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When Headlines Cross the Line: Sport, Grief and the Tests of Character

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Rinku Singh and Journalism (PC: X) Why do we play sport or watch it? Why do we cover it? Is it always about wins and losses, or runs scored and wickets taken? Is it just brick and mortar? Is sport only about statistics and nothing more? For me, sport is always about character. About the human traits that define us all. At the end of the day, sport builds character and defines who we are. Much more important than a win or a loss, the enduring legacy of sport will always be what it does to human beings. Rinku Singh is a glaring example of what sport is all about. Much like Sachin Tendulkar or Mohammed Siraj before him, Rinku joined the team within 24 hours of his father’s demise in an exemplary show of character. I lost my father when I was 24. I know how crushing it can be, for there is nothing that can make up for the irreparable loss. It makes you numb and it is almost impossible to overcome such situations. In Rinku’s case, he did – and joined his team, for that is where he belo...
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Sublime Sanju Samson Shows his Strength as India Hold Nerve in Eden Gardens Thriller

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Sanju Samson stole the show at the Eden Gardens (Image: Debasis Sen) At the halfway stage, Eden Gardens was tense – 196 was a challenging target in a knockout encounter. Yes, there was dew and yes, the West Indies bowling isn’t the best, but still the tension was palpable. India were expected to bat well to make it, and many were starting to chew their nails and bring out their lucky charms. The tension mounted when Abhishek Sharma holed out in the deep and, soon after, Ishan Kishan followed suit. But that’s when Sanju Samson found his mojo. In an innings of quality under pressure, Samson stood tall on the night that mattered. The thing about Samson is that he has started well multiple times but hasn’t really converted thereafter. Not so tonight. With Suryakumar Yadav also falling before the team total reached three figures, Samson took it upon himself not just to stay the course but also to guide India to a position of strength. Some of the shots, as always, were picture-postcard...
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Why Gautam Gambhir’s Kalighat Visit Outperformed the Ranji Trophy Final Online

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J&K Ranji Trophy winners(left) Image:Revsportz. Gautam Gambhir at Kalighat Temple Kolkata(right) Image: Debasis Sen I woke up to visuals of India head coach Gautam Gambhir visiting the Kalighat temple in Kolkata ahead of the India versus West Indies match at Eden Gardens. Later in the afternoon came the first visuals of Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy triumph. Interestingly, the former garnered eight times the views of the latter. In fact, the Gambhir videos attracted more engagement than Indian team practice clips, the match preview and even updates from the Pakistan–Sri Lanka game. Isn’t that a little strange? Look a little deeper and you may attribute this to social media being identity-driven rather than information-driven. People do not merely watch; they feel they are experiencing and consuming. One could argue it was about national sentiment, India were in a key fixture and a temple visit symbolises tradition and seeking blessings. Yet, when India played South ...
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T20 World Cup 2026: Calm, Focused, and Ready – Suryakumar Yadav Leads India into High-Stakes Clash

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  Its India–West Indies clash tonight in Kolkata. Images: Debasis Sen I don’t know what Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan do just before going out to bat. Every batter has their own drill. Whatever it is, the essence is to stay calm. No chatter, no hype, no over-the-top preparation. Just remain composed and in the zone. Before going out to bat in the 2003 Centurion game against Pakistan, Tendulkar simply had a banana and a bowl of ice cream. He wouldn’t speak to anyone, and even the coach, John Wright, left him alone. In fact, the instruction was to inform him only when the umpires walked out to the middle to call play. Sachin scored 98 off 78 balls, and the rest is history. The India–West Indies match tonight in Kolkata is one such occasion. It is a platform to become a national hero and bring a smile to the faces of a billion Indians. It will be a spectacle in every sense, and cricketers play for moments like this. You need to embrace it, for such occasions do not come often. ...
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Australia sweat over captain Sophie Molineux fitness

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Molineux is expected to be back for the West Indies tour. (PC: Cricket Australia) Australia will not take any chances with their injured captain, Sophie Molineux, ahead of the T20 World Cup, which is set to be played later this year. Chief selector Shawn Flegler is optimistic about Molineux’s availability for the West Indies tour, which begins later this month. On Friday, Molineux was ruled out of the multi-format series against India due to persistent lower back pain in the lead-up to the second ODI in Hobart. Her injury has cast doubt over her participation in Australia’s next assignment in the Caribbean. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for later this year, Australia are unwilling to risk their captain. “Unfortunately Soph has developed a bit of lower back pain over the last few days, which means she’s going to miss the rest of the series,” Flegler told Channel Seven. “We’ll work towards Molineux being available for the West Indies series coming up. We don’t want to take any r...
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SL vs PAK: “Middle order has been a problem” – Agha after Pakistan’s exit

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Pakistan_defeated_Sri_Lanka (PC:ICC/X) Salman Ali Agha expressed disappointment after Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Men in Green secured a narrow five-run win over Sri Lanka in the Super Eight stage on February 28 in Pallekele, but it was not enough to book a semi-final spot. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Agha pointed out that dew played a major role. He also admitted that apart from Sahibzada Farhan, the rest of the batters struggled, especially the middle order. He said: “But yeah, I think dew was a factor. I think we couldn’t bat well throughout the tournament. It was only Sahibzada Farhan, he batted exceptionally well. And during that period, if anyone could have helped him a bit more, could have been a different story. But yeah, the batting was always concerned throughout the tournament.” “Especially middle order. The middle order has been a problem for us for like a few years now. We need to sit down an...
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Eden Readies to Roar as India Prepare for Virtual Quarter-Final Showdown

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Team India. Image: Debasis Sen Twenty-four hours to go until the virtual quarter-final between India and the West Indies. If you are in Kolkata, you will already sense that something special is brewing. Every second person you meet is asking for a ticket, and none are available on the official portal. The stadium is sold out, and India must use the sea of blue to their advantage. In high-pressure games like this, you have to harness the crowd. At the fall of a wicket, for instance, the noise can make life miserable for the new batter walking in. The Eden crowd is loud and in your face. It is not easy to focus amid that cauldron, and that is where India can cash in. Cast your mind back to 1991. During South Africa’s return to international cricket, Andrew Hudson was dismissed by Kapil Dev, seemingly unnerved by the atmosphere. Ali Bacher, who served as team manager, later recalled: “As he walked in, I realised he was not in his zone. Rather, he was completely overwhelmed by the cro...
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