THE LEGEND OF KING KOHLI

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua [July 21-25, 2016].

In the summer of 2016, the Indian Cricket Team toured the West Indies and the United States to play 4 Tests and 2 T20 Internationals. Team India under Captain Kohli were in red-hot form. However, one can never underestimate the host nation in a test game. In a highly anticipated game, Indian Captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked like a batting paradise. Opener Shikhar Dhawan gave Indians a solid start, which allowed the middle order to play freely. 

In an overseas test series, it is important that the captain leads from the front. And boy! What a knock Kohli played. Captain Kohli batted for more than 6 hours and scored a magnificent double hundred. Furthermore, in his knock of 200, Kohli hit a total of 24 boundaries. It was truly a masterclass and delight to watch. Apart from the captain, Ashwin too scored a gritty 113 as India declared at a mammoth total of 566/8.  In response, the Windies were bowled out for just 243 in their first innings as Shami and Umesh Yadav made a mess of the Caribbean batting lineup. The duo picked 4 wickets each as the hosts bundled out quickly in the first innings. 

Since India got a massive 323-run lead in the first innings, Captain Kohli decided to enforce a follow-on. The Windies were under immense pressure, and the spin web of Ravichandran Ashwin made sure that the Indians won this game by an innings. Ashwin picked up 7 wickets in the second innings as the Windies were bowled out for just 231 in their second innings. 

Ravichandran Ashwin was awarded the Man of the Match award for his all-round performance as the Indians won the first test by an innings and 92 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

To watch the Innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here. 

THE LIMITATIONS OF BAZBALL

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan [October 7-11, 2024].

Since Brendon McCullum has become the coach of the English Test side, the POMS have been playing a brand of cricket that has never been seen before. The Three Lions have redefined the way test cricket is played by their aggressive brand of cricket. Some call it entertaining, whereas others call it stupid. However, one cannot deny the fact that their style has taken the cricketing world by storm. 

However, the question that arises is, what is actually the Bazball style of play? The same can be best explained by the England-Pakistan game, which was played in Multan between October 7 and 11. On a flat pitch, the hosts amassed a massive 556 in 149 overs. It appeared that the game would end in a draw. However, this is when the Bazball style of play came in between. The English scored a whopping 823 in 150 overs and put the pressure back on the Pakistanis. Harry Brook, who is the poster boy of the Bazball style of cricket, scored a massive 317 off just 322 deliveries. Even Joe Root batted at a strike rate of 70 as he scored 262 of 375 deliveries. The duo literally made a mess of the Pakistani bowling line-up who was struggling to take wickets. The hosts looked simply clueless in front of the assault unleashed before them. It seemed that gave all hopes of taking a wicket and were waiting for the English declaration. Due to such an explosive batting performance, the visitors were thus successful in putting the pressure back on the hosts. Eventually, the hosts crumbled in the second innings, and the English ended up winning the game by an innings and 47 runs. To be honest, the game would have ended in a draw if the POMS would have batted like a typical test inning. 

But now the question that arises is why is everyone criticizing Bazball if it is bringing results than a draw? The answer to the same is that the Bazball style of play works in conditions where the pitch is flat and fast. The moment the pitch shows the signs of spin and swing, Bazball falls apart. The same was quite evident in the next 2 games wherein the Pakistani prepared a spin web, and the English lost both. 

To watch the innings of Harry Brook, Click Here.

To watch the innings of Joe Root, Click Here. 

THE BEN STOKES SHOW

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- The Oval, London [September 13, 2023].

In the English summer of 2023, the New Zealand Cricket Team toured England to play 4 T20 Internationals and 4 ODIs. The tour was a part of the 2023 World Cup preparations for both sides. The T20 Series ended in a 2-2 draw, whereas the ODI series was leveled 1-1 before both the teams reached Oval for the penultimate game. In a must-win game, Kiwi Captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to field first. 

Kiwi speedster Trent Boult came charging in in his initial overs and reduced England to 13/2 in 2.4 overs. It appeared that the Kiwis would steamroll the English in their backyard. However, this is when Ben Stokes joined Dawid Malan in the middle. The game was on a knife-edge. A couple more wickets and the Kiwis would have wrapped up this series in no time. 

