N Ananthanarayanan
N Ananthanarayanan has spent almost three decades with news agencies and newspapers, reporting domestic and international sport. He has a passion for writing on cricket and athletics.
Articles by N Ananthanarayanan
Ishant Sharma’s ton, one of resolve and dedication
By N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 22, 2021 07:51 AM IST
- The 32-year-old Sharma, who started off as a teenager in May 2007, has only now hit triple figures, but his longevity without shedding the tag as a genuine new-ball bowler is a tribute to his unwavering dedication as a subcontinent seamer.
Can Glenn Maxwell turn RCB star power into big performances?
UPDATED ON FEB 19, 2021 08:13 PM IST
- Virat Kohli's team spent Rs14.25 crore to buy the explosive Australian batsman, who has not justified his abilities in IPL.
Trying to play catch-up always tough in India: Jonathan Trott
By N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 03, 2021 08:50 PM IST
- England batting coach says having firm plans in place against India's spin as well as pace will be crucial to do well in the four-Test series starting on Friday.
IND vs ENG: For Joe Root this series could mean more than a ton of Tests
By N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 01, 2021 07:49 AM IST
Among the other famous five, Root has plenty to look forward to in the four-Test series starting in Chennai on February 5. For one, he will be the first to play in his 100th Test.
Rishabh Pant packs power, patience and new-found maturity to emerge as a hero
UPDATED ON JAN 19, 2021 10:50 PM IST
His sensational, unbeaten 89 to steer India to a historic Brisbane Test victory and help the visitors clinch their second successive series in Australia, also completed his transformation, merging mind and matter with steely performances by Indian players.
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.
India vs Australia: ‘Ended up looking a fool, didn’t I,’ says Tim Paine
By N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JAN 13, 2021 09:01 AM IST
- Tim Paine's plan crumbled as he was picked up on stump mic having a go at Ashwin, who in turn, held up play several times in retaliation.
Under siege, R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari deliver a draw for ages
PUBLISHED ON JAN 11, 2021 09:18 PM IST
- Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari produced pure grit for 42.4 overs, smothering everything the formidable Australian bowlers threw at them to ensure one of Test cricket’s memorable draws.
Runtime error compounds India’s plight at the SCG
PUBLISHED ON JAN 09, 2021 09:58 PM IST
India vs Australia: The Sydney Test turned on its head during an eventful Day 3. Australia executed their aggressive bowling plans to perfection as India faced defeat amid mounting injuries
Bumrah, Ashwin and hunting in tandem
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 30, 2020 08:19 AM IST
The 34-year-old off-spinner has been sensational, tactically and in terms of fitness; with Jasprit Bumrah, he is spearheading the bowling that has left Australia rattled in a series tied 1-1.
India vs Australia: Countering the off-stump line of attack
By Sanjjeev K Samyal/N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 21, 2020 08:02 AM IST
India vs Australia: In the record book, it will simply go down as India’s lowest total. But it has to be mentioned that 36 all out occurred in a pink-ball Test. The challenges for the batsman in a pink-ball game are greater.
India vs Australia Test series Preview - India’s balancing act: Meeting fire with fire
By Sanjjeev K Samyal and N Ananthanarayanan | Mumbai/New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 17, 2020 01:52 AM IST
India vs Australia: After a sterling show in India’s historic first series victory in 2018-19, all eyes are on Bumrah. He has the pace and a knack of hitting the right length to extract bounce on Australian wickets.
A spin battle in the shadows of the fast and furious
By Sanjjeev K Samyal/N Ananthanarayanan | Mumbai/New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 15, 2020 08:25 AM IST
Australia is the mainly the playground of genuine quicks and batsmen who can counter fire with fire, with positive stroke-play. The combative Ashwin though will hope to engage in a meaningful spin battle with seasoned off-spin rival Nathan Lyon.
Australian cricket threads a needle through history
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 05, 2020 09:17 AM IST
Australia cricketers joined the band on Friday, swapping their traditional yellow-and-green by wearing a predominatly black jersey adorned with intricate aboriginal patterns in orange and yellow.
The importance of being Ishant
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 21, 2020 09:28 AM IST
While the Indian team grapples with the question of how to make up for Virat Kohli’s absence during the Test series, there is joy to be had in Ishant Sharma’s return from injury.
Autumn IPL adds spring to India ahead for Australia
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 13, 2020 01:49 PM IST
Unlike many of their teammates from other cricketing nations, the IPL was the first taste of the game for India’s players since the pandemic began in March. What do the performances of key players tell us about their form ahead of the Australia series?
IPL 2020: Quiet flows Quinton, the other SA MVP
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 11, 2020 08:22 AM IST
IPL 2020: Quinton de Kock doesn’t draw headlines like de Villiers does season after season, but his quality as opener and wicketkeeper has added steel to champions Mumbai Indians for a second year in a row.
