close_game
close_game
Rasesh Mandani

Rasesh Mandani loves a straight drive. He has been covering cricket, the governance and business side of sport for close to two decades. He writes and video blogs for HT.

Articles by Rasesh Mandani

Iyer selection call exposes loose ends in India’s strategy

Any tweak in the top order for left-right combination cannot come at the expense of an in-form player

Shreyas Iyer in action against England in the first ODI, in Nagpur on Thursday. (PTI)
Published on Feb 07, 2025 08:08 PM IST

India vs England: Iyer blitz, Gill’s poise guide hosts to easy win

Nagpur: India beat England by four wickets in an ODI, experimenting with strategies ahead of the Champions Trophy, despite Rohit Sharma's poor form.

Shubman Gill (left) and Shreyas Iyer added 94 runs for the third wicket to lay the foundation of India’s four-wicket win on Thursday. (PTI)
Updated on Feb 06, 2025 09:51 PM IST

India vs England: Rana shines through his roller coaster debut

After conceding the fourth-most runs in an over by an Indian, he finished as the first to have picked up three or more wickets on debut in each of the three formats

Harshit Rana celebrates the wicket of Liam Livingstone during the first ODI against England, in Nagpur on Thursday. (PTI)
Published on Feb 06, 2025 09:41 PM IST

Senior batters’ form, spin-heavy ploy the focus for India v England

India's ODI squad, with seniors Rohit and Kohli, faces pressure in a key series against England, testing spin-heavy strategies and pace concerns.

The two senior pros, captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, are at the back end of their careers. (PTI)
Updated on Feb 05, 2025 09:41 PM IST

Is missing left-hander a chink in India’s batting?

Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the only southpaws in the squad but neither are sure to start

The two genuine batting southpaws India has are Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. (PTI)
Published on Feb 05, 2025 09:17 PM IST

No toxic competition in the team, says Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill, India's vice-captain, emphasizes the importance of domestic cricket and staying competitive among teammates as they prepare for the Champions Trophy.

Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal during a training session ahead of the first ODI against England on Tuesday. (PTI)
Updated on Feb 04, 2025 09:31 PM IST

ODI return may be the perfect antidote for Kohli’s slump

Kohli has had a poor run in Test cricket in four of the last five years, but his ODI numbers have remained unaffected

While Test cricket can be far more demanding technically, ODIs can be a great platform for Virat Kohli. (PTI)
Published on Feb 04, 2025 08:45 PM IST

Varun Chakravarthy included in India squad for ODI series against England

The national selectors have time until the conclusion of the upcoming series to firm up the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy celebrates a wicket during the recently concluded T20I series against England. (PTI Photo)
Updated on Feb 04, 2025 03:28 PM IST
ht_print | By

Abhishek’s rapid fire ton seals India’s 4-1 series win over England

The opener’s 54-ball 135, the highest T20I score by an Indian batter, helped the hosts win by 150 runs at the Wankhede Stadium 

India's Abhishek Sharma acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the fifth Twenty20 cricket match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) (AP)
Updated on Feb 02, 2025 10:49 PM IST

Rohit disappoints again but Thakur keeps Mumbai in hunt

The 173-run unbroken stand between Thakur and Kotian has given Mumbai a fighting chance against Jammu and Kashmir

Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the second day of Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir, in Mumbai on Friday. (PTI)
Published on Jan 24, 2025 08:39 PM IST

Bleak returns for India stars in Ranji Trophy

Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener saw Indian stars falter; Rohit Sharma (3) and others fell to J&K bowlers, with Mumbai all out for 120.

Rohit Sharma’s first outing for Mumbai in nearly a decade proved to be disappointing as the opener got out for three in 19 balls against J&K (PTI)
Updated on Jan 23, 2025 09:36 PM IST

Course correction, stars descend on Ranji Trophy

It may have come a tad late, but BCCI’s tough stance has got plenty of India stars lining up to play domestic cricket

Rohit Sharma will return to Ranji Trophy after nearly a decade, as he lines up for Mumbai’s home tie against Jammu & Kashmir. (PTI)
Published on Jan 22, 2025 08:20 PM IST

Wankhede at 50: the stadium’s evolution from indispensable to iconic

The pride of place that the 50-year-old stadium holds in the city’s cricketing folklore continues to be felt as passionately by players and cricket lovers alike

Wankhede at 50: the stadium’s evolution from indispensable to iconic
Updated on Jan 19, 2025 07:16 AM IST

Rohit hints at unease over BCCI directives

Mumbai: BCCI's new directives for players, including family presence limits, face backlash. Skipper Rohit Sharma defends team dynamics amid scrutiny.

Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma (R) and Ajit Agarkar current chairman of the BCCI selection committee, address a press conference in Mumbai on January 18, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Mukherjee / AFP) (AFP)
Updated on Jan 18, 2025 09:50 PM IST

India pick Jaiswal, drop Siraj in Champions Trophy squad

Bumrah is included in the 15, but selectors will wait till February 12 to see if he recovers from his back issue

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been rewarded for his superlative display at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. (AP)
Updated on Jan 18, 2025 08:45 PM IST

Champions Trophy squad: Shami set for return, Bumrah yet to recover

Australia makes three changes to their World Cup squad for the Champions Trophy, while India prepares for selection amid injury concerns.

