Test Match Archives

Miracle at Eden: The Innings that Healed Indian Cricket

From March 11 to March 15, 2001, the greatest Test match ever to be played took place at Eden Gardens, where India beat Australia. The victory heralded a new beginning for Indian cricket, built on the back of self-belief, determination, and honour that had gone missing after the match-fixing scandal.

Pawan June 27, 2016

Sports

Steve Smith is No Monster – In the New, Conscience-Free Version of Cricket

We need a new breed of cricketer for the new, callous version of the gentleman’s game. Ball tampering is only the start. Steve Smiths of the future will resort to all-out sabotage, even leaving chilly powder in their opponents’ crotch guards before the game.

Dushyant Shekhawat June 21, 2016

Sports

If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It: Virat Kohli’s Aggression is Essential to Who He Is

Virat Kohli is not the best batsman in the world, across formats, despite his aggression and combativeness, he is the best because of it. Like all elite sportsmen and sportswomen at the very top, Virat Kohli hates to lose.

Hardik Rajgor May 21, 2016

Sports

Rashid Khan and the Irresistible Lure of the Underdog

It is a joy to watch innate talent weave its magic, and when that talent is paired with an underdog story like Afghanistan’s and Rashid’s, the tug of fan support cannot be denied.

Dushyant Shekhawat May 7, 2016

Sports

Virat Kohli: Cricketer of the Year, Shuffler of Players

A phenomenal batsman in all formats of the game, Virat Kohli’s decision-making as a captain often leaves a lot to be desired. After our performance in South Africa, we can’t help but wonder what if India had decided to pick Ajinkya Rahane ahead of Rohit Sharma. What if Bhuvneshwar Kumar was retained?

Shashank Tiwari April 26, 2016

Sports

The Tale of the India-Australia Test Series Cannot Be Told in Statistics

The scorecard can never do justice to the historic India vs Australia Test series we just witnessed. This is not the story about great tons and wickets, it’s a story of heroics and emotions – of Cheteshwar Pujara’s bruises, Mohammad Siraj’s tears, Hanuma Vihari’s hamstring, and Ajinkya Rahane’s grit.

Hardik Rajgor April 9, 2016

Sports

India, on Your England Tour, Please Remember the Humble Front Foot Defence

It might be the most boring shot to watch in cricket, but maybe there is still place for the front foot defence alongside some of the more eye-catching shots in the game, a fact Team India would do well to remember for the rest of their tour of England.

Hardik Rajgor March 9, 2016

Sports

The Making of Prithvi Shaw, the Virar Boy Who Took on the Windies

About five years ago, a boy rewarded with a meal of manchow soup in the khau gully behind Churchgate station, began a journey that ended yesterday: with a scintillating hundred on debut in a Test match against West Indies.

Shail Desai March 2, 2016