Cricket now

  VVS Laxman. Images :X In March 2001 at Eden Gardens, one of cricket’s greatest turnarounds unfolded when India, following on 274 runs behind against a dominant Australian side, produced a historic victory. At the heart of that miracle was VVS Laxman’s majestic 281 and his unforgettable 376-run partnership with Rahul Dravid. Reflecting on the drama, resilience and belief that defined the match, Laxman tells Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, about the moments that transformed not just a Test, but the mindset of an entire Indian team. Boria: India ended Day 2 on 128–8 and I remember walking back from Eden Gardens thinking all was done. No one believed what had happened and no one could anticipate what was to come. What was your thought process? How important was the first-innings 59? Laxman: When India were 128–8, most people had understandably written the game off. Steve Waugh’s Australian team had dominated the match and were in a very strong position. But inside o...

Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting (PC: Punjab Kings) Former Australian wicketkeeper and assistant coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Brad Haddin, reflected on the team’s journey in the IPL 2025 season, describing it as “a really successful year,” ahead of the upcoming 2026 season. Haddin also spoke about the transformation within Punjab Kings after the arrival of Ricky Ponting as head coach and how “Ricky Ponting came into the Kings franchise and put his mark on it straightaway.”  While speaking on the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast, he spoke about players, stating “We have uncovered some superstars of Indian cricket; they stood up, and now we have the opportunity to build on that. Well, it’s carnage, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. It is an exciting chaos, that is a way to look at it.” Haddin described the whole tournament and the fans as “an exciting chaos.”  “Every game means so much to so many people. You are playing in front of a packed crowd, but you are also dri...

Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav (PC: X) Following their triumph at the T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian cricket team will now turn its attention to the 50-over format leading up to next year’s World Cup in South Africa. The next 12 months promise to be extremely demanding for Indian players due to a packed international and domestic schedule. The immediate focus will be the Indian Premier League 2026. Soon after the IPL, India will host Afghanistan for a short series comprising one Test and three ODIs between June 6 and 20. The solitary Test will take place in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10. The ODI leg of the series will follow with matches in Dharamsala on June 14, Lucknow on June 17, and Chennai on June 20. The Indian team will then travel to the United Kingdom for a white-ball series against England between July 1 and July 19. The tour includes five T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals. The T20Is will be played at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street (Jul...

Suryakumar (PC: BCCI) What is that one shot which indicates Suryakumar Yadav is in very good form? Perhaps his unique range of strokes behind the wicket. Or could it be something else? What about Suryakumar cracking lofts off the back foot and into the downtown territories? Here, the answer could be a Yes. The lofted stroke probably gives confidence to Suryakumar that his game is more in order. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be landing enough of that signature shot in the recent past. It could give an inkling that he isn’t exactly in good nick with the willow. There is also a school of thought that he has been troubled by a wrist problem, which might be one of the reasons why he is grappling with down-the-ground hits. Just check his T20I average in the last 15-18 months and it doesn’t make for a good reading either. Suryakumar averages 26 in 35 T20Is since the start of the England series. And his average of 26 is mainly based on his very good run against New Zealand this year. ...

  Suryakumar Yadav (PC:X) Suryakumar Yadav has made his intentions clear: he is now setting his sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Cricket’s return to the Olympic Games is a momentous occasion, and the elusive gold medal will be fiercely contested. Surya is right to say that it should be the next target, along with a potential hat-trick of titles at the next T20 World Cup. The question, however, is whether he can achieve it and whether he can remain at the top level until 2028. As a batter, Surya had a modest World Cup. While he played a masterclass against the United States, his performances thereafter were not the best. He did make key contributions against Pakistan and Zimbabwe, but he was also dismissed at critical moments in the matches against the West Indies and England. In the final, when the slog was on, he fell first ball attempting to clear the ropes – something that can happen to any batter. Can Surya, who now represents India primarily in this one format...

IPL 2026 will begin on March 28. (PC: X/IPL) Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, has downplayed concerns regarding the staging of the 19th edition of the IPL amid the current situation in West Asia, where a war involving Iran, Israel and the USA is ongoing. Recently, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal addressed questions regarding the impact of an LPG shortage in the country on the cash-rich league, as it could affect the hospitality sector. In response, Dhumal urged patience and described the situation as evolving. Saikia was quick to brush aside the concerns. “There is nothing in the current situation that would raise an alarm. We have announced the IPL schedule. We are thinking positively and believe everything will go smoothly,” Saikia told Hindustan Times. Since the 2024 World Cup, India have won five ICC tournaments, including three in 2025 — the Champions Trophy, the Women’s World Cup and the U19 Women’s World Cup. The most recent was the 2026 T20 World Cup. Such a feat has never h...