Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds As this pulsating first Test barrels towards a grandstand finish, India find themselves 350 runs ahead with 90 overs to defend it and 10 wickets to take. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were the architects of India’s second innings surge, with a superb 195-run partnership built on poise and fire. While Rahul delivered a masterclass in orthodox, technically sound batting, Pant lit up Headingley with typically fearless strokeplay before falling for a well made 118. Despite their brilliance, India’s lower-order collapse — losing six wickets for 31— meant they left England chasing 371, instead of a…

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds With 90 overs left in the match and all four results on the table, the Headingley Test is set for a riveting finish. India posted 364 in their second innings, thanks to contrasting yet crucial centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Rahul was all poise and precision, driving with elegance and discipline, while Pant brought his familiar chaos — defensive grit laced with attacking bursts — before falling to Shoaib Bashir in the deep. India collapsed after Pant’s dismissal, losing their last six wickets for just 31 runs, once again exposing their vulnerability with the…

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds If I told you the English players were wasting time, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a story about football or hockey. But no, this one’s straight from Headingley, and it’s all about the first Test between India and England. India were bowled out for 365 in the final half-hour of Day 4, leaving England with roughly eight overs to survive before stumps. Not a complicated equation — Jasprit Bumrah was always going to be the main threat. Which meant, England’s openers had one job: play out four overs of the Bumrah fire. But Ben…

By Trisha Ghosal in Leeds As the Headingley faithful slowly made their way out under a familiar grey sky, the scoreboard for the England vs India Test match reflected not just runs and wickets, but a contest etched in captivating drama. Day Three concluded with India holding a slender 96-run lead, two wickets down in their second innings, the match hanging finely in the balance. If anyone still harbours doubts about Test cricket’s enduring appeal in an age of instant gratification, the theatre unfolding here in Leeds offers a resounding, undeniable riposte. This Test, the first of the series, has…

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, fresh off a five-wicket haul on Day 3 against England at Headingley, faced the press with his characteristic calm and candour. India finished the day with a 96-run lead, and Bumrah’s performance was pivotal. The pace spearhead addressed a range of topics from managing external pressures to his thoughts on dropped catches, and the constant speculation surrounding his career longevity. On Captaincy: “Indian Cricket is Most Important” “As far as captaincy is concerned, I clearly knew that I might not be able to play all the matches, and that cannot be…

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds The Headingley crowd, poised to erupt in celebration, instead collectively gasped as Harry Brook, the local hero, hooked Prasidh Krishna to deep backward square leg, falling agonisingly short of a century against India. This innings, while not quite reaching the three-figure mark, was nonetheless a testament to resilience, an exhibition of bold strokeplay, and a defining, albeit bittersweet, moment for the young Yorkshireman on his home turf. Brook’s journey to this near-milestone was punctuated by moments of fortune, highlighting the fine margins of Test cricket. Last evening, in the dying embers of Day 2, he received…

By Trisha Ghosal in Leeds A minute of applause marked the start of Day 3 at Headingley on Sunday, as the Indian and English cricket teams came together to honour the life and legacy of David ‘Syd’ Lawrence. The former England fast bowler, who made history as the first British-born Black cricketer to represent his country in Test cricket, passed away at the age of 61 following a battle with motor neurone disease (MND). Before the start of the day’s play, players from both sides stood in a line across the outfield, heads bowed and hands clapping, in a moving…

By Trisha Ghosal in Leeds Leeds, a city steeped in cricketing lore, played host on Saturday to yet another chapter in England’s burgeoning book of Test match defiance. What began as a day of overwhelming Indian dominance swiftly transformed into a tantalisingly poised contest, a testament to the unshakeable belief that has become the hallmark of Ben Stokes’ England. This isn’t merely cricket; it’s ‘Bazball’ – a philosophy that embraces aggression, seeks opportunity in adversity, and, most crucially, never knows when it’s beaten. The Stokes-McCullum Effect: From Doormats to Dominators For too long, England’s Test side had been characterised by…

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds India started the day on overnight 359/3, with their captain and vice-captain both well settled. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant continued their good work in the morning and while Pant completed his century, the India captain fell just three runs shy of 150. When Gill got out, India’s score was 430/4. In came the comeback man Karun Nair. Nair Gets a Duck on Comeback Karun Nair’s story is one of hard work and dedication. The comeback wasn’t gifted to him — he worked hard, performed in domestic cricket and forced the selectors to slot him back…

Trisha Ghosal in Leeds The opening day of the five-Test series at Headingley unfolded as a tough one for England. After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Ben Stokes’ side was met with a resolute Indian batting unit that took full advantage of a docile surface and warm conditions. Yet amid the long spells of toil, Stokes stood tall, delivering with the ball and emerging as England’s only bright spot. Stokes, who has battled knee and hamstring issues over the past two years, marked his return to bowling in Tests with a fiery 16 overs. In sweltering heat, he…