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Aditya Iyer

Aditya Iyer was part of Hindustan Times’ nationwide network of correspondents that brings news, analysis and information to its readers. He no longer works with the Hindustan Times.

Articles by Aditya Iyer

India vs Australia: India face attack of the clones at SCG

India vs Australia: During that Ashes, Labuschagne’s first, the South African-born Queenslander went from packing Smith’s kit bag to replacing him as the game’s first concussion substitute in the Lord’s Test.

cricket

Updated on Jan 07, 2021 09:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

India vs Australia: No fixed cast for India’s opening show

India vs Australia: Between Melbourne 2018 and Melbourne 2020, Mayank Agarwal is one of only three Indian players, along with Rahane and the erstwhile stand-in vice-captain Cheteshwar Pujara, to have played each of India’s last 13 Tests.

Shubman Gill looked phenomenal on his Test debut and is likely to retain his place for Sydney Test.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Jan 03, 2021 07:44 AM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Ajinkya Rahane: Making it count

The icy calm strategist took over a weakened squad, just after they’d set a record for worst-ever Indian innings. And he’s managed to put the shards together to make a winning whole.

cricket

Updated on Jan 02, 2021 04:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

India vs Australia: The case for a twin-spin attack this Boxing Day

Ravichandran Ashwin has never bowled in tandem with a frontline spinner in Australia. Could a case be made for Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in Mohammed Shami’s absence?

R Ashwin (left) was impressive in Adelaide and India will deliberate on Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round qualities when they pick a replacement for Mohammed Shami in the Melbourne Test.(GETTY IMAGES)

cricket

Updated on Dec 23, 2020 08:11 AM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Adelaide Test, Day 2 report: Aussies to ashes, by Ashwin’s turn

India vs Australia: Off-spinner’s 4 for 55 in a terrific bowling show gives India 53-run first innings lead.

Indian captain Virat Kohli reacts with bowler Ravichandran Ashwin (L) on day 2 of the first test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia, December 18, 2020.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Dec 19, 2020 12:06 AM IST

Adelaide | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

1st Test, Adelaide: India’s day ruined by a run-out

India vs Australia: Advantage Australia after skipper Kohli, Rahane and Vihari in space of 18 runs.

A dejected Virat Kohli walks back.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Dec 17, 2020 11:43 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

India vs Australia: Fresh chapter to a red-hot rivalry

India vs Australia: Skipper Kohli’s “new India”, back to where they scripted history two years ago, kick off another series in Australia with a tough pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

File image of Tim Paine and Virat Kohli.(File)

cricket

Updated on Dec 17, 2020 08:28 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

KL Rahul: Waiting to begin again

India vs Australia: It was in Australia six years ago that KL Rahul arrived on the international scene with a century in just his second Test at Sydney. Can he stand up and deliver this time around as India look to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

KL Rahul in action during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Dec 14, 2020 07:52 AM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

India vs Australia: Will Sanju Samson get a long rope after lean patch in Australia?

Samson’s career is just seven T20Is old, and a talent as precocious as his is perhaps just one big knock away from blossoming. But the question remains if India’s selectors will remain patient with him in a T20 World Cup year that is 2021.

India's Sanju Samson walks off after being caught by Australia's Steve Smith off the bowling of Mitchell Swepson (REUTERS/Loren Elliott)(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Dec 08, 2020 08:36 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Hardik Pandya, patience and then the big push

Hardik Pandya didn’t add to his tally of fifties by the time the game in Sydney ended; but he certainly added to his mushrooming stature of being the gold standard in the format. To boot, he notched his career-best 42 not out, runs studded with breath-taking hits that helped India chase down 194 from a situation that was fast becoming improbable.

cricket

Updated on Dec 07, 2020 09:48 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Yuzvendra Chahal: Twelfth man to game changer

The Indian team doctor deemed that Jadeja had suffered a concussion and informed the match-referee, David Boon, that India would require a concussion-substitute in Chahal and Boon approved the request. This did not go down well with the Australian camp.

