Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

-Vaibhav Tripathi in Dubai With six wickets in hand and 63 runs still needed off 13.4 overs, tension crackled in the air. Then came the moment that changed it all. Jaker Ali, stationed under a regulation catch off Taskin Ahmed’s bowling, let the ball slip through his fingers. A lifeline for KL Rahul, heartbreak for Bangladesh. Rahul exhaled in relief, Rohit Sharma chuckled, while Taskin buried his face in his hands, shutting out the disbelief. The field mirrored the emotions in the stands—Indian fans erupted in cheers, while Bangladeshi supporters sat in stunned silence, their hopes momentarily shattered. But what…

Vaibhav Tripathi in Dubai They say firsts are always special, and I couldn’t agree more. From the first time I watched a live match on TV in 2007 to now, stepping onto the grand stage to cover the very sport that shaped my dreams, this is the kind of story that destiny pens with a knowing smile. As I boarded my flight to Dubai, the gentleman seated beside me, with the warmth of a fellow traveller, asked, “What takes you to Dubai?” The moment I uttered the words “I’m covering the Champions Trophy,” his eyes lit up. What followed was…

Time slips away like grains of sand, and the Champions Trophy now looms on the horizon. This edition of the marquee ICC tournament will unfold across two nations—Pakistan will host the grand spectacle, while India’s battles will be fought under the gleaming lights of Dubai. The recently concluded tri-series in Pakistan, featuring the hosts, New Zealand, and South Africa, provided valuable insight into the pitch conditions there. But what about Dubai? Unlike Pakistan’s venues, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium recently hosted the ILT20, a T20 tournament. The last ODI at the venue was played between Canada and Scotland back in…

And just like that, India capped off the three-match ODI series against England with a win in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, securing a clean sweep. With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, this was India’s final assignment before they fly out to Dubai for the marquee ICC event. Before the series began, there were plenty of questions—how returning senior players like Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, and Kuldeep Yadav would perform, how the debutants would fare, and whether Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could rediscover their form. What might India’s ideal team combination be? By the end of the series, many…

A sensational century from Shubman Gill and a combined effort from the bowlers helped India secure a 142-run victory in the third ODI in Ahmedabad, after a familiar middle-order collapse derailed England. The hosts completed a 3-0 sweep, days before the Champions Trophy. After being put in to bat, India suffered an early setback when Rohit Sharma, the century-maker from the last match, fell in the second over. He was squared up by Mark Wood. Virat Kohli, after surviving nervy moments early on, found his rhythm and rebuilt the innings with Gill, who has developed a habit of scoring big…

Vaibhav Tripathi in Nagpur Making a comeback is never easy. Returning from injury presents its own challenges, but it becomes even more difficult when you have been in good form yet find yourself sidelined due to circumstances beyond your control. In such situations, a player must clear his mind, put the past behind him, and focus on delivering a strong performance. Jofra Archer and Saqib Mahmood were in the middle of an outstanding opening spell, putting India on the back foot at 19-2. With back-to-back wickets – both Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal were dismissed early – and with Virat…

February may be on the calendar, but in Nagpur, it already feels like May. With temperatures soaring into the high 30s, the city is not just heating up weather-wise, but also with cricket fever. After a five-year wait, the Orange City is set to host an ODI, bringing together two former world champions in the opening clash of a high-stake three-match series. Be it fans waiting in long queues for tickets or those eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite Indian player, the sun was beating down on them. The players must also be feeling the heat, as the…

Vaibhav Tripathi in Nagpur Varun Chakravarthy has been added to India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against England, as confirmed by vice-captain Shubman Gill during a press conference in Nagpur ahead of the first ODI on Thursday. Varun was spotted training with the Indian team at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, bowling to top-order batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma under the scorching sun. His inclusion comes as a late addition, as he was not part of the original squad announced last month in Mumbai. Rohit, Kohli, Gill, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas…

Abhishek Sharma credited Suryakumar Yadav for helping him achieve his highest score for India on a night where he hammered 13 sixes and seven fours en-route to a record-breaking 135-run knock. In Mumbai, it was one of those nights where everything Abhishek touched turned into gold, with the ball soaring over the ropes at will. As he neared his second T20I century, skipper Suryakumar—despite his own struggles with form—offered reassurance, advising the young southpaw to take his time and play a few extra deliveries. “I didn’t even know what my score was,”said Abhishek. “That was the time, I asked Surya…

In the heart of Mumbai, the city of dreams, Abhishek Sharma delivered a performance that turned England’s evening into a nightmare. The young all-rounder sparkled with the bat, unleashing a blistering 135 off just 54 balls, a display of both power and grace. But his brilliance didn’t end there as he returned to the field with the ball, claiming two wickets in the solitary over he bowled, completing an unforgettable all-round display. India surged to an imposing total of 247, and England, in response, were left reeling. The visitors crumbled to a mere 97, enduring a crushing 150-run defeat in…