Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

Following a demoralizing innings defeat in the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, the Indian team received a glimmer of hope with the potential return of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the upcoming second and final match in Cape Town. Jadeja had to sit out the first Test due to an upper back spasm that arose on the morning of the first day. Nevertheless, there are positive signs as Jadeja actively participated in the warm-up session on the third morning at SuperSport Park, displaying no signs of discomfort as he engaged in multiple short strides. During the Lunch break on…

KL Rahul, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, scored a scintillating hundred while batting at No. 6 for only the second time in his Test career. At the end of the second day’s play at SuperSport Park in Centurion, he provided valuable insights into batting in the middle order and the art of playing long innings. Rahul, known for his versatility, highlighted the significance of staying adaptable and embracing the dynamic nature of the game. Rahul had ended the first day unbeaten on 70, after steering India to 208-8 at stumps. On Wednesday, he went on to complete his century in remarkable fashion with…

India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, praised KL Rahul’s resilience in challenging conditions on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion. Rahul played a crucial role when the bowlers dominated in overcast conditions. His unbeaten 70 took India to 208/8 before rain and bad light brought an early end to the day’s play. Describing Rahul as a “man for crisis,” Rathour commended his clarity in executing plans. He acknowledged Rahul’s consistency in handling tough situations. “He is the man for a crisis. Every time there is a tough situation, most of the times he is there.…

Ahead of the two-Test series against India, South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma highlighted the importance of maintaining their unbeaten home record against India, acknowledging the challenges presented by Rohit Sharma’s team. The 33-year-old noted that the scrutiny associated with matches against India underscores their significant skill factor featuring seasoned Test players well-versed in diverse conditions. “There’s a lot of pride attached to that. That we’ve been able to keep that record intact as a South African team… all of us as players also feel that. But we understand playing against India comes with certain challenges and it’s those types of…

India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, has hinted that KL Rahul might play as the wicketkeeper-batter in the upcoming first Test of the two-match series against South Africa in Centurion, starting December 24. Despite Rahul having kept wickets in 35 ODIs and 8 T20Is, this series marks his first time performing the role in Test cricket. Dravid, confident in Rahul’s abilities, pointed out that his experience in limited-overs formats should translate well into Tests. While KS Bharat is another wicket-keeping option, Dravid acknowledged Rahul’s preparedness for this new challenge, emphasizing the possibilities it brings in its wake. “It’s an exciting challenge…

Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the Test series against Australia due to ‘acute appendicitis’. The 37-year-old experienced sudden, intense abdominal pain on Friday evening, leading to an emergency scan that confirmed the diagnosis. Noman underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy on Saturday morning. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provided an update, stating, “Noman Ali complained of sudden and severe abdominal pain on Friday, leading to examination and scans in emergency that confirmed acute appendicitis. On the surgeon’s advice; he underwent laparoscopic appendectomy in the morning. Post-surgery, he is stable and doing fine. He will…

After being outplayed by South Africa in all three departments in the second ODI, India will have to bounce back in the third and final game, at Boland Park Stadium in Paarl on Thursday (December 21). The teams are tied 1-1. If they win, this will be India’s second ever ODI series win in the Rainbow Nation. Opening partnership has been a concern for India in the first two matches, and their chances of a win hinge on a strong start. Sai Sudharsan has been impressive with scores of 55 and 62, but Ruturaj Gaikwad has struggled to provide support.…

After being thoroughly outplayed at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa has come storming back here in Gqeberha in the second ODI to win the game by eight wickets and set up a series decider in Paarl, on Thursday, December 21. While it was Nandre Burger’s spirited spell (3/30) that helped the hosts restrict India to a subpar total of 211, Tony de Zorzi’s unbeaten 119 aided the Proteas in chasing down the target with ease in 42.3 overs. Playing only his second ODI match, Burger made an immediate impact with the new ball by dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad (4) with…

The Indian Premier League (IPL) can make, break and remake a player. Remembered for conceding five sixes in the last five balls of the match to Rinku Singh last season, Yash Dayal redeemed himself by fetching a price of Rs 5 crore at the 2024 IPL auction. Heartening for the uncapped pace bowler from Uttar Pradesh was the sight of his former employers Gujarat Titans engage in the bidding war in Dubai with Royal Challengers Bangalore, who eventually secured his services. Dayal’s journey in the IPL has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride. He grabbed headlines when Gujarat Titans…

It has been a record-breaking day in the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on Tuesday. While it may not be like the grand spectacle of a two-day behemoth that the IPL mega auction is, this one was no less significant. Mitchell Starc created history by becoming the most expensive player at INR 24.75 crore for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), marking his first season in the IPL in eight years. Earlier, in the richest auction of India’s premier domestic cricket league, Starc’s teammate Pat Cummins secured a deal at INR 20.50 crore, making him the most expensive buy in history.…