Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in London The clock ticks towards what could be one of those mornings that lives forever. In just a few hours, the final day of this unforgettable Test will resume. England need 35 runs to win. They have four wickets in hand. The new ball looms in 3.4 overs. And Jamie Smith, just 25, will be at the non-striker’s end, bat in hand, on the brink of something potentially historic. Smith’s journey to this moment has been nothing short of extraordinary. Not long ago, he etched his name into the record books by becoming the youngest English wicketkeeper…

Trisha Ghosal in London Wearing Graham Thorpe’s trademark headband, Joe Root dedicated his century to his friend and mentor. With a century to his name and his side on the cusp of a dramatic win, Root came to the press conference. His partnership with Harry Brook was the moment England turned the tide, counter-punching India into submission in a Bazball-fuelled blitz. But as conditions changed and the ball began to jag around, India stormed back only for rain and bad light to halt what had become a breathless finish. Root, who paid a deeply personal tribute to his late mentor…

By Trisha Ghosal in London On a day when Harry Brook and Joe Root threatened to take the game away from India in one devastating session and a half, the Indian bowlers clawed their way back as the clouds gathered and the ball finally started to talk. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel walked into the press conference with mixed emotions — pleased with the way the seamers responded under overcast skies, but well aware that England are just 35 runs away from sealing the Test. With the match finely poised and a four-wicket shootout likely to decide it all tomorrow…

Trisha Ghosal in London When Joe Root and Harry Brook walked out after lunch at 164 for 3, needing 210 runs to script history, the task ahead looked mountainous. England have always been strong in chases, but 374 on this surface seemed a different kind of challenge altogether. Brook made his intentions clear in the very first over after lunch. He was on the charge. On 19, he offered India a chance, Mohammed Siraj misjudged his position at the boundary and it was a six. A few balls after lunch, Brook slashed hard at a short, wide delivery. With only…

Trisha Ghosal in London The scoreboard rarely tells the full story. It highlights centuries and five-fors, towering sixes and fiery spells. But amid the fire and flair, it sometimes forgets the backbone, the one who holds things together when it threatens to fall apart. In the India–England Test series of 2025, Ravindra Jadeja has been that backbone. At No.6 or lower, in foreign conditions, Jadeja has quietly mounted a historic campaign; 516 runs, six scores above 50, and an unbeaten century. It’s not just a career-best series; it’s one for the Test match annals. Only Sir Garfield Sobers and Wasim…

Trisha Ghosal in London Despite a punishing day in the field, England pacer Josh Tongue fronted up to the media after delivering one of the grittiest spells of the day. With the ball not doing as much and the pitch easing out, Tongue reflected on the team’s effort, the toll of back-to-back spells, and the challenge of chasing 374 with the series on the line. A Three-Man Attack and Tongue in Cheek England are down to three frontline bowlers, but Tongue insisted the team were still up for the fight, even if it meant getting desperate. “Not sure anyone’s hiding…

Trisha Ghosal in London On a day when India dominated with the bat and tightened their grip on the Test, centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal addressed the media after his elegant sixth Test hundred—his fourth against England. Jaiswal spoke about adapting to the pitch, building momentum after a flashy start, and how the dressing room now genuinely believes they can level the series with two days to go. “Playing with Rohit Bhai and Virat Bhai has helped me grow” Jaiswal reflected on the role senior players have played in shaping his game. “I’ve learned so much playing alongside Rohit Bhai and Virat…

Trisha Ghosal in London It was almost a repeat of Day 2. The first session was easier for batting, but the session after lunch brought more movement and sharper bowling. Gus Atkinson struck straight after the interval, dismissing Indian captain Shubman Gill first ball with one that shaped back in—exposing Gill’s recurring issues against incoming deliveries. But Yashasvi Jaiswal was immovable. Though he suffered cramps, he remained in sublime touch, punishing anything short or over-pitched. He brought up his well-deserved sixth Test hundred—his second of the series. Karun Nair was dropped, making it five missed chances for England in this…

Trisha Ghosal in London The India–England Test series has entered its penultimate lap. With India’s second innings already underway on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test, a result looks all but certain and it’s all to play for from here. India are two wickets down, with a 52-run lead. Night-watcher Akash Deep is at the crease with Yashasvi Jaiswal. On the post-show, Nasser Hussain highlighted how, over the past couple of years, Day Three at the Kia Oval has consistently proven to be the most challenging for batters in County matches. It’s the indentations on the pitch, he…

Trisha Ghosal in London “Yeah, that was the plan” – Krishna confirms attempt to provoke Root Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna revealed that the verbal exchange with Joe Root wasn’t accidental. Asked about the rare show of emotion from the usually composed English batter, Krishna said the plan was indeed to rattle him. “Yeah, that was the plan, to try and get him to react a bit,” he admitted. “But I didn’t really expect a couple of words to get such a strong response from him. He’s a legend of the game. And when two people are both out there trying…