THE YOUNG GUNS

 Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo [August 23-27, 2026].

The India-Sri Lanka Test Series has concluded recently, and we have two new batting talents who are ready to take on the world. Devdutt Padikkal and Sonal Dinusha in this tour have exhibited what it means to be a test cricketer and have played innings which they should be proud of.

Padikkal, who has been out of the Indian squad for so many months, started the Sri Lankan tour with a bang as he scored a solid 142* in the tour game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. The hundred ensured that he gets a spot in the starting playing eleven in place of injured Sai Sudarshan. And boy! What a magnificent move it turned out to be. The stylish left-hander from Karnataka managed to hit a ton in both the test matches as the Sri Lankan bowlers looked helpless in front of him. In just 3 innings, Padikkal managed to score 328 runs at a staggering average of 109.33. It was due to his contribution that India managed to post a competitive total in every test match. Moreover, the Indian spin attack did the remaining job as they picked up wickets in regular intervals.

The series would have easily ended in a 2-0 victory for the visitors had it not been Sonal Dinusha. Dinusha, who is just starting his career, took on the Indian attack by horn and scored an incredible 420 runs in just 4 innings. Mind you, in the second test at Colombo, Sri Lankans were asked to follow on. But, this is when Sonal stood strong like a wall and scored an unbeaten 133 of 264 deliveries, which ensured that the second test would end in a draw.

It is pertinent to note that Sonal also scored a hundred in the first innings of this as well as the previous test. Moreover, in the previous test he gave his best to ensure that the test match ended in a draw. But his dismissal at 84 paved the way for an Indian win in Galle. However, in Colombo, he batted throughout the final day and saved the test for his country. For his extraordinary performance in the second test, he was awarded the player of the match award, whereas Padikkal was given the player of the series award.

Though Sri Lanka lost the series 0-1, they will be happy with the fact that they have unearthed a talent for the future. In the case of India, a draw at Colombo has dented their hopes of a WTC final, but they too have some positives out of the series. Manav Suthar has turned out to be a good replacement of the legendary Ravi Ashwin. Though it is too early to comment upon this. But his performance on his first overseas tour has been impressive. Moreover, the number three position has haunted the Indian team for long. However, the incredible dream run of Padikkal has given us the hope that we have finally found a batsman who can walk into the shoes of the great Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.

MAJESTIC DEV

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle [August 15-19, 2026].

In August 2026, the Indian Cricket Team toured Sri Lanka to play 2 test matches. The series was crucial for the visitors to keep their hopes alive for the race to the WTC Final. Regretfully, many Indian players failed to recover from their respective injuries before the series; as a result, there will be multiple new additions to the squad. Devdutt Padikkal was one of them. And Boy! What an impact he had in this series.

In the first test at Galle, Indian Captain Shubman Gill won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision turned out to be a good one, as the visitors posted a big total of 462 runs in their first innings. Padikkal, who was making a return to the test side after the 2024 Perth Test, made an incredible 167. The man who was out of the test side for more than 20 months immediately adapted to the conditions and justified his selection as a number 3 batter.

The number 3 position has been a headache for the Indian side since Pujara's departure. Innumerable experiments have been done with multiple players, but all went in vain. Interestingly, had not Sai Sudarshan been inured, Padikkal would not have got the spot. Sai's injury thus proved to be a blessing in disguise, as we got a technically sound batsman for our number 3 position.

It is pertinent to note that in spin-friendly conditions, Padikkal batted for more than 5.5 hours, in which he faced 230 deliveries. Furthermore, this innings of his comprised 15 boundaries and one massive six as the Sri Lankan bowlers looked helpless in front of him. Apart from Padikkal, KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel also scored gritty half-centuries as Indians strengthened their hold over the match.

In response, the hosts were bowled out for just 284 in their first innings as the duo of Jadeja (3) and Suthar (4) ran riot. Had it not been for the partnership between Dinusha (100) and Dickwella (80), the Lankans would have struggled to avoid a follow-on. It was this duo which took Sri Lanka from 90/5 to 284. The partnership of 146 runs saved some honour of the hosts.

