Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in London After bowling India back into the contest on a surface that got quicker as the day progressed, Jasprit Bumrah became the latest Indian name etched into the Lord’s Honours Board. No Joy in the Moment: “I Was Just Tired” Yet, there was no celebration after he completed the five-wicket haul. “No sir, there is no headline. I was just tired. That’s the reality,” Bumrah said, when asked why he looked underwhelmed despite a five-wicket haul. “I’m not 21 or 22 anymore to jump around. I was happy to contribute, but it was a long day. I…

Trisha Ghosal in London It was a sea of red at Lord’s — caps, shirts, and heart — as fans stood united on Ruth Strauss Foundation Day. The sun beat down on the hallowed turf, but Jasprit Bumrah brought the real heat. From an overnight 251 for 4 with Joe Root well set on 99 and Ben Stokes looking ominous, England collapsed in a heap — losing three wickets for 20 runs. It was Bumrah, breathing fire from the Nursery End, who triggered the implosion and tilted the Test firmly in India’s favour. This wasn’t swing under cloud cover; this…

Trisha Ghosal in London Even from the hallowed Lord’s press box, a shiver ran down the spine as Jasprit Bumrah, in his much-anticipated return to the Indian playing XI, delivered a ball that defied the very nature of this placid track. Harry Brook, a batsman in ominous form, was simply left bewildered, his stumps rattled by a delivery that seemed to curve late and kiss the top of off stump. It was a peach – a truly unplayable ball on a pitch that offered little encouragement for the pacers – and a stark reminder of why Bumrah is simply indispensable…

Trisha Ghosal in London On a day of attrition at Lord’s where England bucked their own trend by batting slowly, India’s bowlers stuck to their basics. Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled a composed and disciplined spell, impressing with control, swing, and temperament. He picked up both the openers in one over. At stumps, he fronted the media, reflecting on the day’s grind, his injury comeback, and the lessons from mentors like Pat Cummins and Morne Morkel. On Mentors, Morkel & Pat Cummins Asked about his development since the Australia tour, Reddy spoke with humility. “After the Australia tour, I realised consistency…

Trisha Ghosal in London A sweltering Day 1 at Lord’s saw England bat at a pedestrian three runs per over — a throwback to pre-Bazball Test cricket. Joe Root’s unbeaten 99 was the anchor as England reached 250/4 after choosing to bat first. Despite early movement, India couldn’t fully capitalise, while England, cautious and calculated, ground their way through. After play, Ollie Pope addressed the press and tackled questions on tempo, tactics, spin, and more. Bazball gone missing? Or just adapting to the conditions? With whispers of “classic cricket” echoing from the comm box to the opposition, Pope acknowledged the…

By Trisha Ghosal in London From Madhya Pradesh age-group cricket to Lord’s, via a club in Manchester — Abhay Tipnis has had quite the journey. The left-arm spinner, who was one of the net bowlers at England’s practice session before the third Test, spoke to RevSportz on being handpicked by MCC, bowling to Joe Root and Ben Stokes, and trying to bowl like Jadeja. Excerpts: Is this your first stint as a net bowler for an international side? No, I’ve done it before for MCC during Tests at Lord’s and also a bit in the IPL. It’s always a good…

Trisha Ghosal in London The iconic home of cricket, Lord’s, witnessed a fascinating display of intent from the Indian pace attack during yesterday’s matchday minus-two optional practice session. Still basking in the glow of their Edgbaston triumph, where the use of the crease by bowlers like Akash Deep proved decisive, the Indian quicks were clearly focused on mastering this critical skill. The Edgbaston Test saw India’s pacers, particularly the impressive Akash Deep, leverage the width of the crease to devastating effect. By operating from wider angles, they introduced significant lateral movement off the pitch, making it a nightmare for the…

By Trisha Ghosal in London The turnaround between India’s emphatic Test win at Edgbaston and the third Test at Lord’s is brief. The team arrived in London yesterday, and today at the ‘Home of Cricket’, on matchday minus two, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addressed the media with sharp insight into India’s batting mindset, Gill’s purple patch, Rishabh Pant’s process, and how Lord’s may pose fresh challenges. Is this ‘aggressive’ red-ball batting? Or just high-skill batting? Kotak was quick to clarify what many are terming as “aggressive” cricket. “Even if they don’t look for runs actively, we’re still scoring at nearly…

Trisha Ghosal in London There’s barely time to breathe between India’s historic Test victory at Edgbaston and the third Test at the ‘Home of Cricket’, Lord’s. After arriving in London on Monday, the Indian squad opted for an optional training session today, two days out from the match. But if one were to pick up clues from the nets, Karun Nair appears primed to retain the No.3 spot. Since the first Test, the debate has lingered — Sai Sudharsan or Karun Nair? At Headingley, both featured: Sai at No. 3, Karun at 6. In the second Test at Edgbaston, it…

Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham The roar that rippled through Edgbaston on Sunday wasn’t just a celebration of India’s record 336-run victory over England; it was a collective exhale, a sigh of relief that swept through the press box and settled deep within the soul of Gautam Gambhir, the head coach. From the writer’s perch high above the manicured turf, one could almost feel the burden lift from his shoulders as the final wicket fell, sealing India’s first-ever Test win at this storied venue. For a man whose white-ball coaching tenure gleams with the recent Champions Trophy triumph and an enviable…