Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, MA Chidambaram Stadium, 7:30 PM What to expect Either a one-sided affair or a nail-biting encounter, this has been the trend over the years when it comes to matches between the two teams. If the Chepauk pitch behaves the way it did in the season opener, a high-scoring game seems unlikely. Even for RCB’s strong batting lineup, it won’t be easy against CSK’s quality spin trio of Noor Ahmad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. More than anything, this contest is about how RCB counters CSK’s spin threat. Against KKR, Phil Salt and Virat…

In the IPL, the pressure on players, especially overseas ones, is immense. If a player fails in one game and the team loses, calls for their exclusion often follow. One poor outing can quickly turn a player into the subject of widespread criticism. In the opening match of this year’s IPL season between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Quinton de Kock fell cheaply, and KKR suffered defeat in front of their home crowd at Eden Gardens. Ahead of their second game, many fans demanded De Kock be dropped. With options like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Luvnith Sisodia…

Riding on a well-crafted and unbeaten knock of 97 from Quinton de Kock and a combined effort from the bowlers, Kolkata Knight Riders secured their first win of the season. They beat Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets in a low-scoring match on a tricky pitch in Guwahati. The Royals were going nicely at one point but the shot selection of some of the batters led to a collapse, triggered by the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali, from which the Royals could never recover. With a modest total of 152, RR hoped their own spin pair of Wanindu…

Having lost their opening games of the season, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders will be eager to secure their first win when the two former champions face off at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, 26 March. Riyan Parag will continue to lead the Royals, with Sanju Samson still recovering from a finger injury. The previous game was a forgettable outing for Parag as captain, and he will be keen to bounce back both with the bat and as a leader by executing his plans on a ground where he has played most of his cricket. No…

Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Barsapara Cricket Stadium- 7:30 PM What to expect An intense affair awaits. Both teams have lost their first games of the season, and they’ll be eager to secure two points from this clash. The spotlight will be on the battle between RR’s batters and KKR’s spinners. In their previous outing, RR’s bowlers leaked runs, leaving the batters with too much to chase despite their valiant efforts. Bowling remains RR’s weaker suit, and they must tighten up to avoid another high-scoring setback. This is where Riyan Parag’s role as captain becomes important. He is young,…

On a flat pitch in Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals’ decision to bowl first backfired as Ishan Kishan’s sensational 106, Travis Head’s blistering 67 and valuable cameos from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to an imposing 286/6. The total proved more than enough, as SRH clinched an authoritative 44-run victory in what was a high-scoring encounter. By the halfway mark, the outcome seemed inevitable. Chasing the highest total in the IPL history was always going to be a monumental task for RR’s relatively inexperienced batting line-up. Despite a valiant fight, the target was simply out of reach. After…

It wasn’t Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, or even Heinrich Klaasen. The day belonged to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s new hero, Ishan Kishan. In his tenth IPL season, playing for his third franchise and batting at number three, Ishan dismantled a hapless Rajasthan Royals attack on a flat pitch to produce a breathtaking maiden IPL century. His stunning 106 off just 47 balls was a masterclass in effortless stroke-play, ensuring SRH posted a mammoth total of 286. He hammered 11 fours and 6 sixes, but none were as exquisite as the two towering sixes over covers off Jofra Archer. The RR bowlers threw…

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, 03:30 PM What to expect A high-scoring game. The first game of the season at Uppal, with a fresh wicket and both teams boasting strong batting lineups. After an impressive run last season, where they reached the final, SRH have retained their core group and look just as formidable. With the addition of Ishan Kishan and Abhinav Manohar, their batting unit appears even more dangerous this year. The big question is how RR’s bowlers will contain the powerful SRH batting. While RR have quality bowlers, there is heavy reliance on…

Leaning back in relaxation, the cabin hummed with quiet anticipation as fifteen minutes remained before departure. A casual stroll towards the first-class and business section revealed two familiar faces – Aakash Chopra and Jatin Sapru. A brief conversation followed, punctuated by Aakash’s signature humour, drawing laughter that lingered even after returning to the seat. Just as the trip seemed to have reached a perfect conclusion, an unexpected surprise awaited, ready to make it even more unforgettable. Suddenly, a ripple of excitement swept through the left side of the plane. Passengers leapt from their seats, astonishment written across their…

Vaibhav Tripathi in Dubai Earlier this month in Nagpur, when Shreyas Iyer walked in to bat, the weight on his shoulders was more than just the match situation. India had lost both openers early in a tricky run chase, Virat Kohli was absent, and the opposition was circling like vultures. But beyond all that, there was an unspoken pressure—one that comes with fighting for a place that was never meant to be yours, at least not in that moment. Iyer was only in the XI because of an unexpected opening, a sudden chance created by Kohli’s absence due to knee…