Author: Kashish Chadha

Pacer Trent Boult may have opted out of a central contract with New Zealand Cricket and gone into an uncertain path with his international future. However, in a recent media interaction the veteran left-arm pacer clarified this isn’t the end for him at the highest level, including Tests. The 33-year-old understands that backing off from a full-time annual contract with NZC could affect his future selection, with the selectors likely preferring those committed to the national team all year long. The pacer, however, remains hopeful that his Test career for the Black Caps isn’t already over. The Kiwis have an…

Comeback India opener KL Rahul came out in wholehearted support of the underfiring Virat Kohli ahead of the start of the Asia Cup 2022. Rahul addressed questions on his former skipper’s longstanding slump with the bat and said Kohli is not an individual who could be affected by the talk outside. Moreover, Rahul said he doesn’t think Kohli is out of form or sync with his game right now. The experienced cricketer backed the fellow right-hand batter to produce the goods sooner rather than later. “We don’t really give much importance to comments. It doesn’t really affect a player, especially…

Keen to see how they hold up in red-ball cricket before Test series against Bangladesh and Australia later in the season, the selectors on named Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna in India A squad that will take on New Zealand A in three four-day matches. Having played the most recent of his seven Tests for India last February against England, Kuldeep has the chance to impress the selectors with strong performances in the build-up to the two-Test tour of Bangladesh in December as he strives to regain footing in the battle for the third spinner’s slot amidst the incredible rise…

BCCI has appointed former India middle-order stalwart VVS Laxman as India’s head coach for the Asia Cup 2022 in UAE on a temporary basis. He has come on board as an interim replacement for his ex-teammate Rahul Dravid, who is down with Covid-19. Laxman has joined the Indian squad and oversaw the first training session of the Rohit Sharma-led side on August 24 as the team geared up their first group stage encounter on August 28 against arch-rivals Pakistan. Regarded as one of the best batters India have produced, Laxman holds great familiarity with the contemporary set of Indian players. Having played…

Fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram feels Pakistan have taken great confidence out of their comprehensive victory against India at the T20 World Cup in UAE last year. Akram is of the opinion that Pakistan’s ten-wicket routing of the much-vaunted Indian side has reignited life into what was becoming a one-sided Indo-Pak rivalry. Pakistan’s win against India in Dubai was their first in six attempts at the T20 World Cup and first in thirteen overall encounters in World Cup history. The triumph led to contrasting campaigns for both sides: while India failed to recover and went on a downward spiral to face…

The world may have cast doubts on the future relevance of the ODI format in cricket’s excessively crowded international calendar, but India skipper Rohit Sharma believes it has its own standing and importance in the sport’s landscape. For Rohit, the 50-over version is far from dead and certainly not “finished” in terms of what it still has to offer to the fans. While cricket’s power players may be holding Tests and the T20Is closer to their hearts right now, Sharma says that doesn’t mean ODIs should not be given their due focus and attention in the decision-making.  Rohit took heart…

Comeback pacer Deepak Chahar and opening batter Shubman Gill were the star performers as India toppled off Zimbabwe with ease in the first ODI in Harare on August 18. Chahar delivered a fascinating new-ball burst to build significant inroads into the Zimbabwean batting unit, while Gill dominated with bat in hand in a comfortable run-chase for the tourists. Making a return to the side after a six-month injury lay-off, Chahar understandably found it an issue to immediately refind his rhythm. But he bowled at optimum pace and extracted prodigious new-ball swing as the overs rolled on, eventually getting it to…

Despite many ups and downs on and off the field, Shikhar Dhawan has never lost a deeper sense of calmness about him. And the cricketer says regularly practising spirituality and keeping negative thoughts at bay has really helped him to tide through the difficult phases and give his best for India. “I learnt it through spirituality,”he told the press, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, when asked for the secret behind his calm demeanour amidst question marks on his place as a one-format specialist, approaching the deeper side of thirties. ”You need to practice [having a calm mindset] just like you practice cricket.” …

The passion to represent West Indies hasn’t entirely diminished for allrounder Andre Russell, who says he would love to get back and help the side clinch the T20 World Cup later in the year. Russell says he wants to win another World Cup for the two-time champions Calypso Kings, stating his desire to make a comeback after a nine-month sabbatical. The player previously turned out for West Indies at the T20 World Cup in UAE last November and has been plying his trade only in domestic white-ball leagues around the world. The past couple of weeks have seen Russell’s commitment to play…

Faf du Plessis will renew his on-field association with Chennai Super Kings but in a different league, coming on board as skipper of the Johannesburg Super Kings franchise owned by the CSK franchise in the newly launched CSA T20 league in South Africa. The South African stalwart, who had to part ways with CSK at the end of IPL 2021 and represented Royal Challengers Bangalore during the 2022 edition, will reunite with the CSK family as captain of the Johannesburg franchise in January-February next year. Du Plessis is one of Johannesburg’s five direct signings and has been picked for the tournament at…