Aakash Chopra talks to Bikash Mohapatra about Rajasthan's Ranji Trophy triumph, the domestic format and India's dismal showing in the Test series Down Under.
'Lord Jagannath won't forgive us if we allow this year's Rath Yatra to go on'
Virender Sehwag doesn't need to look anywhere for inspiration when he leads India in the fourth Test against Australia. His persevering innings the last time he played at the Adelaide Oval, says Bikash Mohapatra, is enough to give his batting the fillip it desperately needs.
As Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic set out to defend their titles at Melbourne Park, rediff.com takes a look at a few interesting facts and figures related to the year's first major tournament.
Englishman Steve McClaren is the fifth coach in the last 12 months to return to his former club, FC Twente. Bikash Mohapatra's lists coaches who reignited partnerships that yielded excellent results in their first stints.
Even as Michael Clarke's many fans celebrate his mammoth hundred, Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at a few instances when the 30-year-old played a crucial role in Tests against India.
Bikash Mohapatra presents the six Indian batsmen who attained the three-figure-mark in previous editions of the T20 extravaganza.
Ahead of the fifth edition of the IPL, Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at the oldest players to grace the tournament this year.
Indian affection borders on extremities. With an overdose of cricket scheduled in the coming months, Bikash Mohapatra says, the humiliation Team India suffered in England will conveniently be forgotten.
Rediff.com takes a look at the clubs that have made the biggest noise in the transfer market.
Following Carlo Ancelotti's sacking, Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at EPL managers who lost their jobs after failing to deliver this season.
Rediff.com takes a look at the footballers who are making an impact recently despite a protective gear.
For batting ace Rahul Dravid, says Bikash Mohapatra, it was not just about playing the game. It was about playing it with dignity.
Despite having a bad start as Team India coach, the experienced Duncan Fletcher will bounce back and put India on the winning track soon enough, writes Bikash Mohapatra.
The upcoming tour of Australia provides Virat Kohli an ideal platform to resurrect his Test career, writes Bikash Mohapatra
India, replying to England's 591-6 declared, were 103 for 5, 488 runs adrift, in the first innings, at stumps on Day 3 of the fourth Test.
Captain Andrew Strauss says English cricket has been through an evolutionary cycle. 'Since the introduction of central contracts, things have gone up.'
James Anderson, England's bowling spearhead and one of their key performers with 18 wickets (@ 24.27) from the three Tests played in the series, is likely to be fit for the final Test at The Oval, beginning Thursday.
A spineless India surrendered their No 1 status to a ruthless England as they slumped to an innings and 242-runs defeat, allowing the hosts clinch the completely lop-sided four-match series by taking a 3-0 lead at Edgbaston.
With India having comprehensively overpowered the Windies in the first two Tests, the hosts look good to continue their dominance over the visitors. And with a fairly poor record at the Wankhede, it looks a tough job for the Windies to rewrite history, writes Bikash Mohapatra.
Alastair Cook hit a career-best 294 as a ruthless England buried India under a massive 486-run lead to leave the visitors with a daunting task of saving the third Test.
Bikash Mohapatra strolls through the deserted streets of Birmingham, as it very slowly comes into terms with violent riots and lootings that rocked the city earlier this week.
The opportunity to play Test cricket for England again may not have come the way he would have expected, but for Ravi Bopara it is an opportunity nonetheless.
The Indian team woke up on Thursday morning to what was not a very pleasant sight. After days of bright sunshine, it was pouring in Northamptonshire, putting paid to hopes of having some practice ahead of Friday's tour match.
The last few weeks have seen a whole new bunch of this Gen Next making a splash on the field. While for some it marked a promising start, in case of others it was about finally making a mark. Rediff.com gives a lowdown on these memorable efforts.
With Steve McLaren at the helm, fans of former European champions, Nottingham Forest FC, tell Bikash Mohapatra they believe the historical club may secure promotion to top-flight football this season.
Bikash Mohapatra reports on an unusual friendship -- between the English star and the Indian newcomer.
"We have three days, but I am not 100 per cent sure whether he will play or not," skipper M S Dhoni said, adding, "It is a long series and we don't want to risk any individual."
As Sir Alex Ferguson completes 25 years in charge of Manchester United, Bikash Mohapatra takes a look at the Scot's legacy at Old Trafford.
Rahul Dravid, who became the second highest Test runs scorer on Saturday, admitted the pressure of expectation on Sachin Tendulkar helped his cause to a great extent.
Even as England captain Andrew Strauss tries to solve the Zaheer puzzle, Bikash Mohapatra presents a few other batsmen who have struggled against 32-year-old left-arm seamer.
Soon after Varun Aaron had bowled the first ball of his seventh over, his hands went up to cover his face.
Celebrities like veteran Bengali actor and chairman of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute Ranjit Mullick and percussionist Tanmoy Bose want Mamata's promise to be viewed not in its face value but in its spirit.
Bikash Mohapatra salutes boxing legend Muhammad Ali on his 70th birthday.
For tennis aficionados it is something to look forward to. Going strictly on face value, it seems a perfect combination.
India's bench strength survived a few anxious moments to pocket the one-day series against West indies. Senior Associate Editor Bikash Mohapatra analyses the success stories for Team India in the series.
The selectors' idea of trying out the bench strength in the ODI series against the West Indies failed big time, says Bikash Mohapatra.
It was certainly not about form. Rahul Dravid has had just one poor series in recent times. It was India's tour of South Africa, at the start of the year, when he aggregated just 120 runs from six innings (@ 20.00).
If men's tennis in 2011 was about a one-man domination, the women's equivalent was anything but that.
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