India's Yuzvendra Chahal reacts.(REUTERS)

cricket

Updated on Dec 05, 2020 08:24 AM IST

ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

How it took a pandemic to stop century machine Virat Kohli

India vs Australia: Because the three-digit score remained elusive, 2020 and 2008 now bracket a most incredible spell of consecutive years in which Kohli often seemed to be notching ODI hundreds for fun.

This is the first time in 12 years that Virat Kohli has ended a year without an ODI century.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Dec 03, 2020 08:06 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

I made mistakes, and I paid for them. But the ball is still pure: Maradona the antagonist

The cameras caught him in all avatars between saint and sinner, in all ages between old and young, in all sizes between fat and fit and in all emotions between darling and deplorable. But one trait remained a constant for the gaze of the ever-present lens in his life – his loneliness.

Maradona is escorted out of a courthouse amid charges that he shot and injured journalists outside his home in 1994. “Whatever good I may do, they will still remember me for the bad I’ve done,” he once said.(Reuters)

sports

Updated on Nov 29, 2020 12:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

For 30 yrs, he’s lived life as the WWE star the Undertaker. Meet Mark Calaway

Calaway, who recently announced his retirement (not for the first time but quite possibly the last), speaks in a thick Texan accent, of life in disguise, walking away from the ring, and still missing Yokozuna.

“At this age, it takes ten times the effort for half the reward. Not a day goes by when I don’t wake up in some sort of pain. But I don’t say this for sympathy. I wouldn’t change a thing,” Calaway says.(Courtesy WWE)

sports

Updated on Nov 29, 2020 11:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Sourav Ganguly, Gabba, and a century that was enough

From on-field flare-ups, highs and lows to the historic series win in 2018-19, India’s tours of Australia have been among cricket’s most fierce contests. In this series, we explore some of the highlights from past tours. Today we look at Sourav Ganguly, whose Brisbane ton set the tone for India showing verve on tours to come.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly hit a brilliant 144 in the first Test of the 2003-04 series against Australia. The rain-affected match in Brisbane ended in a draw. India returned with the four-Test series level at 1-1(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Nov 25, 2020 07:42 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

A refreshing Dominic Thiem for the tennis world

Dominic Thiem lost the last match of the year, but in 2020 the Austrian lived up to his promise.

sports

Updated on Nov 24, 2020 06:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians high on title no. 5

IPL 2020: This, Mumbai achieved by humiliating the best of the rest, Delhi Capitals, for the fourth time this season. Sharma led that charge from start to finish, first with his captaincy and then with 68 devastating runs.

cricket

Updated on Nov 10, 2020 11:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: Ricky Ponting - The backroom leader plotting Delhi Capitals’ rise

IPL 2020: Iyer may be the captain on the field, but watch any of Delhi’s dressing-room videos that has flooded the internet this season. It’s evident that he is just one of the boys as Ponting hands out badges to the top performers.

Photo of Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting(Twitter)

cricket

Updated on Nov 09, 2020 08:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: Ruturaj Gaikwad caps eliminated CSK’s show, oust KXIP

IPL 2020: The second consecutive defeat for Kings XI Punjab meant that they were knocked out of the tournament, having finished at 12 points in 14 games.

Ruturaj Gaikwad celebrates fifty.(IPL/Twitter)

cricket

Updated on Nov 01, 2020 08:50 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: Rajasthan ruin Gayle’s night out, end Kings’ winning streak

IPL 2020: Chris Gayle’s 99 went in vain as Rajasthan Royals halted Kings XI Punjab’s five-match winning streak with a seven-wicket win in Abu Dhabi.

