THE MAN WHO WRITES HIS OWN SCRIPT

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata (November 5, 2023).

Virat Kohli turns 38 today. The young promising lad of West Delhi has been dominating the world stage like no one else ever did before. Interestingly, today the king has reached a level wherein, with every innings of his, a record gets shattered. However, the same would not have been possible without the kind of game awareness he has. Virat Kohli knows how to craft his innings as per the requirements and situation of the game. Furthermore, he also understands against whom he should charge and against whom he should defend. In instances of a run-chase, his mind works even better, which makes him the ultimate chase master.

In this post, however, the author will be talking about one such innings which often gets side-lined when we talk about his batting genius. On 5th November, 2023, Indians were facing Proteas in the group stage game of the 2023 World Cup at the Eden Gardens. Unlike other cricketing venues, Eden Garden has always had something for the bowlers, which makes batting challenging. Even though Rohit Sharma started off aggressively, it was not an easy wicket to bat upon. Moreover, the Proteas too came back stronger and dismissed both the openers with the scorecard reading 93/2 in 10.3 overs. The game was at a very interesting stage when Iyer joined Kohli in the middle. One more wicket and Proteas would have got an upper hand in the contest. It was thus the need of the hour that the duo stitched a big partnership with someone playing the role of an anchor.

And Boy! What a magnificent knock Virat Kohli played on his birthday. Kohli stayed on the wicket for the entire Indian innings and scored a gritty 101* of 121 deliveries. Mind you, Virat batted for more than 3 hours, in which he hit just 10 boundaries and scored most of his runs by running between the wickets. It is because he understood that scoring on this wicket is not that easy, and it is better to capitalise upon the start given. Due to his game awareness, not only did India successfully play their entire 50 overs, but the batsmen at the other end were also able to play freely. Apart from Kohli, Iyer too scored a valuable 77, as the hosts posted an above-par total of 326/5 in 50 overs.

The run-chase was not going to be easy, and the manner in which the South Africans collapsed in front of the Indian bowling attack was unbelievable. The team which was hitting sixes for fun did not hit a single six in the entire innings and were bowled out for just 83 runs in 27.1 overs. The troika of Jadeja (5), Shami (2) and Kuldeep (2) ran riot as Indians won the game by a massive 243 runs. However, the most interesting thing was that the critics who were questioning Kohli for playing slow went silent when they saw the Proteas innings.

The genius of Virat Kohli outclassed everyone that day at Eden Gardens. As Mark Nicholas said it rightly, he is the man who writes his own script. Virat Kohli on his 35th birthday produced a masterclass which would never be forgotten.

To watch the Highlights of the Match, Click Here. 

HERE WAS A CAESAR! WHEN COMES SUCH ANOTHER?

 

Image Credit: BBC.

The cricketing world was shocked when the news came out that Lancashire has opted not to renew Jimmy Anderson's contract for the next season. Anderson, who retired from the national side a couple of years ago, continued to play for his home county. Interestingly, even at the age of 44, he was one of their star cricketers who gave it all for the side. Though statistics will not always tell you the impact a player had on the pitch, sometimes they can be used to figure out how the campaign went. It is pertinent to note that in the 2026 season, Jimmy featured in 11 first-class matches in which he picked up 50 wickets at a staggering average of 17.68. Moreover, he was also Lancashire's leading wicket taker of the season. Hence, there was nothing about fitness or performance which could justify this horrendous decision of the management.

In a recent Sky interview, Nasser Hussain rightly said that the way in which Anderson has been treated by the management is sad. Furthermore, Hussain even contended that Anderson has been bowling better than even those bowlers who were picked ahead of him for the Ashes in Australia. It is quite well known to the entire cricketing fraternity that Anderson wanted to continue but was pushed for retirement from the international arena by the English Cricket Board. Interestingly, the decision of sending the youth attack ahead of him backfired, as they got hammered 1-4 Down-Under.

