Articles by Ashish Magotra
Indian cricket needs to get its pitch right
The Border Gavaskar Trophy brought into sharp focus the debate about Indian pitches. But the argument here is not about turners, it’s one of extremes. Did India push things too far in their quest to gain an advantage and is it fair to do that?
Updated on Mar 18, 2023 07:40 PM IST
All England: Jolly-Gayatri come up short against Korean defence
The young Indian pair lost the All England women’s doubles semis against Baek-Lee in straight games 21-10, 21-10
Updated on Mar 18, 2023 07:12 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
Second time is a charm
The young Indian pairing of Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly make their second successive All England semis after edging past China's Li Wen Mei and Liu Xuan Xuan.
Published on Mar 17, 2023 07:11 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
IND vs AUS 2nd Test: Australia have no defence
India romped to a six-wicket win with more than two days to spare, taking a 2-0 series lead, but Australia batters cut a sorry figure on a third day pitch that had no demons in the second Test
Published on Feb 19, 2023 05:12 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
India vs Australia 2nd Test: Top-order muddle, lower-order muscle
India were struggling at 139/7 with Australia eyeing a big first-innings lead but Axar Patel and R Ashwin raised a century stand for the eighth wicket to leave the second Test evenly poised after Day 2
Published on Feb 18, 2023 06:51 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
Mohammed Shami does the trick for India on Day 1
Khawaja scored a fine 81 and Handscomb made 72 but the hosts would be the happier side at close on Day 1 of the second Test in Delhi
Updated on Feb 17, 2023 10:16 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
2nd Test: All quiet at Kotla as India look to compound Aussie misery
The Australians have been unusually subdued in the build-up to the second Test, a reflection of their recent record in India
Updated on Feb 16, 2023 06:51 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
No country for fast bowling? Think again
In Tests in India, all the focus is on spinners but pacers have also done a terrific job of late
Updated on Feb 15, 2023 11:06 PM IST
The crowning of King James
LeBron James betters the NBA all-time scoring record of another LA Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that had stood for 39 years, in Los Angeles on Tuesday night
Updated on Feb 10, 2023 04:08 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
A last dance for the ages
Sania Mirza can give herself a perfect Australian Open farewell, after she and partner Rohan Bopanna reached the mixed doubles final on Wednesday
Published on Jan 25, 2023 08:53 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
10-year-itch: With vintage show, Azarenka into first Oz Open semi since 2013
The 33-year-old Belarussian, who won both her Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park, eased past US world No 3 Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals
Updated on Jan 24, 2023 07:27 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
Djokovic’s quest to be the best
In an era of ultra-popular Federer and Nadal, the Serbian has thrived on his inner steel
Published on Jan 15, 2023 08:35 PM IST
Four reasons why Argentina won
While Argentinian teams with far more star power failed to go all the way, the 2022 unit had something special going for them. Lionel Scaloni’s team has lost only one of its last 43 international matches (W29, D13) and they have done it by sticking to a simple formula — play hard and let Messi do his thing.
Updated on Dec 20, 2022 01:13 AM IST
The agony of Kylian Mbappe
The Frenchman became just the second player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final, but he will have to deal with the dejection and disappointment of ending up on the losing side
Published on Dec 19, 2022 10:40 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
Breaking down the goals that have lit up Qatar
While the 2022 edition has seen the fourth-highest number of goals in a World Cup with two matches left, the percentage of goals from outside the box is the lowest in the last five tournaments
Published on Dec 16, 2022 11:24 PM IST
Past forward: Run Mbappe run
The 23-year-old's game plan of outpacing opponents with his searing speed is simple and devastating at the same time.
Published on Dec 15, 2022 10:58 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
The Magicians: 17 years on, Messi and Modric still pulling the strings
Having first met in an international match in March 2006, the two stars will hope to get another crack at the World Cup trophy.
Published on Dec 12, 2022 10:45 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
Argentina march into semis after beating Netherlands in an epic
In a match that went down to the wire, the Albicelestes managed to somehow beat the determined Netherlands team.
Published on Dec 10, 2022 09:46 PM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
No Ronaldo, no problem: Ramos hat-trick helps Portugal smash 6 past Switzerland
He became the second youngest man (21y-169d) to score a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup knockout stage match.
Published on Dec 07, 2022 02:45 AM IST
Ashish Magotra, New Delhi
Just for kicks: The supremacy of style: Tiki taka and its offsprings
“I don’t care where you are from... I don’t care... if you tell me that you love football and you don’t love Barcelona, you have a problem.”
Updated on Dec 02, 2022 12:34 PM IST
Just for kicks: Team USA, and America’s brush with greatness
There are 50,000 people waiting outside the gates, trying desperately to get in and join the 25,000 who’ve already made it. This was the USA of the 1970s, and this was all for a sport they call soccer.
Published on Nov 30, 2022 11:22 PM IST
Just for kicks: Ronaldo: A fading superstar with an insatiable hunger
As Bruno Fernandes curled the ball into the box, Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet wasn’t sure if Cristiano Ronaldo, who had made a run, would get to it. In the confusion, he forgot to cover the main line.
Updated on Nov 30, 2022 01:52 PM IST
Just for kicks: Has Belgium’s golden generation lost its lustre?
In an interview with The Guardian on Saturday, Belgium playmaker Kevin de Bruyne said the team, ranked second in the world, had “no chance” of winning the World Cup because “we’re too old”. On Sunday, his words appeared to ring true.
Updated on Nov 29, 2022 02:15 PM IST
Just for kicks: A quest for immortality for the king and heir apparent
“One more Messi moment!” That was the incomparable Peter Drury serenading the microphone just after the “magic man”, as he called him, had given Argentina the lead against a feisty Mexico
Updated on Nov 28, 2022 12:55 PM IST
Driven by himself: Cristiano Ronaldo clings on to his redemption dream
One of the biggest players in the world is on the biggest stage in the world, without a club and a chance to show just how good he can be; how good he STILL is
Published on Nov 25, 2022 05:07 PM IST
Just for kicks: The story behind the secret sauce in Saudi football
How did Saudi Arabia, 51st in the Fifa rankings and rank outsiders in the context of the 2022 World Cup, beat Argentina, the most in-form team in the world?
Updated on Nov 25, 2022 01:41 PM IST
Just for kicks: Zizou, France and the genesis of a football revolution
The 1990s in France was a very different time. The country was racked by racial tension. With far-right politicians such as Jean-Marie le Pen stoking the fire, the question on everyone’s mind was a complex one: What does it mean to be French?
Updated on Nov 24, 2022 07:52 PM IST
Just for kicks: In the shadow of Maradona, Messi looks for a crown
Maradona was a genius. So is Messi. Maradona could dazzle you with his skills. So can Messi. Maradona’s left foot was a gift from the heavens. So is Messi’s. Maradona could take over the game. So can Messi. Maradona won club titles. So has Messi. Maradona was one of the best. So is Messi. But Maradona, almost single-handedly, inspired his team to a World Cup. Messi hasn’t. Yet.
Updated on Nov 23, 2022 12:27 PM IST
Just for kicks: England’s saga of loss, and its hope for redemption
England has one of the most competitive professional football leagues in the world. It is also one of the oldest and most-watched leagues in the world. But one look at their World Cup and Euro history and you will know they could have and should have done better.So why haven’t they?
Updated on Nov 22, 2022 01:00 PM IST
Just for kicks: Why this really is a ‘Europe vs the World’ Cup
The nine-pass move begins deep in Brazilian territory with centre-forward Tostao tracking back into his own half to retrieve the ball
Published on Nov 20, 2022 11:40 PM IST
- 1
- 2
- ...
