unfortunately found himself tagged with a less-flattering moniker: “Mr Inconsistent.” With the coveted World Cup 2023 on the horizon, Samson’s inability to seize the moment has raised serious doubts about his finding a place in India’s Asia Cup and ODI World Cup squads. The recent India-West Indies series was viewed as a pivotal juncture in Samson’s career. With Shreyas Iyer nursing an injury, the stage…

Prithvi Shaw has seen it all. Hailed as a prodigy, he had taken Test cricket by storm with a debut hundred. In white-ball cricket, specifically the IPL, he made an instant impact. Just when people started saying here is the next big thing in Indian cricket, things started heading south for this talented batter. Embroiled in multiple off-the-field controversies and after an underwhelming season for Delhi Capitals, Shaw is currently out of favour with the national team. These are times that test young players. How deep is the resolve? Having seen life in the fast lane, can he take…

To no one’s surprise, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have finally cleared their men’s cricket team to travel to India for the ODI World Cup, to be held in October-November. In an official media release, the Pakistan government spoke of not mixing sport and politics. That was especially ironic because the release was loaded with political rhetoric. “Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations,” said the statement. “Pakistan’s decision shows its constructive and responsible approach vis-à-vis India’s intransigent attitude, as the latter had refused to…