Sandip G
Articles By Sandip G
When the ball turns pink
Day and night Tests could become a different game
Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur: Putting a broken house in order
Winning the league or even retaining a Champions League spot might be ambitious, miraculous if he achieves it, but Mourinho could do well to overturn their wretched form, bring back order and tactical freshness and reinstate the faith of their faithful.
Explained: What does the series win against South Africa mean for India in the World Test Championship?
With the 3-0 whitewash of South Africa, India seems to have virtually assured itself a place in the 2021 World Test Championship final
Karachiness, lack of form and poor tactics hurt Sarfaraz
Sarfaraz lacked the charisma Pakistan cricket-audience is fixated with. Pakistan cricket, since its early days, has been obsessed with the charismatic captain narrative, a team formed in the grander qualities and image of its leader.
Explained: Why Sarfaraz Ahmed has been sacked as Pakistan’s Test and T20 captain
With less than a year for the T20 World Cup, Pakistan, the number one T20I side, was shot a wakeup call by an understrength Sri Lanka at home.
Pujara, Rahane: Undeniable utility of the support cast
Pujara, Rahane may not have got the big scores of their teammates, but their contributions have helped erect the Indian edifice in the series.
Sourav Ganguly in new leadership role as BCCI president
Sourav Ganguly, the man with an uncanny knack of leaving a memorable first impression, in new leadership role as BCCI president.
Ashwin and Jadeja: Different paths that lead to one destination
Even off the field, they have different tastes. Ashwin is an academic, a bibliophile hooked to music and web series, when not thinking of the game. Jadeja is a more outdoor guy.
Saha provides three timely reminders in two days
Indeed, the more you pore over that catch—flying full-stretch, covering nearly his own height to guzzle a thick edge of de Bryun — the less spectacular it appears.
Pitching it right
India’s home dominance once relied on the wickets on offer, but their innings-and-137-run win over South Africa, makes this narrative redundant
India vs South Africa: Farce that mattered, and didn’t
Kohli’s bizarre tactics allowed Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj stitch a century stand; while it is unlikely to have an impact on the result of the match, India’s inability to dismiss the tail is worrying
IND vs SA 2nd Test: Kohli, rinse, repeat
Virat registers his highest Test score yet — 254 not out — while making the breathtaking look routine; overtakes giants of the game during the knock
Mayank Agarwal: Living by the sword
Mayank Agarwal endures testing times early on, but shows a Sehwagian streak to never take a backward step en route to his second ton.
What South Africa need: Luck and pluck
Faf laments luck with coin, but history shows visitors need to make every post a winner even when they win toss.
India vs South Africa: From Maharaj to commoner
Left-arm spinner needs to tweak his approach to succeed in India; South Africa hiring a local spin coach would help.
Quinton de Kock: A 180-degree turn against spin
Quinton de Kock's century against R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on a (slow) turning track dispelled doubts regarding his ability to not only negate but dominate the spinners.
Saffers attack Mayank Agarwal’s pads, but no reversal in fortunes
In his ambition to remodel his long-form game, Agarwal had eschewed the reverse-sweep, in fact, all kinds of sweep shots that were risk-prone but his staple.
South African Test Trio: A spinning all-rounder, an Amla-Prince blend and a tearaway
A raft of South African legends having retired, they are bereft of big names for their trip to the subcontinent. But it could be the coming-of-age series for a number of Proteas personnel, relatively unknown but wizened domestic performers.
India vs South Africa: Unfinished business
Markram had a torrid time on his previous visit to the subcontinent, but comes better prepared this time to set the record straight.
Deepak Chahar: Moving it at pace
Swing is Chahar’s foremost ally, but his burst of speed now makes him an irresistible proposition.