However, the decision of Lancashire not renewing his contract is absolutely preposterous and way beyond logic and reasoning. The man who gave you 26 years of service should not be treated like that. Lest one should not forget that he was not just their legend but was also this season's top performer. To be honest, in the recent Anderson interview, we did feel a pain in his voice. As a cricket fan, it hurts to see your legend being treated like this. To be honest, one doesn't know what lies ahead, but the author of this post would be glad if any other county opts to field Anderson in their squad. After all, this young lad is the most energetic one in the UK. 

JIMMY JOINS THE ELITE CLUB

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Lord's, London [September 7-11, 2017].

In the previous post we talked about the historic Leeds test wherein the Windies did the impossible and chased down 322 runs in the final day of the test match and levelled the series 1-1. The action now reached the Home of Cricket – Lord's, wherein both sides locked horns for the final time in the series. West Indies Captain Jason Holder won the toss and decided to bat first on the pitch, which appeared to be bowler friendly. The decision turned out to be a horrendous one, as the visitors were bowled out for just 123 runs in their first innings. Ben Stokes picked up 6 wickets as the Windies looked helpless in front of the lethal English pace attack.

However, it was not going to be another one-sided affair for England, as the visitors came out strong with the ball. Kemar Roach (5) and Jason Holder (4) came all guns blazing as they dismissed the hosts for 194 runs in their first innings. The English would have struggled to reach even the 100-run mark if Stokes would not have scored the half-century. Furthermore, it was the contribution of the tailenders like Stuart Broad and Anderson that the English first innings lead reached 71 runs.

The match was evenly balanced and could have gone anywhere. But this is when Jimmy Anderson bowled one of the finest spells of his career and won the match and the series for his side. Anderson, who was inching closer to the 500 wickets milestone, reached the glory with style when he bowled out Brathwaite for 6. The Lord erupted with joy and gave Jimmy a standing ovation as he joined the elite club of 500 wickets.

The carnage didn't stop here, as Jimmy went on to pick 6 more wickets and ended with the figures of 7-42. The visitors were bowled out for just 177 runs, with hosts needing just 107 runs to win the match and the series. It was not going to be a tough task for the English, who chased down the total with 9 wickets in hand.

Ben Stokes was awarded the player of the match award for his all-round performance as the hosts wrapped up the series 2-1. Furthermore, James Anderson (19 wickets) and Shai Hope (375 runs) were awarded the player of the series award for their individual brilliance throughout the tour.

To watch the Highlights of the Test Match, Click Here-

Day 1.

Day 2.

Day 3.

To watch the spell of Ben Stokes, Click Here.

To watch the spell of James Anderson, Click Here. 

LONG LIVE TEST CRICKET

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Headingley, Leeds [August 25-29, 2017].

In the summer of 2017, the West Indies Cricket Team toured England to play 3 test matches, one T20 international and 5 ODIs. The first test of the series was supposed to be the historic day-night test [It turned out to be the first and only Pink-Ball Test played on English soil]. Hence, everyone was excited about it. Unfortunately the match turned out to be a one-sided affair, as the English won the match by an innings and 209 runs.

Losing by such margin is not an uncommon sight in test cricket. But what caught everyone's eye was the manner in which the Windies collapsed like a pack of cards [They lost a record 19 wickets in a single day of a test match]. This is something unexpected from any test side. Hence, there was criticism all over in regard to the playing style of the visitors. To make matters worse, the second test was scheduled to take place in Leeds, which is considered a fortress of English cricket.

England captain Joe Root won the toss and decided to bat first on a bright sunny morning in Yorkshire. However, the Windies came out strong this time and kept on picking up wickets at regular intervals. At one stage the England scorecard read 152/6, and the chances of crossing 200 looked bleak. However, this is when Ben Stokes scored a magnificent 100 and took his team to a fighting score of 258. Apart from Stokes, Captain Root scored a gritty half-century while other English batsmen struggled in front of the Caribbean pace attack. The duo of Roach and Gabriel picked up 4 wickets each as Windies now looked on to take a lead in the test match.

