Author: Trisha Ghosal

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…

Trisha Ghosal in London Injury replacements? “Test cricket doesn’t need fixing” England’s lead batting coach Marcus Trescothick believes the purity of Test cricket should not be tampered with, even as debates continue around allowing replacements for injuries like dislocations and fractures. Speaking after a gripping day’s play at The Oval, Trescothick stood firm on preserving tradition. “It’s a good question, and I know there’s been plenty of media discussion around it,” he said. “But personally, I think we tinker with the game too much already. Test cricket has stood the test of time. I wouldn’t change anything at the moment.”…

Trisha Ghosal in London On the eve of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Mohammed Siraj faced the press. When asked whether he bowls better in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, he had said, “I feel proud. Even in 2023, I was India’s top wicket-taker when Bumrah wasn’t around. That responsibility brings the best out of me.” And today at The Kia Oval, it was no different. With Bumrah released from the squad and unavailable for the fifth and final Test, Siraj once again took on the role of pace spearhead. Before lunch, he couldn’t quite find his rhythm and…