In these days of two-Test series and instant noodles, a long-drawn contest spread over seven weeks can be draining. India last played five Tests in Australia during the summer of 1991-92. It was a series that reiterated the rise of Sachin Tendulkar; the twilight of Dilip Vengsarkar; the resilience of Ravi Shastri; the promise of … Read more
“Let’s not doubt Rohit Sharma’s ability to bounce back,” said the legendary Kapil Dev, who also felt that under-fire India skipper doesn’t need to prove himself at this stage of his career. Rohit, who managed scores of three and six against Australia in the the Adelaide pink-ball Test after dropping down the batting order, is … Read more
India’s travails with the pink ball under Adelaide skies got a second episode over the weekend. If the 2020 outing and the meagre score of 36 are inextricably linked, the second Test of the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy series moved towards another sobering defeat. The highs gained from the Perth Test were frittered away in the … Read more
It was a Sunday on fast-forward here at the Adelaide Oval. Even if the climax seemed a foregone conclusion, fans merrily trooped in, Bollywood hits wafted in the air and drums were thumped. The temperature was a crisp 22 degrees, and even as the sun lent some warmth, the breeze was bone-chilling. On the third … Read more
India captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday said pacer Mohammed Shami is in the reckoning to be included in the squad for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia but added the team will exercise patience and let him attain match fitness. “The door is very much open. We are just monitoring him because he got some … Read more
In cricket, Indian players are the rock stars. A routine pre-game training session at the Adelaide Oval here on Tuesday, acquired a festival air as nearly 3000 fans thronged the venue, lending their full-throated acoustics as an accompaniment to the thwack of the pink ball thudding into an eager bat. As Sania Mirza once said … Read more
A warm-up game with a serious tone and a decent turnout, witnessed India extend its winning run upon Australian shores. Against the Prime Minister’s XI at the Manuka Oval here on Sunday, Rohit Sharma’s men registered an easy victory. Pursuing the host’s 240, India finished with 257 for five as every ounce of batting practice … Read more
Despite captain Rohit Sharma’s availability, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opened the innings for India during its day-night practice match against Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Sunday. Rohit, who usually opens the innings with Jaiswal, was unavailable due to personal reasons during India’s 295-run win over Australia last week in the first Test of … Read more
A nip in the air was obvious, and while the Indians wound up their training, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, clad in a pullover and with his hands dug into his pockets, spoke about the ‘sweet headache’ associated with the team. With Rohit Sharma back and Shubman Gill revealing signs of recovery from his left thumb … Read more
A feathery rain wrapped the Manuka Oval in a moist blanket here on Friday. In Australia’s capital, past leafy roads, across a red-brick vintage church, with an old battle tank nearby, the cricketing venue geared up for the two-day warm-up fixture pitting the visiting Indians against the Prime Minister’s XI. The damp weather was laidback … Read more