Marcus Stoinis, Shikhar Dhawan steer Delhi Capitals into first IPL final
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 08, 2020 11:43 PM IST
IPL 2020: Delhi Capitals cashed in on dropped catches and misfields to score 189/3 after electing to bat. Kane Williamson (67 off 45 balls) spread some calm in SRH with a sublime innings. Just as the panic shifted to Capitals, Stoinis, having taken two wickets to puncture the chase in the power play, got Williamson slice a drive to deep cover. With 43 to get off 19 deliveries, the innings ended at 172/8.
Rahane, Dhawan seal DC win to reach playoffs
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 02, 2020 11:29 PM IST
Rahane’s 60, his first substantial score of IPL 2020, and Dhawan’s 54, his third fifty to go with two centuries, and their mastery over Virat Kohli’s bowling weapon—leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal went wicketless returning 0/29—settled the game.
IPL 2020: SRH stay alive, RCB wait for play-off spot
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 31, 2020 11:40 PM IST
IPL 2020: The win lifted SRH to fourth on the table, enjoying the best net run rate among the four teams on 12. They must still beat table toppers Mumbai Indians in their final game on Tuesday if they are to keep hopes of qualifying.
IPL 2020: Suryakumar Yadav steers MI home after Bumrah masterclass
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 28, 2020 11:28 PM IST
IPL 2020: Jasprit Bumrah, the go-to bowler in any team he plays, and young opener Devdutt Padikkal put on a show in the first half, and Suryakumar Yadav carried the second half, scoring a brilliant, unbeaten 79 (43b, 10x, 3x6) to steer MI to a five-wicket win with five balls to spare.
IPL 2020, KXIP vs SRH: Kings XI Punjab ride late surge to snatch incredible win over Sunrisers Hyderabad
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 25, 2020 07:44 AM IST
IPL 2020, KXIP vs SRH: The win left KXIP fifth on the points table, two points adrift of the fourth-placed team, and fighting for a playoff berth with three games left. For SRH, even winning the last three games may not be enough.
IPL 2020: Jos Buttler steers RR to crucial win, CSK playoff hopes fade
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 19, 2020 11:32 PM IST
IPL 2020: Smith dropped anchor while Buttler scored steadily. CSK hopes faded when Buttler hammered leg-spinner Piyush Chawla for three fours to milk 16 runs in the 15th over, effectively sealing the game.
IPL 2020: Shikhar Dhawan hits first T20 century as Capitals snatch win from CSK
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 17, 2020 11:54 PM IST
IPL 2020: Teams batting first were 5-2 up in Sharjah ahead of the game and Delhi Capitals bowlers felt the pressure as CSK’s seasoned batsmen posted a solid 179/4. DC though made it 2-0 for the season. They found their man in Shikhar Dhawan and unexpected dew that made batting a touch easier as the ball came on to the bat.
IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians win a power game over Delhi Capitals
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 11, 2020 11:33 PM IST
IPL 2020: Just when Capitals, electing to bat, were shifting gears through Marcus Stoinis, he was run out in a mix-up with Shikhar Dhawan.
Chetan Chauhan, a fighter who thrived in pressure
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times
UPDATED ON OCT 10, 2020 09:39 AM IST
Chetan Chauhan, who went on to become a cricket administrator and later entered the rough and tumble of Uttar Pradesh politics, would go on to use these facets of his character well even in his “second innings”.
IPL 2020: Rahul Tripathi’s gritty knock spurs KKR to win over CSK
By N Ananthanarayanan | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 08, 2020 06:07 PM IST
IPL 2020: Rahul Tripathi top-scored with 81 as Kolkata Knight Riders defended 167 to beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in an Indian Premier League match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
IPL 2020: Kolkata Knight Riders pacers upstage Jofra Archer’s brilliance as Royals lose
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 30, 2020 11:34 PM IST
IPL 2020: Batting first Kolkata Knight Riders posted 174 for 6 riding on Shubman Gill (47) and Eoin Morgan’s (34*) contributions. In reply, young KKR pacers never allowed RR to be in the game as they restricted RR to 137 for 9.
IPL 2020: RCB beat MI in Super Over
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 29, 2020 12:11 AM IST
IPL 2020, RCB vs MI: In the Super Over, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 7/1 by Navdeep Saini. Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the target on the last ball of the Super Over with Virat Kohli hitting Jasprit Bumrah for a four.
Dean Jones: The man who set a bold ODI template
By N Ananthanarayanan | New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 25, 2020 08:41 AM IST
Jones, 59, survived by wife and two daughters, is best remembered for his exploits, especially in India, as Australia’s batting lynchpin to help revive the team under Allan Border in the 1980s after Dennis Lillee, Greg Chappell and Rodney Marsh retired together.