IPL 2020 KXIP vs RR: Steve Smith of Rajasthan Royals shakes hands with Kings XI Punjab players after the win.(IPL/Twitter)

cricket

Updated on Oct 31, 2020 12:08 AM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Gayle, Mandeep power Punjab to easy victory

Mandeep made amends with his first fifty of the season (66*), aided by a terrific display of pulls and heaves that he targeted over the midwicket boundary. It would’ve been the talking point of the night, if Gayle hadn’t blazed his way to his thirtieth IPL fifty.

cricket

Updated on Oct 27, 2020 01:17 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020, RR vs SRH: Manish, Vijay in cruise control for Sunrisers

IPL 2020: IPL’s first Indian centurion scored an unbeaten 83, running out of chase-runs to become IPL’s latest Indian centurion. For that too, Pandey has Shankar’s drop from earlier in the evening to blame.

cricket

Updated on Oct 22, 2020 11:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: Mohammed Siraj’s magical spell silences Knight Riders

IPL 2020: Mohammed Siraj picked up 3 for 8 as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets in Abu Dhabi. Batting first, KKR posted a mere 84/8 and in reply, RCB chased it down in 13.3 overs.

Abu Dhabi: Royal Challengers Bangalore player Mohammed Siraj celebrate the wicket of Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Nitish Rana during Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (PTI Photo/Sportzpics)(PTI21-10-2020_000210B)(PTI)

cricket

Updated on Oct 21, 2020 10:56 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

The Other Muscat-eer

The uncertain times for Oman cricket ended when they reached Dharamsala. They beat Ireland (a team that would soon play Test cricket) for the first-ever time in their history and would possibly have made it to the big-boys round had bad weather not followed them and Netherlands to their game, a washout.

Jatinder Singh, Oman, scores a run against Namibia.(Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Oct 17, 2020 09:14 AM IST

ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: New skipper, same result for KKR against Mumbai

IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets to reclaim the top spot. Batting first, KKR posted 148 for 8. In reply, Quinton de Kock slammed an unbeaten 78 as MI chased down the target in 16.5 overs.

cricket

Updated on Oct 16, 2020 11:19 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Delhi win on a fast bowlers’ night

The win was wrapped up by debutant pacer Tushar Deshpande, who held his nerve and the night’s storyline.

cricket

Updated on Oct 14, 2020 11:29 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Roland Garros: One man’s land

Thirteen titles at a single Slam is an outlandish number. How many more Majors can Rafael Nadal win on Parisian clay?

Is there a winning streak greater in tennis than Rafael Nadal’s at French Open?(Getty Images)

sports

Updated on Oct 13, 2020 07:50 AM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Rafael Nadal’s journey to greatness

For a decade and a half, Nadal has turned winning at Roland Garros into a repetitive– even ordinary!– act. But even for Nadal, everything about Sunday was extraordinary: from his straight sets decimation of the world No. 1 (including a first set bagel), to recording his 100th win in this tournament to winning a 13th French Open title.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning the French Open final against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.(REUTERS)

sports

Updated on Oct 12, 2020 12:18 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

Polish teen Iga Swiatek conquers Paris

But for nearly an hour and a half before that and on the grandest stage of her young life, the 19-year-old from Poland couldn’t put a foot wrong even if she tried.

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - October 10, 2020. Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates during the final against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Charles Platiau(REUTERS)

sports

Updated on Oct 10, 2020 11:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

IPL 2020: Bairstow-Warner stand too much for Kings XI, SRH win by 69 runs

IPL 2020: Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Kings XI Punjab by 69 runs in an Indian Premier League match in Dubai. Batting first, SRH posted 201 for 6 riding on fifties from David Warner (52) and Jonny Bairstow (97). In reply, XKIP were bowled out for 132 in 16.5 overs as Rashi Khad picked up 3 for 12.

cricket

Updated on Oct 08, 2020 11:39 PM IST

New Delhi | ByAditya Iyer (Chief Cricket Writer)

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Aditya Iyer

Aditya Iyer was part of Hindustan Times’ nationwide network of correspondents that brings news, analysis and information to its readers. He no longer works with the Hindustan Times.

India vs Australia: During that Ashes, Labuschagne’s first, the South African-born Queenslander went from packing Smith’s kit bag to replacing him as the game’s first concussion substitute in the Lord’s Test.

India vs Australia: Between Melbourne 2018 and Melbourne 2020, Mayank Agarwal is one of only three Indian players, along with Rahane and the erstwhile stand-in vice-captain Cheteshwar Pujara, to have played each of India’s last 13 Tests.

