The trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Deepak Hooda shined the brightest on a rain-marred day in Dublin as India ramped home to a seven-wicket victory in the opening T20I of the series against Ireland on June 26. Reduced to a 12-overs per side game in Malahide, the fixture was a high-scoring affair, where veterans Bhuvneshwar and Chahal made the biggest difference for the tourists while Hooda and the rest provided finishing touches to the victory with the bat in hand. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Hardik Pandya-led side conceded 108/4 off their reduced quota of…
Author: Kashish Chadha
Kashish Chadha
Kashish Chadha is a cricket analyst and writer by heart and profession. You can find his works featured on such websites as CricXtasy, Circle of Cricket, and Cricfit.
Madhya Pradesh created history on June 26, winning the coveted Ranji Trophy title for the first time in their long journey in domestic cricket. The central India rivals conquered the mighty Mumbai in a marquee final of India’s premier domestic first-class competition in Karnataka. MP fulfilled the dream of their coach Chandrakant Pandit, a former Mumbai stalwart, who had tears rolling down his eyes as soon as his boys overhauled the finish line, feeling immensely proud of their achievement. It was a moment of resurrection, too, for Pandit, as it was at the same Chinnaswamy ground in 1999 when as captain…
Dilip Vengsarkar was highly impressed by premier allrounder Hardik Pandya’s captaincy stint with Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League and said the cricketer could be a future full-time India skipper. Vengsarkar believes Pandya, who is set to lead India for their two-match T20I series in Dublin against Ireland, is a potential long-term skipper for the decision-makers to consider. The ex Test cricketer talked up Pandya’s captaincy stocks, feeling inspired by his attitude as Titans’ skipper and the way he “led from the front” throughout the new entrant’s successful campaign towards a maiden IPL crown in May. “He came into bat at the…
Australian left-hander Usman Khwaja has issued a warning to the Big Bash League and Cricket Australia authorities over the league’s declining viewership and player interest, with it potentially becoming a second-rate tournament for overseas players going forward. Previously one of the highlights of the Aussie summer, the BBL has faced a drastic dip in interest from the fans ever since the eight-team competition has expanded to a full-fledged league featuring 14 games apiece ahead of the playoffs. On top of that, the league is facing a growing threat from other competitions in the T20 market, with tournaments involving Indian Premier League financial…
Feeling inspired by the confidence gained from an Indian Premier League stint as Gujarat Titans skipper that signalled his revival, Hardik Pandya said he has always relished extra responsibilities on his shoulders and is looking forward to the step up as a stand-in India skipper on Ireland duties. Pandya will be leading India’s alternate squad in Dublin against the hosts for a pair of T20Is on June 26 and 28, with Test match regulars busy in England ahead of the Edgbaston Test. The vote of confidence from the selectors is a telling sign of the premier allrounder’s comeback at his…
Jonny Bairstow gave a peek into his mindset and the cultural difference Brendon McCulllum is already inspiring within the England Test dressing room after his game-changing ton on Day 2 of the third and final Test against New Zealand. Walking in at 17 for 3, which soon became 55 for 6 with England still trailing New Zealand’s 329 all out by over 270 runs, Bairstow smashed a 95-ball century and stitched a game-changing stand of 209 with Jamie Overton, who added a critical 89 to the home team’s cause. It was Bairstow’s second successive century of the series after his match-winning act on the final afternoon in Trent Bridge. At Leeds, he finished the day unbeaten with…
Henry Nicholls got out caught off a rebound from the bat of non-striker Daryl Mitchell in one of the unluckiest dismissals on a cricket field on June 23. The left-hander was left to rue his extremely poor fortune as his wicket perhaps summed up New Zealand’s horrible Test tour of England. Having fought really hard for his iffy but important knock of 19 off 98 deliveries in a crucial partnership with Mitchell, the batter was facing spinner Jack Leach from the over-the-wicket angle for the left-armer. Finding one too full from Leach, Nicholls went for an on-drive that should’ve fetched him four runs, given how well…
A jovial character otherwise, Sarfaraz Khan was all animated and emotional, crying as he reached a critical hundred in the Ranji Trophy final against Madhya Pradesh on June 23. The cricketer later revealed it was a knock that carried such emotional manifestations because it was for his “abbu”. The 24-year-old unveiled a side of his that is usually reserved only when he thinks and talks of his cricket – the serious one, which is put on the back burner in times he is indulging in all fun and games. Credit: DNA India The right-hander, who is in red hot form, revealed…
Kevin Pietersen felt delighted seeing England beat New Zealand in the Trent Bridge Test, especially the manner in which they chased down the runs on the final afternoon. He also noted that the new Indian Premier League broadcasting deal that may shape up the future of the sport. Taking to Twitter on June 20, Pietersen dwelled on both the topics and took heart from the fact that England have played an attacking, enterprising brand of cricket in their successive Test wins over the Black Caps. He gave credit to skipper Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of cricket Rob Key for collectively…
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin missed the plane for the United Kingdom after turning out positive in one test for Covid-19. Picked for the Edgbaston Test, spanning July 1 to 5, the 35-year-old stayed put in India when the Test regulars left for England on June 16. Ashwin missed the contingent that featured Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, and Hanuma Vihari. The player is currently undergoing quarantine as required in the health protocols set by the BCCI and local health authorities in the travel guidelines. He will be arriving in the UK only after giving a successive set of negative tests…