Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

If yesterday belonged to Washington Sundar, today was all about Mitchell Santner, who achieved his best-ever figures of 7/53 to bowl India out for 156 after another shambolic collapse. Skipper Tom Latham (86) then took charge with the bat, extending New Zealand’s lead to 301 runs by the close of day two. While the pitch did offer its challenges, India will regret a few shot selections, which led to six wickets falling in the morning session alone, leaving them struggling at 107/7 by lunch. The first session firmly swung the game in the visitors’ favour. India’s poor shot selection certainly…

Returning to the Test side after a three-and-a-half-year gap, Washington Sundar was the wrecker-in-chief on the opening day of the second Test, taking a seven-wicket haul to dismantle the New Zealand batting line-up on a turning track, and restrict them to 259. After Rohit Sharma fell for a duck, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal steadied the innings, ensuring no further wickets were lost by the end of the day. New Zealand looked strong at one stage, with fifties from Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. While they were batting, it seemed the visitors were on track for a big first-innings score.…

Before the start of Day 5, the match was finely poised. Tom Latham’s wicket off the second delivery ignited hope in the Indian camp, but Will Young stood firm for his team, forging partnerships with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra to steer New Zealand to a remarkable victory. They successfully chased down the 107-run target with 8 wickets to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. This win was particularly historic, marking New Zealand’s first Test triumph on Indian soil in 36 years, toppling a team that has been dominant at home for years. It’s a memorable day for…

A fiery spell with the second new ball from New Zealand’s fast bowlers sparked a dramatic collapse, sending India from a commanding 408/3 to 462 all out. With Sarfaraz Khan (150) and Rishabh Pant (99) in full flow, India had a prime opportunity to extend their lead and take control of the match. However, the visitors turned the game around by applying relentless pressure with the second new ball, refusing to let India regain their footing. New Zealand now need just 107 runs to claim a memorable victory and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Starting the day trailing…

An enthralling day of Test cricket in Bengaluru saw New Zealand post 402 runs, riding on a century from Rachin Ravindra and a half-century from Tim Southee. New Zealand took a lead of 356 runs and put India under pressure. Despite the scoreboard pressure, the Indian batters remained unfazed, accumulating 231 runs for the loss of three wickets, with Sarfaraz Khan unbeaten on 70 at stumps on Day 3. New Zealand still hold the upper hand with a lead of 125 runs. India were under a bit of pressure when they began their second innings, trailing by 356 runs and…

After dismantling a formidable Indian batting line-up for just 46 runs, their lowest total at home and the third lowest in Test history, New Zealand’s batters, led by Devon Conway, have placed themselves in a dominant position with a lead of 131 runs and seven wickets remaining. India’s collapse was set in motion by a brilliant five-wicket haul from Matt Henry, alongside four wickets from the impressive William O’Rourke. India’s decision to bat first in overcast conditions raised eyebrows and ultimately resulted in a failure. The gloomy atmosphere necessitated the use of floodlights from the very first ball, with a…

In a surprising move, the newly formed selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to omit senior players Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah from the 16-member squad for the final two Tests of the ongoing three-match series against England. Babar has been under scrutiny for some time, having failed to score a half-century in Test cricket since December 2022. His struggles were highlighted after twin failures in the high-scoring first Test in Multan, where he managed just 30 and 5. Following advice from the selection committee, Babar was dropped. The other two notable omissions, Shaheen…

From the unimaginable to the inevitable, Pakistan etched their name into the record books for the wrong reasons. They became the first team in Test history to lose by an innings after posting over 550 runs in the first innings. England sealed one of their most remarkable victories, winning the first Test by an innings and 47 runs on Day 5 in Multan. The match seemed to be heading for a draw after England declared their first innings at 823/7, with Harry Brook (317) and Joe Root (262) providing the bulk of the runs on a flat pitch. The Test…

Riding on half-centuries from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh, along with an all-round effort from the bowling unit, India outclassed Bangladesh to win the second T20I by 86 runs, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in New Delhi. Bangladesh’s decision to bowl first brought some early rewards, but only for a brief period. Understanding the two-paced nature of the wicket, the Bangladeshi pacers smartly varied their deliveries, using cutters and faster balls with the new ball to dismiss India’s top three inside the powerplay. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman removed Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav with…

In what could be a potential series decider, India will face Bangladesh in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday, 9 October. After their win in Gwalior, the Indian team will be riding high on confidence as they look to seal the series in Delhi. As they experienced in Chennai and Kanpur during the Test series, the heat in the capital city will be a factor. However, that won’t stop the Men in Blue from giving their absolute best as they aim for another comprehensive win, much like their performance in…