The popularity of a sport can be gauged from the level of expectations from players at an international outing. Our performance at the Beijing Olympics — a bronze and two quarterfinalists — popularised the sport in the country, and with a series of good performances in the Asian Games and World Championships (2009, 2011), people had hoped we would better our performance in London. Vijender Singh writes.
It was nice to see the first Test in Ahmedabad pan out along expected lines. After MS won the toss, Viru and Gauti got India off to a good start, Pujara made a superb double and Yuvi marked his return to Test cricket with a well-made half century. VVS Laxman writes.
For Viru to play his 100th Test at the Wankhede is a massive achievement. It calls for hard work, plenty of perseverance, sacrifices and a total commitment to cricket, and Viru has displayed all these qualities,
VVS Laxman writes.
Ahmedabad had a terrific name in terms of development, now it must be up with the best in terms of cleanliness and facilities, Sourav Ganguly writes.
The state units are in a state of stupor. Perhaps, this is one reason why there is thin participation at the national level.
Sriram Singh reports.
Know the writerYou will rarely find a piece praising a politician in these pages. We sports journalists have seen far too many of that breed ruin our federations. Sukhwant Basra reports.
For years now, I have been asked this question with monotonous regularity: Who next after Leander and Mahesh to consistently represent India at the Grand Slams? “No one”, has been my standard answer. Sadly, the system that breeds talent does not exist in our country.
Mahesh Bhupathi writes.
As the public makes a villain out of MS Dhoni, only till recently everybody’s favourite ‘captain cool’,
Pradeep Magazine says it reflects the reality — that we live in extremes. For Indians, cricket is not just a sport but a symbol of middle-class aspirations — where defeat is not an option.
The team’s World Twenty20 success has been widely hailed, but the real challenge will be Test cricket.
Pradeep Magazine writes.
It was yet another disappointing loss for our team. More than the loss, I feel gutted looking at the margins of these defeats — a 52-run loss to the Daredevils and a seven-wicket defeat to Auckland with 14 balls remaining.
Gautam Gambhir writes.
What has added to their woes is the mediocre performance of the likes of Kallis and Gambhir. The reason I say this is because they are technically more equipped to handle pace and bounce than any other batsman in the squad.
Sourav Ganguly writes.
It is nothing but perception that when we talk about a disease such as cancer, it sends shivers down our spine, but the next moment we take comfort in the line, "Come on, I am a sportsperson, I train every day of the week, eat healthy, don't drink or smoke, cancer can never hit me".
Gautam Gambhir writes.
Match Reckoner: Delhi Daredevils v Perth Scorchers
The KKR are up against the Titans at Durban and I know that not only them but the organisers also will be praying to get a game today.
Sourav Ganguly writes.
While the Champions League is failing to create any waves, much to the disappointment of many loyal champions of the format and its loss-making owners, India's domestic season began sans its stars.
Pradeep Magazine writes.
On Sunday, Delhi blew hot and cold. The sultry, muggy conditions made running difficult on a flat and picturesque course.