The snow-capped mountains, an exciting hiking day tour to Triund, endless cups of hot chocolate at one of those homely cafés in Dharamkot, and soaking in the winter sun while walking up to the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium — covering cricket in Dharamshala is always fun!
In March, this reporter drove down from Amritsar to the hill town to cover the final Test between India and England, in anticipation of exciting cricket over the next five days or so. It was, of course, a landmark Test for three top cricketers — Ravichandran Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow were playing their 100th Test, while Jimmy Anderson was on the cusp of claiming his 700th wicket.
Emotions were running high in both camps to make the occasion special for their star players. There were felicitations, emotional speeches, and, of course, lots of banter leading up to the fixture.
Rahul Dravid, Head Coach of India, presented the 100th test cap to Ravichandran Ashwin who was there with his family during the 5th test between India and England held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala.
| Photo Credit:
Sportzpics for BCCI
Rahul Dravid, Head Coach of India, presented the 100th test cap to Ravichandran Ashwin who was there with his family during the 5th test between India and England held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala.
| Photo Credit:
Sportzpics for BCCI
In 15 years of covering the game, this reporter had never seen Ashwin so emotional in a media interaction as he reflected on his journey. At that time, no one could have anticipated that before the year ended, the spin ace would bow out of international cricket, leaving behind a rich legacy.
With thousands of fans flying down to Dharamshala for the Test, it felt as though England was playing at Headingley or Old Trafford. The Barmy Army, in its full capacity, cheered the visiting team with the good old ‘Jerusalem’, creating an atmosphere of fun and frolic.
When the action got underway, Ashwin dominated with a match haul of nine wickets, while Anderson scaled Mount 700. As his father watched from the lounge, Anderson removed his cap and waved at the crowd, who responded with a much-deserved standing ovation.
As is often the case in cricket matches in the Indian subcontinent, fans cheered every time they caught a glimpse of Ashwin or any other stars, while playfully booing the England cricketers with some hilarious one-liners.
By the time the final Test began, India had already sealed the series, but the home team continued its fearless brand of cricket and decimated the much-hyped ‘Bazball’.
Although the match lasted merely three days, forcing travelling scribes to rush-dial travel agents to advance their return tickets, it was a fun experience. With the temperature dipping further in the evenings, walking around McLeod Ganj meant one might eventually bump into some of the English cricketers. For the visitors, it was an opportunity to unwind and rejuvenate after a hectic country-wide trip. Despite visits to hot springs and a bit of trekking to refresh themselves, their performances on the field were far from impressive as they struggled against a spin attack led by Ashwin and ably supported by Kuldeep Yadav.
A couple of months later, this reporter had the opportunity to return to Dharamshala for the Indian Premier League, but those five days of red-ball cricket still hold a special place in his heart.
What to expect in 2025
With the Champions Trophy set to be held in February and March — in Pakistan and the UAE — some intense cricketing rivalries are expected. It will also be exciting to see promising talents taking their first steps in international cricket when the U-19 Women’s World Cup begins in Malaysia in January.
And, of course, there’s the ODI Women’s World Cup on home turf later in the year. It will be the perfect opportunity for the Women in Blue to end their title jinx in ICC events and make their presence felt at home. While there is still a long way to go, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will be hoping to adopt an aggressive mindset and play to their potential.
With plenty to look forward to, fasten your seat belts and get ready for an exciting journey.