The icy calm strategist took over a weakened squad, just after they’d set a record for worst-ever Indian innings. And he’s managed to put the shards together to make a winning whole.

Ravichandran Ashwin has never bowled in tandem with a frontline spinner in Australia. Could a case be made for Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in Mohammed Shami’s absence?

India vs Australia: Off-spinner’s 4 for 55 in a terrific bowling show gives India 53-run first innings lead.

India vs Australia: Advantage Australia after skipper Kohli, Rahane and Vihari in space of 18 runs.

India vs Australia: Skipper Kohli’s “new India”, back to where they scripted history two years ago, kick off another series in Australia with a tough pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

India vs Australia: It was in Australia six years ago that KL Rahul arrived on the international scene with a century in just his second Test at Sydney. Can he stand up and deliver this time around as India look to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Samson’s career is just seven T20Is old, and a talent as precocious as his is perhaps just one big knock away from blossoming. But the question remains if India’s selectors will remain patient with him in a T20 World Cup year that is 2021.

The Indian team doctor deemed that Jadeja had suffered a concussion and informed the match-referee, David Boon, that India would require a concussion-substitute in Chahal and Boon approved the request. This did not go down well with the Australian camp.

India vs Australia: Because the three-digit score remained elusive, 2020 and 2008 now bracket a most incredible spell of consecutive years in which Kohli often seemed to be notching ODI hundreds for fun.

The cameras caught him in all avatars between saint and sinner, in all ages between old and young, in all sizes between fat and fit and in all emotions between darling and deplorable. But one trait remained a constant for the gaze of the ever-present lens in his life – his loneliness.

Calaway, who recently announced his retirement (not for the first time but quite possibly the last), speaks in a thick Texan accent, of life in disguise, walking away from the ring, and still missing Yokozuna.

Dominic Thiem lost the last match of the year, but in 2020 the Austrian lived up to his promise.

IPL 2020: This, Mumbai achieved by humiliating the best of the rest, Delhi Capitals, for the fourth time this season. Sharma led that charge from start to finish, first with his captaincy and then with 68 devastating runs.

IPL 2020: Iyer may be the captain on the field, but watch any of Delhi’s dressing-room videos that has flooded the internet this season. It’s evident that he is just one of the boys as Ponting hands out badges to the top performers.

IPL 2020: The second consecutive defeat for Kings XI Punjab meant that they were knocked out of the tournament, having finished at 12 points in 14 games.

IPL 2020: Chris Gayle’s 99 went in vain as Rajasthan Royals halted Kings XI Punjab’s five-match winning streak with a seven-wicket win in Abu Dhabi.

Mandeep made amends with his first fifty of the season (66*), aided by a terrific display of pulls and heaves that he targeted over the midwicket boundary. It would’ve been the talking point of the night, if Gayle hadn’t blazed his way to his thirtieth IPL fifty.

IPL 2020: IPL’s first Indian centurion scored an unbeaten 83, running out of chase-runs to become IPL’s latest Indian centurion. For that too, Pandey has Shankar’s drop from earlier in the evening to blame.

IPL 2020: Mohammed Siraj picked up 3 for 8 as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets in Abu Dhabi. Batting first, KKR posted a mere 84/8 and in reply, RCB chased it down in 13.3 overs.

IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets to reclaim the top spot. Batting first, KKR posted 148 for 8. In reply, Quinton de Kock slammed an unbeaten 78 as MI chased down the target in 16.5 overs.

The win was wrapped up by debutant pacer Tushar Deshpande, who held his nerve and the night’s storyline.

Thirteen titles at a single Slam is an outlandish number. How many more Majors can Rafael Nadal win on Parisian clay?

But for nearly an hour and a half before that and on the grandest stage of her young life, the 19-year-old from Poland couldn’t put a foot wrong even if she tried.

IPL 2020: Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Kings XI Punjab by 69 runs in an Indian Premier League match in Dubai. Batting first, SRH posted 201 for 6 riding on fifties from David Warner (52) and Jonny Bairstow (97). In reply, XKIP were bowled out for 132 in 16.5 overs as Rashi Khad picked up 3 for 12.

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