Abhishek Paul
Abhishek Paul works with the Hindustan Times’ sports desk. He has been covering the beat since 2010 across print and digital mediums.
Articles by Abhishek Paul
India vs England: That's the way the pitch crumbles
By Abhishek Paul, Rasesh Mandani
PUBLISHED ON FEB 27, 2021 11:55 AM IST
As many as 17 wickets fell to spinners on Day 2 of the day-night Test, raising questions on whether the pitch was fit to host a game in the longest format
Ravichandran Ashwin: 400, and firing on all cylinders
By Abhishek Paul, Ahmedabad
UPDATED ON FEB 26, 2021 12:31 PM IST
- This is a man who has been the fastest in the world to reach 200, 250 and 350 Test wickets, and yet derided for being someone who thrives only on home conditions.
India vs England: England go from dust to dust in two days against India
PUBLISHED ON FEB 26, 2021 12:09 AM IST
On a crumbling and dusty pitch in the day-night Test, where the pink orb looked like it had transformed into a magical object with a life of its own, anything looked possible. And it was.
Axar sizzles with six on home turf as India take early command
PUBLISHED ON FEB 24, 2021 11:28 PM IST
India vs England: Patel and Ashwin set up the batsmen over after over with turn and variations. India ended the day on 99/3, trailing by 13 runs.
Motera: Welcome to the world's largest cricket stadium
PUBLISHED ON FEB 24, 2021 07:48 AM IST
The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,10,000, close to 10,000 more spectators than the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground – that has now lost its tag of being the largest cricket stadium in the world to the facility in Motera.
India vs England 3rd Test Preview: Set for the third episode
UPDATED ON FEB 23, 2021 10:34 PM IST
India vs England: So, here we are at the biggest cricket stadium in the world, waiting to host its first international match since getting refurbished, for India’s third episode with the pink ball against Joe Root’s England.
India vs England: At shiny new Motera, beware the twilight hour
By Abhishek Paul, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 23, 2021 07:35 AM IST
India vs England: Since the first day-night Test was played in 2015, the twilight hour has been bugging batsmen; it is when the nature of the light changes and the eyes have to make the difficult transition from sunlight to floodlight.
Ind vs Eng: Colour code keeps all guessing ahead of Ahmedabad day-night Test
By Abhishek Paul, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 21, 2021 09:17 AM IST
- The two factors are playing on the Indian team’s mind. Initial images from the ground show a thick grass cover on the pitch, which is normal in Indian conditions to maintain the moisture.
Method, madness, or both – why did Morris go for ₹16.25cr?
By Abhishek Paul, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 20, 2021 10:24 AM IST
- For Morris, 33, who last played for the Proteas in the win over Australia at the 2019 ICC World Cup at Old Trafford and has been injury-prone, it was the biggest the payday of his career by some distance. The seeds had been sown much earlier.
James Anderson magical spell hands England win, series lead over India
By Abhishek Paul, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 09, 2021 08:21 PM IST
India vs England: England pacer's triple strike undermines India's final day resistance, handing visitors a 227-run win in the first Chennai Test.
England win or a classic India chase on the fifth day?
By Abhishek Paul, Chennai
UPDATED ON FEB 08, 2021 09:10 PM IST
Ravichandran Ashwin's 6/61 and Ishant Sharma's 300th wicket leave the hosts chasing a Test record 420 and the visitors nine wickets.
Dom Bess spins it as India’s top-order tumbles
UPDATED ON FEB 07, 2021 10:53 PM IST
The young off-spinner takes four, including Pant and Pujara after their fifties, as England leave India struggling in Chennai Test.
Joe Root delivers masterclass as Indian bowlers wilt
By Abhishek Paul | PTI
UPDATED ON FEB 06, 2021 09:34 PM IST
Root recovered from overnight cramp as he dipped into rich reserves of energy, completing his maiden double century against India with a six over long on off Ravichandran Ashwin. It was his second double century in a fortnight, the first by an overseas batsman in India since Brendon McCullum’s 225 in 2010.
Joe Root’s double delight propels England
By Abhishek Paul | PTI
UPDATED ON FEB 05, 2021 08:47 PM IST
The pair’s assured execution against India’s bowlers did force Virat Kohli and the think tank into frequent and long huddles to keep altering the strategy. A 200-run third wicket partnership saw England finish the day on a solid 263/3.
