In Australia, Pujara took more blows on his body than the numbers of boundaries he managed to hit. Against the English in Indian conditions, he kept getting out to Leach. At Southampton in the WTC final, Pujara just hung around, content to hold the bat and give the impression that he was there. There were…

“Boss, you cannot teach batsmen how to bat, and bowlers how to bowl at this level. A captain or a coach can do only as much. There is no one who works harder at the nets, sweats in the gym, chases big goals and talks more positively in team meetings. This inspirational captain, Virat, used…

कल शाम ठाकुर साहब के संग महफिल लगी थी । नौकरी, राजनीति और मौसम से सरकते-घिसटते हुए बातचीत अंततोगत्वा क्रिकेट तक पहुंची । आईपीएल  के सस्ते होहल्ले से दूर हमारी चर्चा के केंद्र में थी मध्यकालीन क्रिकेट । (मेरे हिसाब से प्राचीन काल प्रथम एक-दिवसीय विश्वकप, अर्थात प्रूडेंशियल कप 1975 तक का; 1975 से 1999…

Out of the eighteen fours he struck in his innings, two against Paul Adams were badly miscued. Azharuddin had intended to hit them between the midwicket and the mid-on, but they crossed the fence between the third man and the deep backward point. From each stroke that he blasted that day on the Eden, emanated…

Australia at one stage were tottering at 4/95 in their second innings, while chasing a target of 336. But Neil Harvey, the usually flamboyant, but that day a picture of patience and doggedness, partnered with two lower order batsmen to take the Ozzies to a memorable victory by 5 wickets, with only half-an hour to…

ACT ONE The gang of four is up at one in the night of the Adelaidebacle. The fielding coach, Shridhar, is shocked to receive a message from Kohli at this ungodly hour, because the captain had not touched alcohol in seven years, and goes to bed early after face-chatting with his wife. Shridhar- The skip…

Eleven players get selected to play in a cricket match. One of them leads the side. The order of these two statements is never reversed. A captain is not given a commission to raise a standing army. There are no stand-in captains, only captains. The former is just a management ploy which utilises feudal practices…

Four tests as the skipper so far, thrice victorious, still unbeaten. Surely those three wins were delivered by bowling predators. It becomes a habit, captaining the side boasting of a vicious attack. Today morning, at Woolloongabba, Ajinkya Rahane found himself leading a pack of fit herbivores in cricketing terms, bowlers without much bounce, swing, speed,…