The Sports Column By Sandeep Dwivedi

The Sports Column is a weekly column by Sports Editor Sandeep Dwivedi

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THE SPORTS COLUMN BY SANDEEP DWIVEDI NEWS

It's a tragedy that cricket's most storied rivalry has gotten muted. (File Photo/AP)

This weekend, watch how cricket is vanishing from India-Pakistan cricket rivalry

February 14, 2026 11:49 am

In these politically shambolic times, the questions are about handshakes, war references and not the face-off between India's batsmen and Pakistan bowlers, like back in the day.

For once India isn't talking up their team that is ironically the clear favourite to win this World T20 at home and even the players are missing the hype. (PTI Photo)

No buzz, no hype around India this T20 World Cup. And this isn't a complaint.

February 07, 2026 10:11 pm

India's fandom is too fragmented and distracted by politics and selection debates this time around to whip up the usual hype, so captain Suryakumar Yadav isn't exactly facing cloying pressure like past captains did.

Like it is for the India Class of 2026 now, the March of 2008 had held a lot of promise for Virat Kohli and his very talented team. (BCCI)

India-Pak U-19 World Cup clash: What Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre can learn from Virat Kohli's class of 2008

February 01, 2026 10:29 am

Recalling the final where a bunch of inspired teenagers changed the way India played cricket, all because of a young captain who commanded respect

If cricket's decision-makers needed a wake-up call, the sound of the ball screeching dangerously close to the umpire has been loud enough. (PTI/CREIMAS)

Save the umpires: ICC needs to protect them from hard-hitters like Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya

January 24, 2026 10:27 pm

ICC needs to wake up, the proliferation of T20s and its buccaneers means the unshielded umpires need to be perennially ready for taking evasive action

With Tendulkar, like Federer, it is never about him. Those with God-like status long to be treated as mortals. (Reuters)

Sachin Tendulkar & Roger Federer: The Gods of Small Things

January 17, 2026 12:53 pm

The two all-time greats worship their sports, show humility and grace and long to be treated like mortals.

Life mustn't imitate art, Shah Rukh Khan should not be made to feel like Kabir Khan

January 14, 2026 12:02 pm

Extremists don’t see the depth of his cricketing patriotism, or the charm, personal touch and humility his players vouch for.

Towards the end of 2025, few of Rishabh's bouts of brain-fade coincided with Ishan's purple patch domestically (BCCI Photo/AP Photo)

What Ishan Kishan can learn from Rishabh Pant's fate? Carry the sword, but don't forget the shield

January 03, 2026 8:13 am

Rishabh Pant is not too different from the early die-hard fighter jocks taking to the skies to break the sound barrier. Historians say, those pioneer aviators would opt to crash and die rather than slow down or eject out.

The chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir can be hauled over the coals and even motives be ascribed to their selection choices. (AP Photo)

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and now Shubman Gill: How Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar consistently rejected star-culture

December 27, 2025 10:58 am

In a nation deeply ingrained in VIP culture - where rush-hour traffic stands still for cars with beacons, hospitals have dedicated counters and queues for the privileged and highway toll booths exempt the elite - cricket challenged the entrenched ethos of entitlement.

Gambhir, Kohli and Rohit too can coexist without being backslapping mates. (PTI)

Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma don't need to be the best of friends for India to succeed

December 13, 2025 9:33 am

Shane Warne didn't get along with Steve Waugh or Adam Gilchrist but the trio plotted many downfalls together and made Australia an all-conquering force.

Harlem Globetrotters didn't win World Championships, but conquered hearts and ruled the minds of the world. (AP Photo)

Harlem Globetrotters @100: Inspired Obama, stopped war, were ridiculously talented and slap-stick funny

December 06, 2025 8:24 am

In their storied journey, the Harlem Globetrotters didn't just shoot hoops and wowed fans, but integrated the race divide at home and became America's trusted soft power at the height of the Cold War.