Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in Manchester It was a day where fortunes swung sharply at Old Trafford. India, after bossing the morning session on a lively surface, saw England claw back with key wickets after lunch. Among the bright spots was Sai Sudharsan, who made his maiden Test fifty, showing composure despite an early reprieve. But just when India looked to consolidate, Rishabh Pant suffered a serious foot injury and had to be helped off. With the second new ball due first thing tomorrow and Pant’s return uncertain, the pressure is squarely on India’s lower order. Post-play, Sudharsan addressed the media with…

Trisha Ghosal in Manchester It was England’s day, eventually. After being kept wicketless through the morning by India’s top order, they stormed back in the afternoon with Ben Stokes leading the charge. But amid the usual suspects, it was Liam Dawson who made a quiet, impactful return to Test cricket. Having last played a red-ball Test in December 2016, Dawson’s comeback was one of the day’s undercurrents. At stumps, he opened up on nerves, old scars, and new clarity. “Thought Test cricket was gone”: On returning after eight years “To be honest, at my age, I thought Test cricket was…

Rishabh Pant has been taken to hospital for scans after suffering a painful blow to his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test, confirmed Sai Sudharsan at the end-of-day press conference. “Oh, he was in a lot of pain and he’s now at the hospital taking scans,” Sudharsan said. “We’ll know about the update probably soon. If he’s not coming back in this match it’s obviously a blow, but the other batters are also ready to do their part.” Also Read: Rishabh Pant wheeled off the field – Blow to foot leaves it bloodied and swollen Pant was…

Trisha Ghosal in Manchester India’s batting effort veered off course in the second session at Old Trafford, squandering the early advantage built by their openers. What began as their most assured start of the tour quickly unravelled after KL Rahul’s dismissal, leaving England with the upper hand by tea on Day 1. Resuming from a strong 78 without loss post-lunch, Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal briefly carried their opening stand to 92, the highest of India’s tour so far, before Rahul’s lapse in judgment changed the rhythm. Facing Chris Woakes, he threw his hands at a short-of-length delivery that nipped away…

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…