Author: Trisha Ghosal

By Trisha Ghosal Harmanpreet Kaur’s century at Chester-le-Street was spectacular, a captain’s innings at a time her team needed her most. It sealed the series for India and gave fans a moment to remember. But what followed, the Player of the Series announcement, felt like deja vu. Not because Harmanpreet doesn’t deserve acclaim, but because a young player, quietly producing gold across the series, was denied her moment in the sun. That player was Kranti Goud. On her debut tour, she wasn’t just impressive. She was decisive. And she was ignored. Kranti’s Spells Were Not Just Statistics — They Were…

By Trisha Ghosal in Manchester In an unusual yet fitting twist, India have turned to the same left-arm spinner England used just days ago to prepare for Ravindra Jadeja, Madhya Pradesh’s Abhay Tipnis, to now mimic Liam Dawson, England’s newly drafted spinner for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. With Shoaib Bashir ruled out due to injury, England brought in the experienced Dawson. And with the series at 2-1 in England’s favour, Gautam Gambhir and Ryan ten Doeschate are leaving no room for uncertainty. Wanting to expose their batters to Dawson’s rhythm and trajectory, they called on Tipnis, a left-arm…

By Trisha Ghosal in Manchester Mohammed Siraj has brushed off any mystery around his tireless energy with the ball. Speaking to the media two days before the fourth Test against England, India’s tireless fast bowler says his only goal is to save his best for the country. “Playing for India is all the energy I need” “There’s no secret. When you play for your country, that’s the biggest motivation. My only goal is to give everything on the field, no regrets, no ‘what-ifs’ when I go to bed,” he said. “Lord’s still hurts, I felt invincible with the bat” Siraj…

By Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham It was India’s day again at Edgbaston. After reducing England to 84/5, the visitors looked set to dominate. But then came a stunning 303-run partnership between Harry Brook and Jamie Smith that brought England roaring back. However, a late collapse triggered by the second new ball saw England all out for 407. England are trailing by 244, India still have nine wickets in hand, the game seems to be slipping, but Brook believes there’s still hope. After stumps, he addressed the press. On where the match stands “Yeah, they’re ahead at the moment. But in…

Trisha Ghosal in Manchester The skies were leaden over Manchester, the drizzle almost rhythmic as it rolled off the roofs around Old Trafford. It was the 20th of July, three days before the Test match begins. India’s first training session in the city was an optional one and sparsely attended. Practice took place quietly behind closed doors, and for a journalist who thrives on noise, people, and unexpected colour, the day had settled into an uninspired greyness. So I did what I love most on such days. I went walking, notebook tucked away, accreditation lanyard around my neck, and both…

By Trisha Ghosal in Manchester In the summer of 2019, Gigg Lane went still. Bury FC, 134 years old, beloved, broken, was expelled from the Football League. Financial mismanagement, ownership chaos, and systemic neglect left a proud football town without its heartbeat. The men’s team vanished. The stadium fell silent. But something else quietly endured. Between covering the India vs England men’s Test series, I travelled to Bury. It wasn’t an assignment, it was personal. Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia had once played here, making history in 1999 as the first Indian to sign with an English professional club. I…

Trisha Ghosal at Lord’s The skies above Lord’s are grey, the air heavy with history, and the Indian women’s team walks into the hallowed ground with a chance to script a story that goes far beyond just another bilateral win. India leads the three-match ODI series 1–0 against England. A win today won’t just seal the series; it could unlock a wave of belief. With the ODI World Cup at home just two months away, every match becomes a rehearsal for greatness. Winning both the T20I and ODI legs on English soil? That would be a serious statement. Not just…

Trisha Ghosal in Manchester There’s a kind of melancholy that only the Kolkata Maidan can cure. The soft slush of dew under your shoes on a December morning. The first crack of bat on ball echoing across fog-laced fields. The unmistakable scent of burning leaves somewhere in the distance. Little kids in oversized jerseys chasing dreams on patches of grass barely big enough for boundaries. And a younger version of me, cross-legged under a gulmohar tree with a packet of chola badaam (roasted groundnuts and chickpeas) in hand, watching a random club match with a seriousness that rivalled Eden Gardens.…

Trisha Ghosal in Manchester The Lionesses are one game away from the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. They’ve trained relentlessly, studied opponents, survived injuries, and faced pressure. And then, at the pre-quarterfinal pressconference, someone asked about Love Island. You’d laugh – if it weren’t so infuriating. This isn’t a one-off. It’s a pattern. Women athletes, at the peak of their profession, consistently find themselves answering questions about anything but their profession. Style, relationships, reality TV – pick your poison. Meanwhile, their male counterparts are grilled on pressing tactics, injury management, psychological preparedness, and legacy. Serena Williams, one of…

Trisha Ghosal in London After five relentless days and one final act of defiance from Shoaib Bashir’s bruised hand, England edged India by 22 runs in a classic at Lord’s. It’s the kind of win that usually sparks champagne and noise—but Ben Stokes, drained and thoughtful, spoke more like a man recovering from battle than celebrating conquest. In his post-match press conference, the England skipper addressed his side’s intensity, the quiet triumph of Bashir, the physical toll on himself, and the controlled aggression of both sides in a series on a knife edge. “Pretty cooked”: Was there anything left in…