Madhya Pradesh humbled domestic powerhouse Mumbai by six wickets in a one-sided final to win their maiden Ranji Trophy crown, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru on Sunday. It was an achievement of sorts for coach Chandrakant Pandit, who exorcised the ghosts of losing one at the same venue 23 summers ago. It was a record sixth national title for Pandit as a coach.
BCCI president Anurag Thakur and coach Anil Kumble on Wednesday attended a meeting with ICC and Hawk Eye representatives, who made a detailed presentation of the upgraded version of Decision Review System (DRS). There are talks that DRS could be used during the upcoming India-England series, comprising five Tests, or during the series against Australia later. As per initial feedback, the BCCI bigwigs including the president and the coach have felt that there are "some improvements" which meant that some of India's issues have been addressed in the upgraded system.
From TC to Cricket Legend, what an incredible journey Mahi has had!
Sehwag's unpredictability and carefree attitude made him a unique batsman.
'You will get a lot of results and wins, but it's also important to make the team work harder to see the bigger picture in prospect. That will only happen on wickets in India where the match will go till the fifth day. That means everybody will get tested'
Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar believes cricketers in India and Pakistan are being denied a chance to experience the historic cross-border sporting rivalry between the two countries due to politics.
Dhoni holds a special place in the hearts of the fans
Captain Virat Kohli scored a scintillating unbeaten 83, while Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 52 as the duo put on the first hundred-run partnership of the series and ensured that India took a massive 403-run lead on Day 3 of the fourth Test against South Africa in New Delhi on Saturday. Here are the statistical highlights of the day's play.
Compulsory neck guards on helmets for Australian cricketers are "not far away", the national team's sports medicine chief said on Monday after Jofra Archer's snorter felled Steve Smith during the second Ashes Test.
Australia's most successful wicketkeeper-batsman of all-time, Adam Gilchrist, is the latest name to be added to the growing list of stars taking part in the MCC versus Rest of the World match at Lord's on July 5. Gilchrist will be reunited with former teammate Shane Warne in the Rest of the World line-up, which the spin legend will captain.
After a gap of about five years, a public sector bank (PSB) has decided to rope in a cricketer to boost its brand.
'It has been a wonderful journey so far. Playing the 50th Test match for the country will be a proud moment for me. Yes, there have been ups and downs but looking at my recent (good) form, I will be keen to score some runs in my 50th Test'
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday said that he was desperate to become the national coach but ended up being an administrator.
'As a cricketer I don't believe that anyone is a specific player for T20s, ODIs or Test cricket.' 'As a player you need to react and play according to situations.'
Former captain Kapil Dev on Monday expressed amazement at the pace at which the current Indian cricket team settled into a formidable outfit despite losing, one after another, some of the world's top players over the last few years. "There is no team in the world, after losing their legendary players, bounced back quicker than this Indian team. Normally, once the great players go in a bunch, a team needs at least five to seven years to come back. But this Indian team has come back so quickly, I have never seen something like this. I am amazed," Kapil told PTI in New Delhi.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from the second day's proceedings.
Rajneesh Gupta presents some interesting numbers from Day 2 of Pune Test.
While former Committee of Administrators head Vinod Rai's recently published book gives an insight into the Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli drama and Ravi Shastri's eventual appointment as Head Coach, the book also contains a sprinkling of factual errors.
Despite losing four years of playing days due to World War II, Don Bradman still is head and shoulders above the rest. Haresh Pandya pays tribute to the incomparable Don Bradman.
Virat's 248 runs in the second Test, the highest by an Indian captain against England. Ashwin, only the second Indian bowler to take 50 wickets in consecutive years. Rajneesh Gupta looks at the numbers from the Vizag Test.
Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi feels the Board of Control for Cricket in India needs to appoint a 'strong coach' to guide the temperamental Test captain Virat Kohli, who has courted a lot of off-field controversies in recent times.
India's current and former cricketers took to social media to wish one of India's greatest captains and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who celebrated his 48th birthday on Wednesday.
Chris Gayle bludgeoned his way into the record books by becoming the first player to score a double century in the World Cup.
Spurred by Chirag Jani's a five-wicket haul, defending champions Saurashtra scripted their first knockout win of the season with a 238-run thrashing of Vidarbha on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match in Nagpur on Sunday.
Rediff.com takes a look at few of Virender Sehwag's best knocks.
Jacques Kallis marked the end of his Test career with an emotive farewell century on Sunday to give South Africa a chance of victory over India going into the last day of their brief two-match series.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli thwarted Australia in a diligent partnership to push India to a position of strength and a 166-run lead at the close of day three of the first Test on Saturday.
'We have the best spinner and three outstanding pace bowlers, against the outstanding Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. So it takes some mental and physical energy out'
'Australia will be a different proposition... the pitches will be completely different than England.'
The Conflict ruling suggested in the Lodha reforms for BCCI came under criticism from several quarters as they believed it stopped the former cricketers from coming forward to help Indian cricket and cricketers.
Rajneesh Gupta lists some amazing coincidences in cricket -- a feature guaranteed to amuse you in these anxious times.
"I always believed that I would get another chance. I didn't know how to be honest as the Indian pacers were doing well over the past three to four years. I was getting inspired watching them, to be honest."
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from the Indore Test.
Not too impressed with Virat Kohli's outbursts on and off the field, former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said the aggression could backfire badly in the ongoing third cricket Test against Australia as the tourists already have their back against the wall.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly remains the "catalyst" for transformation of Team India and the "fearless" Virat Kohli has taken it to another level, remarked former England cricketer David Lloyd on Wednesday. The cricketer-turned-commentator was referring to the India-Australia Test rivalry in the early 2000s when the Ganguly-led India first won an epic home contest 2-1 before securing a 1-1 draw Down Under in a classic four-Test series to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
'Rahulbhai told me to manage my mental energy better.' 'He said I was thinking about the game too much, hence I am not able to manage my mental energy and it is resulting in mental fatigue.' 'I am putting too much pressure on myself. He believed that was harmful to me.'
India and Australia might be sworn enemies on the cricket field but the two nations have been united in mourning the death of Phillip Hughes.
Cheteshwar Pujara stood firm to guide India to 151 for three at stumps on Day 3 for an overall lead of 166 runs.
Sunil Gavaskar, who appeared for the first time in Test cricket 50 years ago today, March 6, 1971, was presented with a special India cap by BCCI secretary during the lunch interval on Day 3 of the fourth and final Test between India and England at the Narendra Modi stadium.
This is his 'Test' and for Kohli, a century to mark a 'century' is something he would be craving