Furthermore, the pitch started to deteriorate by the time play reached day 4. Batting became incredibly tough in the latter part as the Indians were bowled out for just 193 in their second innings. The batting was so hard that barring Rishabh Pant, no Indian batsman reached the fifty-run mark. However, Padikkal, who scored a majestic first innings ton, did score a gritty 44 in the second innings, as the hosts now needed 372 runs to win the test and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

It was almost certain that the Lankans wouldn't be winning the test. The question was, will they survive the remaining overs with a rain threat looming all over? However, Manav Suthar bowled an incredible spell (6-55) in the second innings as Indians pulled out a brilliant test win just in the nick of time. Mind you, it started raining heavily just after the final wicket was taken. The hosts did put a fight in the second innings, but it was not enough to stop an Indian win.

Devdutt Padikkal was awarded the man of the match award as the visitors took a vital 1-0 lead in the 2-match series.

To watch the Highlights of the Test, Click Below-

Day 1.

Day 2.

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5. 

THE TWEET TO REMEMBER

 

Image Credit: ESPN CricInfo and Pretoria Capitals.

Venue: Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban [March 1-5, 2018].

The Australian Cricket Team is touring South Africa to play 3 Test Matches. Interestingly, this is their first test series on the African soil since the famous 2018 series. Who can ever forget the 2018 contest, which took the cricketing world by storm? Even though that particular bilateral is mostly remembered for the ball tampering scandal, one cannot deny the fact that the level of cricket played was of the highest standards.

At the opening test in Durban, we witnessed one of the most destructive performances of Mitchell Starc, who picked up 9 wickets in the match and sealed the game for his side. Even though Aiden Markram did score an impressive hundred in the second innings, that was not sufficient, as the Aussies won the game by 118 runs. Unfortunately, whenever we remember that test match, it is neither the spell of Starc nor the hundred of Markram that comes into mind, but it's the run-out antique of De Villiers and the scuffle that we had on the stairs of Kingsmead.

In the second innings of the game, there was a mix-up between AB and Markram in which AB got run out for a duck. However, in the course of the celebration, Lyon threw the ball upon de Villiers, which was intentional and against the spirit of the game. Moreover, given his aggression and celebration, David Warner did cross the line, which raised the temperature of the series.

And this is when we saw one of the coldest tweets in the history of the game. At the conclusion of the first test, de Villiers tweeted, "This series will be one to remember." And boy! What happened next was something truly unbelievable. Not only did ABD deliver a strong performance, but the Proteas came back harder and won the series 3-1. AB, who scored 71 and 0 in the first test, went on to score 3 fifties and one hundred in the next 6 innings, thereby scoring an aggregate of 427 runs at a staggering average of 71.17.

Apart from ABD and Markram (480 runs), the bowling trio of Rabada, Morkel, and Phillander too joined the party as they dismantled the Aussies in the next 3 games. Moreover, it was not just a defeat that the hosts inflicted upon the visitors, but was rather a total demolition of the Australian side. The margins kept getting better for the Proteas as the Kangaroos looked clueless.

Unfortunately, AB de Villiers announced his retirement after the series, but the performance he delivered would be remembered for ages.

To watch the Documentary of that Series, Click Here. 

THE BEST OF BRIAN CHARLES LARA

 

Image Credit: Windies Cricket.

Venue: Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia [June 20-24, 2003].

In the summer of 2003, the Sri Lankan Cricket Team toured the West Indies to play 3 ODIs and 2 tests. The visitors won the One-Day Series 2-1, and the action now shifted to red ball cricket. The contest has now become a matter of prestige for the Caribbeans, as losing at home was unacceptable. Hence, everyone was expecting a fight from the hosts when the teams reached Saint Lucia for the first test. And Boy! They did make a comeback.