Interestingly, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. Ben Stokes came charging against the Kiwis and produced a counterattack never seen before. Stokes scored a monumental 182 off just 124 deliveries (15 boundaries, 9 sixes) and took the game away from the Black Caps. He was quite unlucky that he missed his double hundred that day. However, the kind of game he displayed that day will forever be remembered. Be it pacer or spinner, everyone was hit out of the park. Moreover, his inning was a combination of both class and power hitting. It was truly a delight to watch one of the finest performances by one of the best players on the planet. Apart from Stokes, Malan scored a gritty 96 as the Hosts were bowled out for 368 in 48.1 overs. 

A target of 369 was never going to be an easy task for the Kiwis. Moreover, the fall of wickets at regular intervals made sure that the English maintained a grip over the game all throughout. Eventually the Visitors were bowled out for 187 in 39 overs as the Hosts won the game by 181 runs. 

Ben Stokes was awarded the Man of the Match award for the knock that will never be forgotten. 

To watch the Highlights of the Game, Click Here. 

To watch the Innings of Ben Stokes, Click Here.

A TITAN SIGNS OFF- VIRAT KOHLI'S GLORIOUS TEST JOURNEY ENDS

 

Author- Author- Sanket Shivansh Srivastava.

This Blog was first posted Here. 

On a quiet Monday morning, the cricketing world paused to absorb a momentous announcement. Virat Kohli, one of the most defining figures in the history of Indian cricket, officially brought his 14-year Test career to an end. The news, shared through an emotional social media post, sent ripples of nostalgia, admiration, and melancholy across fans and experts alike. Kohli leaves the longest format with 123 Test matches, 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, and 30 centuries—a legacy that redefined Indian Test cricket in the 21st century.

The Beginning: A Humble Start

Kohli’s Test career began in June 2011 on India's tour of the West Indies. His debut at Sabina Park in Kingston wasn’t dreamlike scores of 4 and 15 and a total of 76 runs in five innings didn’t hint at the greatness to come. But by the end of that year, in Mumbai, he began finding his rhythm with half-centuries in both innings against the same opponents. Still, his real arrival came in early 2012 when he scored a classy 116 against Australia in Adelaide, where the iconic journey truly took flight.

The Leader Rises: Kohli Takes the Helm

The turning point in his career—and perhaps for modern Indian Test cricket—came in December 2014. MS Dhoni’s sudden retirement from Tests during the tour of Australia opened the doors for Kohli to assume full-time captaincy. What followed was a transformational era for India. Under Kohli’s leadership, the team adopted a fearless, aggressive mindset, especially in overseas conditions.

India won 40 of the 68 Tests under his captaincy, the highest by any Indian skipper. His leadership made him not just statistically India’s most successful captain but also arguably its most influential, bringing a culture of intensity, fitness, and pride in playing in whites. He emphasized pace, fitness, and relentlessness, shaping a unit capable of winning anywhere.

Golden Years: Dominance with the Bat

From 2016 to 2018, Kohli entered a phase of supreme dominance. In those three years, he averaged nearly 67, amassing 3596 runs in 35 Tests, with 14 centuries. He averaged 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, and 55.08 in 2018—numbers that solidified his place among the modern-day greats. During this period, Kohli’s consistency was remarkable, whether he was playing on spin-friendly Indian tracks or the seaming pitches of England and South Africa.

His twin hundreds in Adelaide in 2014, a sublime 167 against England in Visakhapatnam, and his career-best 254* against South Africa in Pune were not just masterclasses in technique but demonstrations of his mental resilience. Arguably, his most redemptive and cherished innings came in 2018 when he returned to England and put to rest the ghost of the disastrous 2014 tour. With 593 runs in five Tests at an average of nearly 60, he stood tall, even as India lost the series.

© BCCI

The Adelaide Symbolism: Where the Legacy Took Shape

Adelaide became more than just a venue for Kohli. It was in Adelaide in 2012 that he announced his arrival with a century. In 2014, as stand-in captain, he played two of his most iconic innings, scoring 115 and 141 in the same match. Though India lost the game, a new chapter had begun. His grit, hunger, and refusal to back down became symbolic of a new era in Indian cricket—bold, expressive, and competitive on foreign soil.