Bengal's Mohammed Shami is set to make a comeback into the ODI squad. (PTI)
Updated on Jan 17, 2025 09:53 PM IST

Sitanshu Kotak to join Gambhir’s support staff

Absence of a batting coach in the Indian set up has been a point of debate after losses in Australia  

Sitanshu Kotak will join the Indian support staff as batting coach for the upcoming T20I series against England (HT)
Published on Jan 16, 2025 10:20 PM IST
ByRasesh Mandani 

Did the BCCI Oz tour review have cricket on its agenda?

BCCI plans to enforce stricter discipline for the Indian cricket team, including mandatory practice and family stay limits, amid concerns over performance and selection.

It wasn’t just Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli also did not get runs other than his Perth hundred (AFP)
Updated on Jan 15, 2025 09:13 PM IST

Rohit Sharma hits the nets ahead of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy game

Jaiswal, Pant and Gill too will be available for the next round of matches, as per BCCI’s directive  

Rohit Sharma bats during a practice session of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai (PTI)
Updated on Jan 15, 2025 05:40 AM IST

BCCI may restrict players' family time on tours

BCCI plans to restrict duration of stay for players’ families on overseas tours, wants to make team bus travel mandatory in aftermath of loss to Australia

2016 onwards, when Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri were captain and coach, the family clause was relaxed. (AFP)
Updated on Jan 14, 2025 11:04 PM IST

Indian cricket will overcome setbacks, says new BCCI secy Devajit Saikia

Saikia, the Advocate General of Assam, was elected unopposed to the post vacated by Jay Shah at BCCI’s SGM

India's coach Gautam Gambhir (L) and captain Rohit Sharma were present at the BGT review meeting with Devajit Saikia. (AFP)
Updated on Jan 12, 2025 11:21 PM IST

BCCI wants India stars to play Ranji before white-ball season kicks in

The selectors wanted Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play Duleep trophy last year too, but they excused themselves

It will be interesting to see if Rohit Sharma (R) and Virat Kohli (L) play in the next round of the Ranji Trophy matches. (AFP)
Updated on Jan 12, 2025 11:24 PM IST

Jasprit Bumrah’s Champions Trophy hopes slim, BCCI to wait

The speedster’s rehab following back spasms is crucial; India can wait until the deadline of February 11 midnight to send the final squad to ICC

Jasprit Bumrah looks at his Player of the Series award for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. (AFP)
Published on Jan 12, 2025 09:12 PM IST

BCCI review: Rohit’s form concerning but will lead in Champions Trophy

Board officials are said to have left it to the selectors to take a call on the future of Rohit and Virat Kohli

Rohit Sharma had a woeful Border Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. (AFP)
Updated on Jan 12, 2025 05:08 AM IST

Mohd Shami makes India comeback after 14 months

The pacer, back after surgery and rehab, will return for the home T20I series against England starting on Jan 22

Mohammed Shami in action during last month’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. (PTI)
Published on Jan 11, 2025 10:43 PM IST

Home fissures behind India’s WTC failure

All teams qualifying for the WTC final maximise the home advantage, something India failed to do in the current cycle

India have failed to qualify for the World Test Championships final. (AFP)
Published on Jan 10, 2025 07:27 PM IST

Focus on Rohit, Bumrah and Shami in Champions Trophy selection

The selectors are due to name India’s provisional squad for the Feb 22-Mar 9 ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday

While Rohit Sharma is set to remain skipper in ODIs, Jasprit Bumrah is likely to stay out of the England ODIs due to injury (AFP)
Updated on Jan 08, 2025 09:29 PM IST

Ajit Agarkar to brief fellow selectors ahead of BCCI meet

The chief selector was present in Australia for the entire duration of the BGT series, which India lost 1-3

Ajit Agarkar, who served as touring selector for the entire Australia tour, will brief the selection committee ahead of the upcoming series review meet. (AFP)
Updated on Jan 08, 2025 05:18 AM IST

Gambhir, Rohit face BCCI scrutiny after Australia loss

India's Test cricket struggles continue with six losses in eight matches, raising concerns about team tactics and management ahead of future series.

After a string of losses in both white-ball and red-ball cricket, the pressure on the coach-captain duo of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma is rising (AFP)
Updated on Jan 07, 2025 05:12 AM IST

Saikia and Bhatia set to become BCCI secretary and treasurer

Secretary Jay Shah heads ICC and treasurer Ashish Shelar has taken over a Maharashtra cabinet minister

Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia are set to be elected unopposed in BCCI’s SGM to be held in Mumbai on January 12. (AFP)
Updated on Jan 04, 2025 10:02 PM IST
SHARE
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • ...
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Sunday, February 09, 2025
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On