Sri Lankan captain Hashan Tillakaratne won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a batting paradise. Opener Marvan Atapattu played a brillant knock at the top as the visitors posted an above-par total of 354 in their first innings. Atapattu, who batted for around 7 hours, scored a gritty 118 of 275 balls as other Sri Lankan batsmen failed to capitalise upon their starts. For Hosts, Corey Colleymore was the leading wicket-taker who picked up 5 crucial wickets as other bowlers toiled hard.

In response, Captain Lara, who was facing scrutiny after the ODI defeat, led from the front as the Windies posted at a massive total of 477/9 in their first innings. The Prince was in sublime touch as he scored a magnificent 209 of 360 deliveries. The innings, which lasted for more than 450 minutes, had everything – timing, class, perfection and power. It was a classic Brian Lara knock wherein every shot played was of the highest order [Twenty-Four Boundaries and One Six in this instance]. Mind you, this Sri Lankan bowling had greats like Vaas and Muralidaran, but everyone went for runs on that particular day. Apart from Lara, Hinds too scored a gritty 114 as the Caribbeans took a vital first-innings lead.

Unfortunately, due to incessant rain on day 4, the match eventually ended in a draw as both teams moved forward for the final test at Jamaica. However, the match did raise the morale of the Windies, who went out to win the second test and seal the series 1-0.

To watch the innings of Brian Lara, Click Here. 

THE FORTRESS

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Headingley, Leeds [August 19-21, 2026].

Headingley is one of the toughest venues for any visiting side, so much so that the English have not lost a test match here since 2017. Mind you, in 2021, when the Three Lions were at their lowest, they still managed to pull out a win against Mighty Indians on this very ground. So calling Headingley a fortress will not be wrong. The seam conditions, along with bounce and pace, make this a hunting zone for the fast bowlers, and if clouds come in, batting becomes even more challenging. As a result, when Pakistanis came to Leeds for the first test, no one gave them any chance. To make the matters worse, their captain got injured before the test and was subsequently ruled out. Hence, an English win was almost certain.

However, no one knew that the visitors would get blown out like a school team. The Pakistanis (Both Innings Combined) were able to bat for just 85.4 overs as the English pace attack rattled them like anything. The duo of Tongue and Robinson picked up 8 wickets each as the hosts won the first test by an innings and 103 runs. It is pertinent to note that the English did score 409 runs in their first innings, meaning that there were no demons on the pitch. It was indeed a contest between boys and men.

The test match ended in just 3 days as Joe Root managed to secure his first test win as a captain in his second captaincy stint. Headingley thus continues to be a fortress for England, and it is therefore very unfortunate that it will not be hosting an Ashes test next year. It is literally an added advantage to the Australians that they will not be playing in a venue which is literally a graveyard for any visiting side.

To watch the Highlights of this test, click on the URLs below.

Day 1.

Day 2.

Day 3.

THE REDEMPTION OF BEN STOKES

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne [November 13, 2022].

In June 2026, Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket. It came as a shock to everyone because Stokes was in his prime and could have continued captaining England for at least the upcoming Ashes Series. Many, including former England Captain Michael Vaughan, believe that the same has happened because of ECB's insensitive behavior in the curfew scandal. Whatever the reason might be behind the retirement, the fact is that the cricketing world has been left with a void hard to fill. Moreover, Stokes' performance in the country cricket post-retirement had made everyone wonder why, on earth, this player is not playing in the England shirt. After all, Ben Stokes is a once-in-a-generation player. A perfect all-rounder who has won games for his team both by bat and ball. Apart from that, Stokes has also proved to be a wonderful test captain who did revolutionize test cricket with a style which we call 'Bazball'.

But, just like every sportsman, Stokes's journey has not been full of beds of roses. No one could ever forget Carlos Brathwaite's final over heroics in Kolkata wherein he smashed Stokes for four consecutive sixes and won the T20 World Cup for his side. It was literally a heartbreaking moment for Stokes. Moreover, Stoksy went through depression in 2021, which made him pull back from international cricket.

