Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

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…

Pakistan have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, selecting only one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed. The decision to rely on a single frontline spinner could be a significant talking point, especially with the tournament set to be played in spin-friendly conditions. Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, and Imam-ul-Haq have been dropped, while all-rounders Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf, along with opener Fakhar Zaman, have been recalled. The squad will also compete in the home tri-series featuring South Africa and New Zealand. Pakistan were the last team to unveil their squad, with the other seven participating…

Vaibhav Tripathi from the VCA Stadium, Nagpur From 8:30 AM on Thursday morning, a steady stream of people gathered near Gate No. 10 of the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium for the Ranji Trophy clash between Vidarbha and Hyderabad. A buzz filled the air, with murmurs revolving around a single name. Calls were made, and more people arrived, swelling the crowd as anticipation grew. After the toss, with Hyderabad opting to bowl first, I climbed the stairs to the stands and witnessed a rare sight. For the first time at a domestic match, every seat was occupied. Despite Vidarbha playing at…

The stage was set. Everyone at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was ready to witness the hometown hero, Steve Smith, reach the landmark of 10,000 Test runs against India earlier this month. Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, and Steve Waugh were all present, ready for a special presentation to celebrate Smith, but his plans were thwarted when he was dismissed for just 4 runs in the second innings, leaving him stranded on 9,999. Thousands of miles away from home, Smith finally joined the prestigious 10,000 Test-run club during the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, when he took a…

It’s not often that a bowler claims a five-wicket haul in a T20 match and still ends up on the losing side, but that was the unfortunate fate of Varun Chakravarthy in the third T20I against England in Rajkot on Tuesday. Despite recording his second-best figures in T20Is, his efforts went in vain as India’s batting crumbled in pursuit of 172, ultimately falling short by 26 runs. While England secured victory after being put into bat, their vulnerability against spin was once again exposed, with Varun wreaking havoc in yet another masterful spell. What looked like a decent pitch for…

An all-round performance from England’s bowlers overshadowed Varun Chakravarthy’s impressive five-wicket haul as the visitors secured a commanding 26-run victory over India in the third T20I in Rajkot, bouncing back in style after back-to-back defeats in the series. England’s total of 171 appeared modest at best, yet they redeemed themselves brilliantly with the ball, restricting India’s formidable batting line-up to a mere 145. All eyes were on Mohammed Shami as he made his long-awaited return to the Indian team after 14 months. The veteran pacer looked a bit rusty and finished with figures of 0/25 from three overs, not quite…

It was a nail-biting finish in Trivandrum, where the game went down to the wire. Despite extending play to force a result, the match ended in a dramatic draw—a result that seemed improbable when Kerala were reeling at 47/5. Meanwhile, in the West, Vidarbha outclassed Rajasthan with a commanding 221-run victory, and Baroda crumbled under the pressure of chasing 617, handing Maharashtra a massive 439-run win. In Salem, Tamil Nadu cruised to a 209-run victory over Chandigarh, with their spinners wreaking havoc to bowl out the visitors for just 193 in the fourth innings. Elsewhere, Jharkhand triumphed over Chhattisgarh by…