'Best in the world' test for Virat Kohli's India against England
PUBLISHED ON FEB 04, 2021 11:33 PM IST
- India vs England 1st Test preview: Bowlers who can bat at the “forefront” of Kohli’s plans in Chennai.
England pacers ready to grind it out against India: Jofra Archer
By Abhishek Paul, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 02, 2021 09:44 PM IST
- The fast bowler is yet to play a Test in Asia, but is unfazed by the tough pitch conditions he could face in the four-Test series.
From Panesar to negative line: Jack Leach sees lessons in a past India show
PUBLISHED ON FEB 01, 2021 09:19 PM IST
Leach and Bess can look back on a past high. The last time an England left-arm bowler and off-spinner teamed up in India, they helped notch up a famous series win.
England batsmen look to follow Joe Root’s Sri Lanka template
By Abhishek Paul, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON JAN 31, 2021 08:21 AM IST
Those big runs have boosted team confidence going up against India, England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said in a virtual media interaction on Saturday.
The Brisbane chase: 'At Tea, if we have wickets in hand, we’ll take the game'
UPDATED ON JAN 26, 2021 12:49 PM IST
At the beginning of that process, the Adelaide defeat, India batting coach Vikram Rathour and his colleagues in the coaching staff had sensed the glimmer of an opportunity.
We don't fear losing: Bharat Arun
PUBLISHED ON JAN 23, 2021 08:31 AM IST
- Four bowlers made debuts against a line-up that boasted the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. That the visitors still emerged as the better side is the strongest possible proof that India’s bowling reserve is exceptionally talented and deep.
'We don't fear losing': Bharat Arun
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 11:46 PM IST
That the visitors still emerged as the better side is the strongest possible proof that India’s bowling reserve is exceptionally talented and deep. Shepherding this rotating cast of bowlers through injuries and debuts was India bowling coach Bharat Arun.
India vs Australia: Why India’s list of walking wounded is getting longer
PUBLISHED ON JAN 17, 2021 05:32 AM IST
Sharma may still get away with the niggle in his right ankle, but Brisbane provided only the latest episode in India’s running saga of the walking wounded.
Incredible India! R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari highlight a great escape
UPDATED ON JAN 11, 2021 09:11 PM IST
With a target of 309 going into the fifth day with two wickets down, India lost only three more to stay unbeaten on 334 in 131 overs. It is the third most overs faced in a fourth innings on Australian soil in the last 10 years.
India battle on despite insult and injury
UPDATED ON JAN 10, 2021 08:01 PM IST
- Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill then stitched a second straight 60-plus stand, laying the foundation for an improbable chase, before the home bowlers struck.
Waiting game leaves India hurting at SCG
PUBLISHED ON JAN 09, 2021 07:27 PM IST
- India in trouble as they add 148 runs in 55.4 overs after Pujara’s slowest Test fifty with Pant, Jadeja injured
India vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja’s golden arm negates Steve Smith century
By Abhishek Paul | CAPE TOWN
UPDATED ON JAN 08, 2021 07:35 PM IST
India vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja returned with his best figures in Australia (4/62) before bringing an end to Smith’s innings with a cracker of a run out. Despite a solid start, the hosts were restricted to 338. In reply, India are 96/2 going into the third day.
India vs Australia 3rd Test: Rishabh Pant makes life two hard for India at the SCG
By Abhishek Paul | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 08:00 PM IST
India vs Australia: Pucovski’s aggression and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant giving him two lives, on 26 and 32, played a huge role in the hosts reaching such a strong position.
Will be interesting to see how Siraj and Saini handle Australia’s pressure: Glenn McGrath
By Abhishek Paul | New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 08:29 AM IST
Navdeep Saini will be the second fast bowler after Mohammed Siraj to debut for India this series after injuries to Mohammed Shami and Yadav. Counting Jasprit Bumrah’s 16 matches, the Indian pace attack at the SCG will have a combined experience of only 17 Tests.
India vs Australia: Bubble fatigue leads to surface tension
By Abhishek Paul | New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 04:51 AM IST
While Ajinkya Rahane points out challenges of living in quarantine, Tim Paine says ‘tension is boiling’ over India’s reported unwillingness to move to Brisbane.
India vs Australia: Who will make Sydney grade?
By Abhishek Paul | New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 06, 2021 07:56 AM IST
Bringing in Rohit Sharma, who has been named vice-captain, would mean tinkering with the team that won the second Test in Melbourne.