Kohli’s Impact on Indian Test Culture

Under Kohli’s captaincy, India didn’t just win at home. They began to challenge and conquer abroad. The 2018–19 series win in Australia was a watershed moment, India’s first-ever Test series victory Down Under. Kohli’s fingerprints were all over it—not just in strategy and spirit, but in belief. He empowered a pace attack that could dismantle opponents, encouraged fielding standards that matched global bests, and held himself to elite fitness levels.

His passion for Test cricket also stood out in a generation increasingly drawn to white-ball glitz. Kohli often described Tests as the “purest” and “most challenging” form of the game, something his farewell note reiterated with sentiment: "There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever."

The Challenges and the End

Like all great careers, Kohli’s too witnessed a dip. Post-2019, his form in Tests began to waver. His last century before a long drought came in the day-night Test against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in 2019. It took over three years before he raised his bat again for a hundred—this time in Ahmedabad against Australia in 2023. In the final 24 months of his career, he averaged 32.56, a stark contrast from his prime.

A Generation Says Goodbye

Kohli’s departure follows closely on the heels of Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirements from Test cricket. With Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane out of contention and Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav not in the mix, an era has truly ended. Only KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah remain as remnants of the golden generation that reached back-to-back World Test Championship (WTC) finals.

The transition feels reminiscent of 2012–13, when the likes of Dravid, Laxman, and eventually Tendulkar signed off. It’s now time for a new wave, likely to be led by Shubman Gill in whites, to forge their own identity.

Kohli’s Place in History

Kohli retires as not only India's most successful Test captain but also one of the most influential players in modern cricket. His 30 centuries in 123 Tests place him among the finest batters the game has seen. More importantly, he was a custodian of the red-ball format in an era where T20 leagues often overshadowed it.

BCCI President Roger Binny summed it up aptly: “His leadership marked a shift in how India competed overseas — with aggression, belief, and a refusal to settle for second best.”

Kohli redefined what it meant to wear whites for India. He brought charisma, fight, and an insatiable hunger to a format that demands patience and perseverance. His legacy isn't just in numbers but in the attitude and ambition he infused into Indian Test cricket.

Signing Off with Gratitude

Kohli’s final post read like a heartfelt letter to the game: “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more… I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”

As he signs off with cap number 269, Virat Kohli leaves behind not just a record book full of milestones but a blueprint for future generations—play hard, dream big, respect the game, and never settle.

Test cricket in India will never be the same again. And perhaps, that’s the greatest tribute to Virat Kohli’s legacy.

MAHI MAYHEM

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur [October 31, 2005].

In the winters of 2005, the Sri Lankan Cricket Team toured India to play 7 ODIs and 3 Test Matches. The hosts won the first two ODIs comfortably, and the action for the third ODI reached the pink city, Jaipur. In a must-win game, Sri Lankan Captain Marvan Atapattu won the toss and decided to bat first. The decision turned out to be a good one, as the visitors posted a massive total of 298 in their 50 overs. Kumar Sangakkara was the leading run scorer for the Sri Lankans as he scored an unbeaten 138 off 147 deliveries. Apart from him, Mahela Jayawardene scored a quick 71 as the Indian bowlers struggled for wickets. 

The Sri Lankans had a belief that they could win this game because they posted a decent score, and they had a lethal bowling line-up. Moreover, they dismissed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in the very first over itself, which gave them tremendous confidence. However, what happened next was something truly unbelievable. We saw a brand of cricket that was never witnessed before as MS Dhoni came all gun's blazing from very beginning. 

MS played one of the most destructive knocks in the history of one-day cricket as he scored an unbeaten 183 off just 145 deliveries. His innings comprised 15 boundaries and 10 massive sixes. The power with which he was smashing the ball was truly incredible. He literally made a mess of the lethal Sri Lankan bowling lineup. Due to his incredible knock, we chased down 299 in just 46.1 overs with 6 wickets in hand. It was Mahi Mayhem in Jaipur. 