Unfortunately, they lost 3 quick wickets at the top, and it seemed nothing had changed from Birmingham. However, this is when the duo of Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope stitched a massive partnership of 246 runs and took their team to a respectable position. Brathwaite scored 134, whereas Hope scored 147 as the visitors took a vital first innings lead. The Windies were eventually bowled out for 427, with England now pushed onto the back foot. It is pertinent to note that apart from James Anderson, who picked up 5 wickets, other bowlers struggled to get help from the bowling-friendly conditions of Leeds.

The hosts had a mountain to climb, and this is when every English batsman came into the rescue. Though none of their batsmen were able to get to the three figures mark, 6 half-centuries made sure that they reached a massive total of 490. The lead was now 321 runs, and Captain Joe Root felt it was enough and hence decided to declare. The visitors now needed 322 runs on the final day to win the match and keep the series alive. On the other hand, the hosts needed 10 wickets to wrap up the match and the series.

To be honest, no one gave any chance to the West Indies. Batting on the 5th day of a test match is tough anywhere in the world. Moreover, chasing a score of 322 runs in fast bowler-friendly conditions of Headingley was going to be nothing short of Mission Impossible. Everyone expected that the duo of Anderson and Broad will finish off the test match in a single session. But this is when Shai Hope played the innings of his life and did something which was not supposed to happen. The Windies chased down 322 runs with 5 wickets in hand and levelled the series 1-1. The duo of Hope (118*) and Brathwaite (95) once again took the sting out of the English attack and took Windies closer to the target. Brathwaite was unlucky, as he missed onto his hundred, but Hope stayed till the very end and finished the match in style. The Headingley erupted with joy when the winning runs were hit. Mind you the test match was being played in Leeds and not Jamaica. But it was such a moment that, irrespective of the nationalities, everyone felt happy and joyous when the target was chased and the match was won by the Caribbeans. After a horrendous show in Birmingham, the Windies were up and kicking in Leeds.

Shai Hope was awarded the man of the match award for his hundreds in both innings of the test match, as the visitors won their first test on English soil since 2000. The series was levelled 1-1 as the action now shifted to the home of cricket for the final test of the summer.

To watch the Highlights of the Test Match, Click Here-

Day 1.

Day 2.

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5.

To see the Match-Winning Innings of Shai Hope, Click Here. 

To read more about the First Test, Click Here. 

THE CURIOUS CASE OF MOHAMMED SHAMI

 Image Credit: India Today

The squad for the New Zealand tour has been announced, and Mohammed Shami has been dropped once again from the Indian side. To be honest, it is quite frustrating as a cricket fan to see that our premium fast bowler is not getting selected only due to the issue of age. Mind you, our current bowling attack is getting slaughtered against every country. Be it Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England or the West Indies, the pacers have gone for runs all across the world. On the other hand, Shami has been constantly performing in the domestic tournaments.

The fitness of Japrit Bumrah has been a matter of concern. Moreover, Siraj too is not a regular in the Indian white-ball setup. With the World Cup just a year away, the bowling department looks vulnerable, and our hopes of winning a World Cup are bleak. It is pertinent to note that the 2027 World Cup would be played in South Africa, which offers pace and bounce to the fast bowlers. In such a condition it is important that we take our premium pace attack for the marquee event. On the other hand, we are taking the weakest bowling line-up we have seen for a while.

Mohammed Shami is one of the finest fast bowlers India has ever produced. Moreover, in the ICC events he gets even more lethal. Who can forget his hatred against Afghanistan in Southampton? The match was nearly gone, but Shami turned it all around with 3 back-to-back wickets in the final over of the game and won it for his side. Mind you, Shami only played 4 games in the 2019 World Cup and was the second-highest wicketkeeper for the Indians with 14 wickets under his belt.

