World Cup Archives - Page 3 of 6

What to Expect from Day 1 of the Round of 16

Can Messi crack the impenetrable French defence? Will Ronaldo continue to carry Portugal on his shoulders? Who will Luis Suarez bite next? Find out the answers to your most pressing World Cup questions in our preview.

Arré Bench June 12, 2016

Sports

Happy Birthday Virat Kohli, the Man Who Makes Greatness Look Routine

Virat Kohli has made greatness look so routine, so ordinary, that his stature has deliberately eschewed the romance of divinity. He is a human pushing for perfection rather than a deity dabbling in imperfections.

Rahul Desai June 11, 2016

Sports

In a Team Full of Batsmen, England’s Jofra Archer Shows What a Strike-Bowler is Worth

Constructing a batting lineup that was the envy of the rest of the world came with a price. England compromised on the quality of bowling, hoping to make up for it by outscoring the opposition. A fearsome bowler who could instill fear into the opposition’s best batsmen was the missing piece in the jigsaw. Enter Jofra Archer.

Parth Pandya June 8, 2016

Sports

World Cup 2019: Take a Bow Afghanistan, India Won the Match, But You Won the Day

The World Cup, in its current form, is a tournament informed by a drive to protect the interests of the powerful sides – India, Australia, and England. Yet, they cannot do without the underdogs. In a World Cup shorn of interesting narratives, it was the challenge put forward by Afghanistan on Saturday that lit up the tournament.

Priyansh June 6, 2016

Sports

Was Ambati Rayudu Really Given a Raw Deal?

A year ago, if anyone had told Ambati Rayudu that come the World Cup, he would be sitting at home, disgruntled, hurt, and announcing his retirement, he would have laughed. There are countless players like Rayudu whose sporting dreams remain just dreams, but each unfulfilled dream is different from the other.

Pawan June 2, 2016

Sports

Does England’s 481 Against Australia Sound the Death Knell for Bowling?

Cricket is no longer a contest between bat and ball. It’s Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith vs Joe Root vs Kane Williamson. Bowlers do not exist to create their own legacies, they merely exist as a hindrance to a batsman’s legacy.

Hardik Rajgor June 2, 2016

Sports

Jasprit Bumrah and the Art of Finishing Our Long Wait

I grew up at a time when a victory for India was equated with hitting the ball rather than the stumps. When “Indian fast bowler” was a paradoxical term and a cautionary tale. That’s why Jasprit Bumrah feels like a miracle.

Rahul Desai June 2, 2016

Sports

Mo Salah – 1, Islamophobia – 0

As world leaders advocate stricter immigration policies and hostility toward Muslims around the globe rises, that one of the world’s most loved footballers should be a Muslim, is a sweet irony. Mohamed Salah is not merely an icon of the game, but as Liverpool fans call him – a gift from Allah.

Hardik Rajgor May 28, 2016

Sports

Politics on the Playing Field: What Do Neymar and NaMo Have in Common?

Elevating players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar to demigod status comes at the cost of the team and greater good. If that doesn’t sound like strongman politics, what does?

Manik Sharma May 23, 2016

Sports

Haar Kar Jeetne Wali Ko Harmanpreet Kaur Kehte Hain

If there’s one word to describe a captain who leaves out a veteran from her squad in a crucial game, it’s bold. That’s Harmanpreet Kaur, India Women’s T20 skipper for you.

Hardik Rajgor May 22, 2016