To be honest, if there would have been more runs on the board, MS would have definitely got his double hundred. However, one thing was sure: the Indians have unearthed a superstar. Two decades later, that Young Superstar got inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Not bad for a Long-Haired wicketkeeper batsman from Ranchi. 

 

To watch the Highlights of that Match, Click Here. 

THE FIGHTBACK

                       

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Trent Bridge, Nottingham [August 8-12, 2002].

In the summer of 2002, the Indian cricket team toured England to play a triangular ODI series with England and Sri Lanka. After this, they played a 4-match test series against the hosts, England. Hence, it was a big tour that started in the month of June and ended in the second week of September. Indians, however, were successful in winning the triangular series in the most dramatic of manners. Nonetheless, the English made a strong comeback in the test series as they hammered us with a margin of 170 runs in the first test.

The action for the second test shifted to Trent Bridge, wherein we were on a back foot because of what happened to us in London. In a do-or-die game, Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat first. Riding on Sehwag's gritty 108, we ended up scoring 357 in our first innings. Apart from Sehwag, Captain Ganguly (68) and Harbhajan Singh (54) made valuable contributions with the bat as English bowlers chipped wickets at regular intervals. 

In response, the English posted a massive 617 in their first innings. The same was possible because of the heroics of Michael Vaughan, who missed a well-deserved double century. Vaughan scored a magnificent 197 of 258 deliveries. Furthermore, every English batsman contributed with the bat as the visitors struggled to take wickets. 

It was now almost certain that we cannot win this test. The question that arose now was, can we save this match? Unfortunately, we lost both our openers cheaply as the Indians were reduced to 11/2. The match was on a knife-edge when Sachin Tendulkar joined Rahul Dravid in between. The duo stitched a partnership of 163 runs and brought the visitors back into the game. This was then followed by another 135-run stand between Dravid and Ganguly as we took a crucial lead in the second innings. Amidst such a pressure situation, Rahul Dravid scored a well-composed 115 as we saved the test match. Apart from Dravid, Tendulkar (92) and Ganguly (99) too contributed in this pressure situation. It was quite unlucky on their part that they missed their centuries. However, the fightback of Team India won everyone's heart. The Indians eventually declared a score of 424/8 as the match ended in a draw. 

To watch the knock of Sehwag, Click Here.

To watch the knock of Rahul Dravid, Click Here.

To watch the knock of Sachin Tendulkar, Click Here. 

THE HEROICS OF JASON GILLESPIE

 

Image Credit- Times of India.

Venue- Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh [April 16-20, 2006].

Whenever we hear the name Jason Gillespie, the first thing that comes to mind is a tall, long-haired fast bowler always eyeing wickets and threatening the opposition. However, this post is not about his bowling heroics but about his exceptional batting performance. In the summer of 2006, the Australian cricket team toured Bangladesh to play 2 tests and 3 ODIs. The Visitors won the first test by the barest of margins as the Bangla Tigers gave them a very strong fight. As a result, when both teams reached Chittagong for the final test, no one was expecting it to be an easy game.

In a must-win game, the Bangladeshi captain won the toss and elected to bat first. Unfortunately, they could not get the best out of the conditions, as they were bowled out for just 197 in their first innings. In response, the Aussies declared at a mammoth score of 581/4. However, what is interesting in it is their highest run-getter in that inning. It's not their Captain Ponting or Hayden or Hussey. But it was their night watchman, Jason Gillespie, who scored the highest among all of them. Dizzy was at his ultimate best in Chittagong as he scored an unbeaten 201 of 425 deliveries. Furthermore, his innings comprised 26 boundaries and 6 sixes. The man who came in as a night watchman ended up being invincible. Apart from him, Mike Hussey scored a quickfire 182 as the Aussies took the game under control.

It was almost certain that the match was nearly over for the hosts. However, they did give a fightback in the second innings but failed to save the test. The Bangladeshis in their second innings were bowled out for 304 runs as the Aussies won the game by an innings and 80 runs. For his all-around performance, Jason Gillespie was awarded the man of the match award. Unfortunately, it turned out to be his last test in Baggy Green. 

To watch the highlights of that innings, Click Here.