Author: Kashish Chadha

For Suryakumar Yadav and Harshal Patel, the trip to Australia for the looming T20 World Cup happens to be their first to the sporting country Down Under for India. While Yadav has never previously been to the nation, Patel’s only tryst with the rough cricketing destination came in 2009 on a U-19 trip. Hence, the two players recognise how critical it is for them to make their early arrival to Australia count. The Indian team reached Australia on October 6 and immediately entered a conditioning camp which will last a week in Perth before they move to Brisbane for their ICC-organised warm-up…

Team India came roaring back in the ODI series against the Proteas to secure a 1-1 levelled scoreline in Ranchi on Sunday, with their two middle-order hopefuls Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan playing stand-out knocks to help their side prevail in a stiff run-chase. Striving to overhaul the opposition’s challenging 278/7 in their allotted 50 overs, India reached home in less than 46 overs with their seven wickets intact thanks to a 161-run match-winning partnership between Kishan and Iyer. The duo came together at 48/2, with the hosts in a tricky position, but they batted with such great composure and…

For ex-Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, the idea that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should be put under scanner for their scoring rate is not wise and that it’s the men in the middle at 3,4, 5, 6 and 7 that need to up their games heading into the T20 World Cup 2022. A middle-order batting great of his times, Inzamam backed his case in favour of the Babar-Rizwan stand at the top by citing their individual performances in Pakistan’s first two games of the T20I tri-series in New Zealand. While Rizwan made an unbeaten 78 in his team’s comprehensive win over…

New Zealand bounced back strongly from their defeat against Pakistan to hammer Bangladesh in the first-round game of the ongoing T20I tri-series, defeating them by eight wickets on a dryish surface at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the hosts restricted the hapless Bangladeshis to 137/8 in their allotted 20 overs as the visitors’ struggles with the bat continued after losing by 21 runs in the game against Pakistan at the start of the tournament.  Credit: Bangladesh Cricket Familiar problems resurfaced for Bangladesh, whose hitting game against hard-length bowling proved insignificant again. 33 from…

Former India middle-order batter Sandeep Patil has had a complaint filed against him over a potential conflict of interests within the Mumbai Cricket Association’s workings. The allegation has been made over the veteran cricketer after filing his papers for the president’s post at the MCA, which represents and oversees domestic powerhouse Mumbai at the senior domestic level. Notably, the complaint has been filed by Sanjay Naik, MCA’s joint secretary, who feels Patil joining the race to bag the presidential post within the state association could present a conflict since he has relations with MCA’s chief selector Salil Ankola. “The complainant submits that…

Former India fast-bowler Roger Binny could be in line to replace Sourav Ganguly as BCCI’s next chairman and apex council chief, said a report in the Times of India. Binny, who has served as a national selector previously within the board’s functionary, is one of the candidates in the race to bag the coveted post. “Speculation around Binny, who has served as a national selector in the past, being a surprise candidate for the coveted post was triggered when the former India seamer’s name appeared on the BCCI’s Draft Electoral Rolls (put up on the BCCI website),”reported the Times Of…

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ramiz Raja came up with a positive latest update on injured left-arm speedster Shaheen Afridi, whom he said is expecting readiness for Pakistan’s first Super 12 game at the forthcoming T20 World Cup against arch-rivals India at the MCG on October 23. The former Pakistan skipper stated he has been in constant touch with the medical staff and physios overseeing Shaheen’s sustained rehab and there is a strong chance that the spearhead will be taking part in the warm-up games leading into the much-awaited India encounter. Speculations had been rife on the player’s availability and its…

Return to Nepal after a mental-health absence proved catastrophic for the country’s first global cricketing star Sandeep Lamichhane, who was immediately taken into police custody in a case involving alleged rape allegations. The 22-year-old couldn’t move out freely from the Kathmandu airport, having to cooperate with the legal authorities of his nation. While in custody, however, he was given a chance to issue a statement of his own via Facebook where he pleaded innocent once again and said he will be seeking legal help to brush aside “wrongful prosecution”. THe player once again denied the claims of coercion made over…

At various stages of the ODI series opener in Lucknow, India had South Africans under the pump, only for them to let go the position of strength and concede ground to the opposition, which eventually toppled them off by nine runs in a close-fought fixture on October 6. The Proteas found heroes at several key stages of the game after being reduced to 71/3 at one point of their innings. They did manage to make a decent start with the bat on a moist surface offering Indian seamers lateral seam movement from the good length. Quinton de Kock (48) and Janneman Malan (22) stitched…

England’s spin allrounder Moeen Ali made the “unretired” comment in June after new Test match head coach Brendon McCullum had asked for clarity from the player on his red-ball future for England. Now in another conversation between the two individuals, the experienced cricketer told the coach he is finished with Test cricket altogether. The latest remark follows speculations about whether the player will return to Pakistan in December for a three-match Test series after leading a second-string side for a historic seven-match T20I series in his country of origin. “That’s a trip I won’t be making sadly. It’s not something…