I could have played more for Team India, says Kaif

July 21, 2020

Q. How are you paying attention to fitness during Covid-19? A. The first thing is I got a lot of time with my family like never before since I started playing. I got involved in commentary in February, in coaching and then travelling has always been a part of our...

Babar Azam can’t be compared to Kohli: Ali

July 10, 2020

Q. How do you see cricket getting affected by the new ICC rules that have come into play? A. I would say as long as post-Covid rules are concerned, there is a very good chance for the middle-order batsmen to score runs. Batsmen like Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Labuschagne, Root,...

‘M.S. Dhoni was a straightforward captain’

June 30, 2020

Q. How do you look at the 2007- 08 tour of Pakistan, it is said that the army of Indian fast bowlers started coming from 2008? R.P. Singh (RP). A lot of work was already been done by the BCCI, the wickets in domestic cricket were changed. Turfs were made...

You can’t compare Babar Azam with Kohli: Sohail

June 24, 2020

Q. How do you see the evolution of cricket as a game, especially in the wake of Covid-19? A. It is a stupendous challenge to see how the modus operandi of the game will evolve. There are closedoor games, the crowd may not in be the stands; still the cricketers...

Salil Ankola, Chetan Sharma recall their fight with depression

June 20, 2020

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s unfortunate demise has stirred a debate about the mental health issues that are prevalent not only in the film industry but also in the sporting world. Numerous people have alleged Sushant’s mental health deterioration to the ubiquitous nepotism in the industry. The question however persists, what...

Saliva ban will make things difficult for bowlers: Shami

June 19, 2020

Q. We are told you have been helping the needy people during the lockdown. Can you shed some light? A. I think it is the duty of the “privileged” to come forward during these difficult times. To be honest, I did not do anything big, it is that I belong...

T20 WC without practice will be tough: Kuldeep and Chahal

May 12, 2020

The two spinners, known as Kulcha Jodi, credit M.S. Dhoni for their evolution at the international level and say they miss him behind the wickets and personally want him to play for India again. Excerpts. Q: Kanpur is known for “Thagu ke Laddu” and since you’re from Kanpur, is the...

Spinners bat for bouncer rule to combat switch hits

May 4, 2020

When batsmen are allowed to switch hit the ball for a six, would bowlers be wrong in demanding to be allowed a variation of their own? Like bowl a bouncer to dissuade batsmen? The iTV Network’s panel of three spinners–Amit Mishra, Danish Kaneria and Monty Panesar–said spinners will bowl bouncers...

The Umar Akmal ban: Pakistan’s fixing factory

April 30, 2020

The Pakistan Cricket Board has been at the centre of controversies and wrongdoings in cricket over the last two decades. The PCB’s latest claim to infamy is for its ban on Umar Akmal for failing to report corrupt approaches made to him in two separate cases. This 29-year-old, right-handed Pakistani...

Covid-19 can change the history of shining the ball

April 28, 2020

Everything has changed in the history of cricket, from the shape of the bat to the number of days–from 5-day Tests to ODIs to T20s–and colours–ODI cricket changed from all-white to multi-hued kits in the 1980s. The only thing that remained constant was the ball. Though it has withstood time...