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Suryakumar Yadav (PC: BCCI) Boria Majumdar For a while in 2020 we had all questioned the index of making the Indian team. The one and only index should be performance. However, in the case of Suryakumar Yadav, there were reasons to be believed justice wasn’t served. Surya performed superbly in the IPL. He did so consistently and also did well in domestic cricket in the 2019-2020 season. He was a gun fielder to go with his batting and more importantly, as many former cricketers had pointed out, “Surya was versatile in the sense he could also bat at No. 5 and finished games”. To his credit, Surya was comfortable against both pace and spin. He batted with equal aplomb in the powerplay for Mumbai Indians and once the field restrictions were over, he was adept at manoeuvring the ball and taking the innings deep. I remember speaking to Surya when he wasn’t getting picked. My questions were clear: How does a player who is perhaps expecting a national call-up take a disappointment like thi...

Archer (PC: X) England captain Ben Stokes has defended Jofra Archer amid criticism over his absence from the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on June 4. Archer, who played the entire IPL 2026, was unavailable for selection for the opening match of the series, which will be played at Lord’s. Stokes said Archer’s absence should not be viewed as a lack of commitment to England. “Jof, I think, has shown that he is committed and loves playing for England. Just because he’s not available for this first Test match does not change that,” he said on the eve of the match in London. Stokes further explained that modern-day cricketers have more opportunities than players did in the past because of the growth of franchise cricket. “A lot of the points that people would be making around Jof and that situation, I think, are to do with the landscape back when they were playing,” Stokes said. “It’s completely different now. There are opportunities for cricketers now that wer...

  Trisha Ghosal, Taunton England signed off their T20 World Cup preparations in style, clinching the three-match series 2-1 with a commanding six-wicket victory over India in Taunton. Chasing 181, England were powered by a magnificent 137-run stand between Alice Capsey and former captain Heather Knight, who combined aggression with composure to complete the chase with nine balls to spare. The result capped a strong comeback after defeat in the opening game and provided further evidence of England’s growing confidence under Charlotte Edwards. Speaking after the series win, Edwards reflected on her side’s performances, the impact of Capsey and Knight, and the positives England will take into the World Cup. “We Had to Chase a Big Total” Asked whether the victory was the perfect preparation ahead of the World Cup, Edwards did not hesitate. “As games go, I don’t think it could have got any more perfect for us, in the fact that we had to chase a big total, we were playing against ...

  There was no parade. No over-the-top celebrations in Bengaluru either. Every player celebrated within the confines of the hotel, and now all of them are on their way home. Yesterday, I had a brief chat with Krunal Pandya, who was leaving for home at around 2 pm IST. Venkatesh Iyer was doing the same. The truth is, this is how it should be. Why take a chance? Why push the limits? Why excite the fans and create an event that has the potential to go wrong? Why do something that you simply cannot control? Every RCB fan today is happy. While some may say they would have loved to catch a glimpse of their team, the reality is that you cannot control a crowd. And when thousands gather around the Chinnaswamy Stadium, there can easily be law-and-order concerns. I think the KSCA and the government did well not to allow any major congregation. The police were spot on, from what my correspondents tell me. While fans did come out on to the streets to celebrate, there was constant monitorin...

ENG-W vs IND-W, 3rd T20I (PC: RevSportz) On a chilly evening in Taunton, a healthy crowd turned up to watch the series decider. England won both the match and the series decider at the Cooper Associates Ground in Taunton. Put into bat, India posted a competitive 180/5 in 20 overs on a batting-friendly surface. England, thanks to a mammoth 137-run partnership between Alice Capsey and Heather Knight, chased down the target with nine balls and six wickets to spare. Shafali Verma was once again dismissed by a left-arm spinner while trying to open up the off side. Charlie Dean brought herself on immediately in the fourth over with two left-handers at the crease, even though Linsey Smith had dismissed Shafali in the previous over from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End. Dean’s move worked as Smriti Mandhana, attempting a sweep, missed the ball completely and her struggles against off-spin continued. In T20s this year, across 13 innings against off-spin, Smriti has scored 111 runs and been...

In an exclusive interview with Boria Majumdar, RevSportz’s editor-in-chief, Venkatesh Iyer spoke of the roles played by Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) winning back-to-back IPL titles. He also reflected on the contribution of the support staff that has helped shape RCB into the most formidable team in the league. When asked about Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik, he responded without hesitation: “Best support staff I have played with, purely in terms of communication, role clarity, handling of players and situations, and also empowering players to make decisions.” He further added: “Especially in India, we are used to coaches dictating situations, which is necessary. However, empowering players to make their own decisions and creating an environment where they feel encouraged to take on leadership roles is something these people have achieved.” He also spoke highly of Dinesh Karthik and praised his work ethic, saying: “If I had to point out the most...