The 2023 edition got even bigger and better, wherein he picked up a staggering 24 wickets in just 7 games. The semi-final at Wankhede was the peak of Shami, wherein he picked up 7 wickets and took India to another World Cup final. Unfortunately, everything went down the line since then. In the finals at Ahmedabad, Shami got a wicket in his very first ball but failed to dismiss any other player post that. The Aussies chased down the target of 241, and the World Cup dream was shattered.

Furthermore, the injury woes kept him out for nearly a year, and when he returned, he was not the one who we saw in the 2023 World Cup. But, still in the 2025 Champions Trophy, he delivered a strong performance wherein he was the second leading wicket taker of the tournament. Unfortunately, since the 2025 Champions Trophy final, Shami has not played for India and has been constantly dropped from the squad for the stupidest of reasons. The man who is bowling constantly well and picking up wickets in the Domestics is getting snubbed on the issue of age.

The recent New Zealand squad announcement has made it clear that Shami is no longer in contention for the 2027 World Cup. But the bigger question is, if not Shami, who is going to be the star of our pace attack? The selectors better find this answer quickly, or else 2027 could become another 2007 disaster. After all batsmen wins you a match, but its the bowlers who will win you the tournament.

 

BATTING VERSUS BATTING

 

Image Credit: CricInfo.

Venue: Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati [September 30, 2026].

The West Indies tour has come to an end, and it is thus time for a serious introspection. The hosts won the ODI Series 2-1, whereas the T20 Series ended in a 2-2 draw, with the final T20 ending in a washout at Bengaluru. The tour did produce some marvellous cricketing moments which would be remembered for long. However, the problematic aspect is that it's only the batting performances which would be cherished as the bowlers looked helpless in every venue. Be it ODIs or T20s, the surface had nothing for the bowlers, and they just tried to protect themselves from the slaughter. The situation became so troublesome that even the Indian Head Coach Gautam Gambhir came out in the defence of the bowlers. Moreover, if the situation doesn't improve, there is a possibility that no Indian youngster would like to pick up a ball in the future. The series was very much a contest between the batting line-ups of two sides, with bowlers having negligible roles in deciding the course of the game.

Out of the 8 games played, the pitch at Guwahati produced the most uneven contest between the bat and the ball. Indian Captain Shubman Gill won the toss and decided to field first on a flat batting friendly surface, as it was difficult to decipher what could be a good score on this pitch. His thinking was not wrong, as the Windies, after batting first, posted a massive total of 405/7 in their 50 overs. John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo scored magnificent hundreds as the bowlers looked helpless. Kuldeep Yadav had the best bowling figures for the men in blue, and that too was 2-65 in his 10 overs. The man for whom the author felt most pity was Auqib Nabi, who made his debut in this match and went for 84 runs in 8.5 overs without any wicket. It was indeed a debut no one would wish to have.

Indians now needed 406 runs to win the match and the series. Mind you, they were supposed to climb a mountain, as it was meant to be their biggest run-chase in the history of ODI cricket. However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. The hosts chased down 406 runs in just 43.3 overs with 8 wickets in hand. Captain Gill led from the front as he scored a majestic 223* of just 133 deliveries. The magnum opus comprised of 26 boundaries and 8 sixes as Windies' attack was crushed like anything. Apart from Gill, former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also scored a quickfire 101 as the Indians marched their way to another series win.

However, the bigger question which remains unanswered is what kind of pitch we want to play cricket on? 811 runs in 93.3 overs implies that bowlers had nothing on the surface. If this is what we are offering to our pacers and spinners, then why not use a bowling machine? Moreover, we can win games at home by producing such surfaces, but as soon as we tour overseas, the cracks will be wide open, as we saw in the Ireland-England tour of 2026. Hence, one would hope that the BCCI will realise its mistake, and in the upcoming bilaterals we will have some competitive surface, or else we will end up being the most unprepared side in the 2027 World Cup at South Africa. 

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.