With the World T20 being played in familiar conditions in neighbouring Bangladesh, India's hopes of regaining the crown they won in 2007, says Harish Kotian, rest on their bowlers.
Sachin Tendulkar's retirement leaves a huge void in the Indian Test team's middle order. Rediff.com's Harish Kotian lists the contenders for the coveted No 4 slot.
Former Australia pacer Brett Lee believes that India needs to find a few good fast bowlers to successfully defend their crown at next year's World Cup.
The national selection panel, headed by Sandeep Patil, sent out a strong message by axing the experienced Suresh Raina and Ishant Sharma, with the 50-overs World Cup just a year away.
Sachin Tendulkar's closest and oldest friend is both sad and happy about his retirement. "Sad," says Atul Ranade, "because we will all miss him," and happy, "because the master's last Test in Mumbai next month will be very memorable for him, as it will be the first and only time his mother will be watching him from the stands."
'I am happy bowling fast and it is something you can't train to do, it is in built in you,' speedster Varun Aaron tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian.
India were consigned to their second straight overseas series defeat after being thrashed by 87 runs in the fifth One-Day International On Friday. The defeat in Wellington completed a 4-0 series whitewash by the Kiwis. A look at how India's players fared.
India's bowlers have conceded 300-plus totals in seven of India's last 14 ODIs, out of which three were in excess of 350, points out Harish Kotian, as the World Champions lose their No 1 ODI ranking.
As expected, Yuvraj Singh returned to India's squad for the One-day series against Australia following impressive performances in recent outings for India 'A' against West Indies 'A' and India Blue in the Challenger series.
India's greatest match-winner VVS Laxman talks about the spot-fixing controversy and his role as mentor of Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 6.
Having tasted instant success in Test cricket, India's latest batting sensation Cheteshwar Pujara tells Harish Kotian he's keen to break into the ODI team too.
Harish Kotian makes an assessment of the Indian players' performance in the South Africa series.
India have only themselves to blame for their below-par showing in the Asia Cup as they struggled to put up consistent performances with both bat and ball.
The 14-year-old gave evidence of his rich potential by scoring 546 for Rizvi Springfield in the first round of the Mumbai School Sports Association's Harris Shield Elite Division match against St. Francis D'Assisi, Borivali, at the Baronet CC pitch, Azad Maidan, in Mumbai.
Harish Kotian looks back on VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid's 376-run partnership at the Eden Gardens that halted Australia's run of 15 consecutive Test victories.
Among other things, Irfan Pathan looked back on his first meeting with Sachin Tendulkar and why he will cherish his wicket in an Indian Premier League match two years back.
'Every element of this sorry saga is a complete and utter disgrace in which the politics of power is more important than the future of cricket,' Lalit Modi tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian.
Deepak Prakash tells Harish Kotian he is convinced that the Delhi Police was wrong in arresting S Sreesanth on charges of spot-fixing in the IPL.
'There will always be one player who is prepared to corrupt the game because of greed,' Ed Hawkins tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian.
'There will always be one player who is prepared to corrupt the game because of greed,' Ed Hawkins tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian.
Should India consider bring in Umesh Yadav if the weather conditions in rain-hit Pune are conducive for pacers?
Chennai and Mumbai have to win eight of their remaining 10 games to entertain hopes of making the play-offs in IPL 2022.
'All of us tend to believe that they are so well paid, why should we bother about their payments.' 'But who all are well paid? Only a handful, maybe 3-4 of them, who go in for endorsements and things.' 'The others are struggling, playing Ranji Trophy and other matches, so that compensation we made it market-oriented.'
Rediff.com's Harish Kotian is at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, armed with a camera. Here are some pictures he's posted on Rediff ZaraBol! Post yours too!
The upcoming tour of Zimbabwe is vital for the fringe players looking to cement a place in the senior India squad. Failure, says Harish Kotian, could well see them lose their places forever.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar spoke to Harish Kotian on his unbelievable start to international cricket, on what it means to him to make it to the Indian Test team and how he is preparing for the Aussie batsmen.
'Day before yesterday I had spoken to him, asking him to come on my YouTube channel.' 'He had said, 'Anytime for you Kiri bhai'.'
'The two of us got together and we put on a partnership of more than 300, it was amazing.'
S Sreesanth had attempted to self-destruct his career many times, but without much success. This time, however, he seems bang on!
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar tells Harish Kotian that having a player like Virender Sehwag in the team is a big advantage.
With the series in their pocket, it will be interesting to see if India hand Ajinkya Rahane a long-awaited Test debut in New Delhi, says Harish Kotian
Former India cricketers tell Harish Kotian that Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane has the required qualities to be a top opener, even overseas.
Despite being named in India's squad way back in November 2011, Ajinkya Rahane is still to play a Test. Harish Kotian is as clueless as him why he hasn't made his debut yet.
Barring an injury, Yuvraj Singh's inclusion in the squad for the first Test against England is a certainly after the fine showing for India 'A' in the tour match, says Harish Kotian.
Ahead of Sachin Tendulkar's 200th and final Test next month, former India and Mumbai batsman Lalchand Rajput tells Harish Kotian how he still vividly remembers a shy 14-year-old scoring a century on his Ranji debut in 1988-89 and growing up to become one of cricket's finest players.
India can ill-afford to just give up on this swashbuckler. Virender Sehwag needs to be given one more a chance, at least in the middle order, says Harish Kotian.
Niranjan Shah suggests that the BCCI not rush to take a decision and wait for a couple of months to see how the COVID-19 situation develops before taking a call on IPL 2021.
India's hero of many a triumph tells Harish Kotian it is always special to play for India again, but it is something he's worked hard for.
Harish Kotian looks at the contenders for the BCCI's premier committee.
India's star batsman Yuvraj Singh, who was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year before making a remarkable recovery, is now looking at creating awareness for the fatal disease in India. Harish Kotian spoke with the dashing left-hander to find out more about his plans.
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