Virat Kohli during Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images) Earlier this week, when news emerged that Virat Kohli and his family would shift to the United Kingdom, apart from the usual trolling endemic to social media in India, there was also a strange surge … Read more
Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Photo by William West/AFP via Getty Images) MELBOURNE: What must India do to take 20 wickets at the MCG? As skipper Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar were having a long discussion at the team’s training session on … Read more
FREEZE FRAME: Jasprit Bumrah leads the appeal for the wicket of Steve Smith during the first Test in Perth. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Questions linger over the format’s feasibility but for now, the five-day game is enjoying a fine run in Australia. The MCG contest will only ramp up the expectationsMELBOURNE: The ‘G’ is … Read more
Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth Stadium on November 22, 2024. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Allan Border, arguably Australia‘s greatest captain, talks to TOI about the perils of rapid chopping & changing, how aggressive batting has ruled in this series & the rare art of Jasprit Bumrah…MELBOURNE: We are … Read more
STRUGGLES DOWN UNDER: Rohit, Gill and Pant’s batting form embody India’s current batting woes. (Getty Images) Amid talk of transition, the spotlight will be on India’s underperforming middle order heading into the fourth Test. Australia share similar concerns, but it’s their top order that’s facing the heatMELBOURNE: Will the abrupt manner of Ravichandran Ashwin’s exit … Read more
Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Did rejection hurt him so bad that he couldn’t take it anymore? This question has left the Indian cricket world in a tizzy as R Ashwin – India’s second highest Test wicket-taker – announced his shock retirement from international cricket on a rain-soaked Tuesday afternoon in Brisbane.This wasn’t … Read more
Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) In Brisbane rain, an Ashwin googly…’My last day as an Indian cricketer’: Spin stalwart R Ashwin chooses drawn Test to call end on a storied careerBRISBANE: India’s campaign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was jolted by the shock retirement of spin stalwart Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle of the … Read more
Rohit Sharma after his dismissal at The Gabba on Tuesday. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images) BRISBANE: There’s no easy way to couch the issue. Captain Rohit Sharma’s Test career stands at the crossroads in this mid-point of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. It is imperative for India that he recovers some batting form in the remainder … Read more
Steve Smith celebrates his century against India at The Gabba in Brisbane. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: According to Australian ace batsman Steve Smith, Kookaburra changed their ball in 2020 by adding more lacquer on a stronger seam, making the last three years the most difficult of his storied career. A strengthened seam … Read more
Zaheer Khan and Matthew Hayden hold the Border–Gavaskar Trophy during Day 1 of the third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: The rivalry between Zaheer Khan and Matthew Hayden was one of the most captivating battles between a fast bowler and a dominant opener during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy … Read more