Sandip G

Book Review: Andrea Pirlo's obsession with free-kicks was a deep, philosophical quest, not only a pursuit of sporting perfection but also of spiritual, soul-sating satisfaction. 

Manoj Tiwary opens up to The Indian Express about losing the Ranji Trophy final, how he has forgotten about the defeat, his free-scoring form, the unlikely heroes, and the elder-brotherly Arun Lal.

The Maharaj of Indian cricket: None in his kingdom has seen him bat, but each time he returned from England, the story goes, he brought a pile of bats, leather balls, and other cricketing paraphernalia that he gifted to his friends, nephews and relatives.

Jesse Ryder sprung back into public consciousness when the country had nearly forgotten his name. The sudden reason for the recollection was the same as that for which they once consigned him as their fallen hero.

Colin de Grandhomme's utility can't be gauged through numbers. His 43 in the first innings in Wellington and 26 in the first innings in Christchurch turned out to be precious for his team. Add to that the wicket of Virat Kohli in the second innings of the Christchurch Test.

It offered a timely reality check on the quality of some of the players, opened the eyes to their glaring ineptness, cut open the flaws papered over by home games, and a forewarning that it’s time India revised their plans.

When New Zealand were chasing, he (Kohli) was heard shouting at his teammates: “Jab India mein yeh log aayengey, tab dikha doonga.” A cry for revenge.

Mohammad Shami making the ball shape into the path of Tom Latham, Ravindra Jadeja's superb piece of athleticism, and Trent Boult's moment of magic — the second day in Christchurch had it all.

New Zealand have a man or more than one man for every condition, making them arguably the finest, if not the most heterogeneous, bowling firm in the world. At least in their own conditions.

Kohli has looked not necessarily out-of-touch but out of sync. He was sucked by back-benders on both occasions. Playing for out-swing, but deceived by the inward seam movement.

Authorities have been reluctant to sanction multi-storey stands in the stadium, and have stressed on earthquake-resilient buildings across the city. Today, the tallest building in Christchurch is the 282-foot Pacific Tower.

Like Glenn McGrath was Brian Lara's nemesis, Tim Southee has Virat Kohli's number. The New Zealand bowler has got the Indian out 10 times across formats without making a song and dance of it.

Hanuma Vihari (55) and Cheteshwar Pujara (54) went for pull shots on either side of tea when they should have shown patience during a crucial phase on Day 1 of the Christchurch Test.

A quiet resilience defines the city of Christchurch, and metaphorically there could not be a better city in the country, where Virat Kohli and Co could channel the bouncebackability.

After the twin earthquakes destroyed most of the Christchurch's art galleries, street murals became a trend that’s still flourishing in the city

Ishant, though jet-lagged and sleep-deprived, not only played the entire 1st Test but also was India’s most potent bowler picking five wickets for 68 runs in the first innings, looking as sharp as he had been before getting injured. 

After a huge 10-wicket defeat in the opening encounter in Wellington and with the series at stake, India could tinker with their playing eleven for the Christchurch Test.

Since 2017, Ravindra Jadeja has hoarded 996 runs in 31 innings at an average of 49.80. R Ashwin has eked out only 573 runs at 17.36 with a lone fifty-plus score. Jadeja has rattled 10 half-centuries and a hundred.

Tim Southee's cerebral quotient is often understated or overshadowed in the maverick brilliance of Trent Boult and the swagger of Neil Wagner. Yet, in the last two years he has had more success than them.