However, in 2022 Stokes came back harder. Firstly, he took over as the Test Captaincy of a struggling England side and made them a formidable force. A few months later he delivered his finest performance in one of the biggest stages. England were facing Pakistan in the finals of the T20 World Cup at the historic MCG. The men in green posted a below-par total of 137/8 in their 20 overs [Credit goes to Sam Curran, who bowled a match-winning spell of 3-12 in 4 overs]. However, the Pakistanis had a strong pace line-up which could rattle any side on their day. But this is when Ben Stokes came into action.

Mind you, at one stage the game did tilt towards Pakistan, as in their opening spell they did blow away the English top-order [The seamers were getting help from the pitch, and the batting did become difficult]. However, Stokes, along with Moeen Ali, stitched a match-winning partnership of 48 runs and won their country a second T20 title. Stoksy, who is known for his aggressive batting, played according to the situation and took the match deep. On the other hand, Ali played attacking cricket as England reached closer to the target. Unfortunately, Ali got bowled out when they needed just 6 runs to win. But Stokes stood his ground and ended up hitting the winning runs. 

Stoksy, who was held responsible for the defeat of 2016, ended up becoming the hero in 2022 as he scored an unbeaten 52 of 49 deliveries with English chasing down the target in 19 overs. The redemption was well and truly complete.

A month later, Captain Stokes and his side whitewashed Pakistan in a 3-match test series in Pakistan. Something which has never happened before. Moreover, for his heroics, Stokes was also awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award. 

Indeed, a perfect end to a memorable year. 

THIS IS EXPLOSIVE CRICKET

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton [March 11, 2009].

In the summers of 2008-09, the Indian Cricket Team toured New Zealand to play 2 T20s, 5 ODIs and 3 Test Matches. The Kiwis won the T20 Series 2-0, whereas the Indians were leading the ODI Series 2-0 at the conclusion of the third one-day international. Hence, it was a must-win game for the Black Caps in Hamilton to stay alive in the series.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori won the toss and decided to bat first on what looked like a batting paradise. The hosts got off to a fly as the duo of Ryder and McCullum stitched an opening partnership of 102 runs in just 19 overs. Baz scored a gritty 77, whereas Ryder scored a solid 46. However, the visitors in the middle overs chipped wickets at a regular interval, which pushed Kiwis to backfoot. At the end of 36.5 overs, the scorecard read 175/5 when Elliot joined McGlashan in the middle. The game was on a knife-edge. One more wicket and the hosts would have got bundled in no time. Interestingly, the duo soaked the pressure and came out with a counterpunch. The duo stitched an unbeaten partnership of 95 runs in the last 10 overs, with McGlashan scoring a brilliant 56 of 42 and Elliot scoring a quickfire 35 of 27, as the Black Caps posted a big total of 270/5 in 47 overs [Rain reduced the match to 47 overs per innings].

It is pertinent to note that even today 271 is a challenging total. Back then it was huge, and that too in 47 overs. The visitors had a mountain to climb. But this is when we witnessed one of the most destructive innings by one and only Virender Sehwag. Sehwag scored an explosive 125* of 74 balls as the Indians won the game as well as the series with ease. Viru charged from the very beginning and attacked every New Zealand bowler. In just 106 minutes, Sehwag hit a total of 14 boundaries and 6 massive sixes. Be it pacer or spinner, everyone went for runs. It was carnage, pure carnage, by one of the greatest Indian openers who was at the peak of his powers. The rain interfered in between, which changed the DL target, but it was not enough to break the concentration of the Sultan of Multan, who looked determined to win it for his side. By the time rain interfered for the final time, the Indian scorecard read 201/0 in 23.3 overs – 84 runs ahead of the DL target. The match was won and so was the series.

Moreover, Sehwag registered the record of the fasted Indian ODI Hundred, which was eventually broken 4 years later by the great Virat Kohli. However, that knock has attained the status of a classic. Something which no Indian or Kiwi fan would ever forget. After all, we don't see any blitzkrieg innings of such intensity anymore. It was explosive cricket of highest order.

To watch the Highlights of that Innings, Click Here.