Sanjjeev K Samyal heads the sports team in Mumbai and anchors HT’s cricket coverage.
Articles by Sanjjeev K Samyal
For Team India, tough calls in times of change
As the Test side waits for its new captain, some key transitions, including the middle order, may have to be paced out more to allow for stability
Published on Jan 26, 2022 06:55 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
The return of Shikhar Dhawan
- The opener was left out of India's T20 World Cup squad even though he was in top form. A change in leadership could change his fortunes in South Africa.
Published on Jan 17, 2022 05:44 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
War & Pace: The Kohli Legacy
- In seven years as skipper, Kohli remodelled the team to an aggressive, fit and pace-oriented unit like never before
Published on Jan 16, 2022 07:32 AM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Indian domestic cricket winning big among the small
- Himachal Pradesh’s Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph and Pondicherry’s big scalps should inspire and provide a winning template for less known teams in Indian cricket.
Published on Jan 09, 2022 08:26 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane: More vintage than desperate
India’s under-pressure batting duo produce an authoritative partnership on the third morning to help the visitors set a challenging total for South Africa to chase in the Wanderers Test
Updated on Jan 05, 2022 10:49 PM IST
Keegan Petersen, Temba Bavuma answer South Africa’s call for batting saviours
The retirements of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis has left the Proteas batting weakened in the ongoing Test series against India
Updated on Jan 04, 2022 10:42 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
KL Rahul as skipper: A remarkable turnaround
The last time Rahul was in South Africa, in 2018, it marked the beginning of the worst phase of his career. Six months since a lucky break gave him a second chance, he has risen swiftly to the top
Published on Jan 03, 2022 08:02 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Virat Kohli revival: Less on the front, more on the back foot
“If you come on the front foot and the bowler bowls short of a length outside off-stump, there is less chance of getting scoring shots…. He has to develop the back foot shots as well,” says former India opening batman and team manager, Lalchand Rajput
Updated on Jan 02, 2022 11:35 PM IST
Rahul Dravid’s game plan for SA Tests boosted by India A series inputs
- The A tour in the build-up helped Hanuma Vihari get vital batting practice while India received feedback on SA’s back-up players, especially pacers.
Published on Dec 25, 2021 08:12 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
From 1992 to 2021, how the tour of South Africa has changed
- India have found South Africa to be daunting opponents in the three decades that they have been touring the country. That may no longer be the case
_1640366662702_1640366676404.jpg "South Africa’s Kepler Wessels and India's Mohammad Azharuddin before the start of the Johannesburg Test in 1992(Getty)")
Published on Dec 24, 2021 10:56 PM IST
IPL dream adds buzz to India’s domestic white-ball tournaments
- Scouts from the franchises at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches ahead of the IPL mega auction is an added incentive for players.
Published on Dec 21, 2021 03:36 AM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
I returned to IPL with the intent to be a matchwinner: Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Worked during lockdown in 2020 to improve back-foot game, says India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Updated on Dec 18, 2021 09:24 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Axar Patel: boy next door who will hunt you down
- The Gujarat spinner, in his own words, has had a "dream year". A fifer on Test debut and with five five-wicket hauls in five Tests, Patel has made a massive statement on the big stage.
Published on Dec 13, 2021 08:55 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Hanuma Vihari leaves his bat to do the talking
- The middle-order batter, not been picked since his heroic effort in the Sydney Test draw, has responded to the selectors’ snub for New Zealand series by scoring runs with India A in South Africa to return for the upcoming SA senior tour.
Published on Dec 09, 2021 07:34 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
India vs New Zealand: The Kohli-Dravid combination gets off to a smooth start
- Virat Kohli takes charge as skipper for the first time after the change of guard in the coaching set up as India ease to victory over New Zealand in the Mumbai Test.
Published on Dec 06, 2021 08:06 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
India count their gains after series-clinching Mumbai Test win
- Virat Kohli and coach Rahul Dravid have many reasons to be pleased with the 372-run defeat of New Zealand on Day 4 of the Wankhede Test.
Published on Dec 06, 2021 07:38 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
India push for victory in second Test versus New Zealand after Ajaz Patel record
- The visitors were 140/5 at stumps on Day 3 after being set an improbable target of 540 as India pushed for victory at the Wankhede Stadium.
Published on Dec 05, 2021 08:02 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
India in perfect position in Mumbai Test despite Ajaz Patel’s historic 10-for
- NZ left-arm spinner takes a 10-wicket haul for only the third time in Test history but Mayank Agarwal’s 150 and India’s spinners help hosts seize control on Day 2
Updated on Dec 04, 2021 08:09 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Agarwal makes it count with unbeaten century, Patel bowls a sensational spell
- The opener's place in the team was in doubt coming into the second Test against New Zealand, but it was all Agarwal for India on Day 1 as he mounted a rescue and dominated the bowling.
Published on Dec 03, 2021 09:31 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Virat Kohli back but India face tricky choices in 2nd NZ Test
- India will have to take a call on the middle-order line-up and the pace combination in the Wankhede Test against New Zealand starting on Friday with rain a threat.
Published on Dec 02, 2021 08:05 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
IND vs NZ: Wankhede promises more for Indian spinners after the Kanpur toil
Indian spinners were frustrated in the first Test as New Zealand escaped with a draw on a slow pitch of low bounce that did not offer much help
Published on Dec 01, 2021 12:09 AM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Captaincy candidates in demand as IPL teams reset for the big auction
The current eight teams must plan carefully to retain players before newcomers Lucknow and Ahmedabad get their chance heading into the January auctions
Published on Nov 29, 2021 09:41 PM IST
Covid-19 Omicron: BCCI closely monitoring India A’s South Africa tour
The board is following the situation in the country where the latest virus variant was first detected; SA board will be anxious the lucrative India senior tour in December-January is not called off
Updated on Nov 28, 2021 09:08 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Series sweep shows what India could have done in World Cup
India's T20 World Cup campaign was marred by poor team selection. The NZ series reversed that by calling up IPL performers
Published on Nov 22, 2021 09:04 PM IST
Rahul Dravid has great knowledge, will do a grand job for India: John Wright
- The former New Zealand skipper, who was India’s first foreign coach, points to Dravid’s experience as junior and India A coach as he starts as India head coach against the Kiwis
Published on Nov 16, 2021 06:06 PM IST
How IPL teams are looking at the World T20
- An auction soon meant attention to detail on many, from Hasaranga, Warner to a power hitter from Afghanistan.
Published on Nov 11, 2021 07:38 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
Whipping up a storm in the desert, the Jos Buttler way
Displaying an array of explosive and innovative strokes, Buttler scored an unbeaten 71 off 32 balls against Australia and followed it up with a skilful unbeaten 101 off 67 against Sri Lanka.
Published on Nov 06, 2021 10:00 PM IST
T20 WC: Pakistan test themselves in win over Namibia, qualify for semifinals
Pakistan qualified for the semi-final with a 45-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup game at Abu Dhabi.
Updated on Nov 02, 2021 11:49 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
T20 WC: Jos Buttler puts on a Sharjah special as England defeat Sri Lanka
- The wicket-keeper batsman superbly accelerated, sealing his century with a last-ball six before T20 World Cup’s favourites won by 26 runs.
Updated on Nov 02, 2021 03:41 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
In celebration of left-arm fast bowling
- Afridi, Starc and Trumpelmann revive memories of Akram, Amir and more.
Published on Oct 30, 2021 08:38 PM IST
Sanjjeev K Samyal, Mumbai
