Celebrity Columnists - Cricket

Three points to tackle Malinga

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:01:58 GMT

As India prepares to take on Sri Lanka, the think tank might spend time deciphering Lasith Malinga, for he could probably be the biggest threat. The ones who haven't faced him enough might be a little wary. Aakash Chopra writes.

A youthful India is the way forward

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:23:52 GMT

The irony is both delicious and extraordinary. Just as Indian cricket is mired in a messy crisis, dragged down by controversy and conflict, the cricket team is surging ahead confidently, seemingly unstoppable in the Champions Trophy. Amrit Mathur reports.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar keeps it simple and swinging

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:09:57 GMT

Into his first year in international cricket, the seamer has shown versatility. Swing bowling is a complex science and not an absolute one. The basics are simple enough. Rohit Bhaskar writes.

Champions Trophy In old rivalry only India breathe fire

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:34:50 GMT

When India plays Pakistan tension often boils over. Remember Javed Miandad mocking Kiran More with his famous kangaroo hop in the 1992 World Cup, or Venkatesh Prasad's expletive-laden send-off to Aamer Sohail at Bangalore four years later, writes Rohit Bhaskar.

Crime and punishment an alien concept

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:57:59 GMT

Since none of us have seen the next life and know nothing of our previous births, we should be content with a Srinivasan dictating terms to the Board and making light of what to most is an untenable situation. Pradeep Magazine writes.

Respect Indian fan and his love for cricket

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:23:57 GMT

A cricketer has to keep his side of the bargain — which is to play good cricket. And clean cricket. How unpleasant it would be for cricket lovers to begin to view every no-ball or wide with cynicism and doubt. Aakash Chopra writes.

The real issue is governance

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:37:54 GMT

Recent revelations have left cricket shaken and stirred. Ordinary fans, the key stakeholders, are outraged by the brazen deception and cheating; purists are distressed by the naked greed of players and the serious threat to traditions.

Talent needs backing of strong offfield leadership

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:37:35 GMT

Just when cricket, like global warming, appears to be dangerously close to a tipping point following the latest spot-fixing scandal, two young players unveil themselves and partly restore faith in the game. Ian Chappell writes.

After a few gloomy English days here comes the sun

Fri, 31 May 2013 18:40:35 GMT

The thing with Beatles lyrics is you always look for a hidden meaning. Everyone assumes Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is really about an acid trip because of the very obvious allusion to LSD or that Yellow Submarine is actually the street name for a capsuled barbiturate. But what was George Harrison thinking about when he wrote Here Comes the Sun?

Youngsters should stay grounded after T20 high

Wed, 29 May 2013 18:15:25 GMT

Despite all that went on in the just-concluded season, there is one thing that stood out yet again — the boys growing into men by the end of each edition. Javagal Srinath writes.

Pollard exceeded all expectations

Mon, 27 May 2013 19:47:19 GMT

All through the season, we kept talking about the perfect game, and at no stage before the final did we think we had already played one because that could have led to complacency. The start wasn’t perfect in the final against Chennai, but the end certainly was! Anil Kumble writes.

MI covered all aspects in planning

Mon, 27 May 2013 19:40:08 GMT

The adage that it’s wickets that win matches was emphatically proved on Sunday night. Lasith Malinga chose the perfect stage to make his most telling statement of this year’s tournament. Javagal Srinath writes.

Malinga yorker should make it to YouTube

Mon, 27 May 2013 19:35:56 GMT

One of my favourite pastimes is to get on to YouTube and search for thematic cricket clips. Sometimes, it is Steve Waugh playing a dogged innings, sometimes the search is on Mark Waugh’s delightful batting or Allan Donald’s hostile spell. Gautam Gambhir writes.

Smart players stay away from the fire

Sat, 25 May 2013 22:08:11 GMT

As the story of spot fixing gets deeper and dirtier, I remind myself of the seemingly untouched early 1990s — the era when mobile phones hadn't yet become indispensable, and honey traps considered a bit too improper. Aakash Chopra writes.

All about showing selfbelief focus

Sat, 25 May 2013 22:00:45 GMT

Fortunately for Mumbai on Friday, they had the bits-and-pieces cricketers who could haul them over the line. My heart goes out to Rajasthan and Rahul Dravid. They have been the sentimental favourites this edition and it was wonderful to see them fight till the very end. Javagal Srinath writes.

Maintaining intensity for entire game will be vital

Sat, 25 May 2013 21:59:14 GMT

It was a hard-fought victory for us against Rajasthan Royals on Friday, and I must admit we made things a little difficult for us. But overall, I was delighted with the way we played the majority of the game. Anil Kumble writes.

Chance for MS Dhoni to renew connect with Eden Gardens

Sat, 25 May 2013 21:56:29 GMT

It is strange how differently one connects with different places in the world. Before last year's final, I didn't have a great personal connect with Chennai. Gautam Gambhir writes.

If BCCI cant clean up it has no reason to be

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:13:39 GMT

Like the king in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, BCCI chief N Srinivasan was solemn, earnest and clueless when the current spot-fixing scam first came to light. Ayaz Memon writes.

Thats just not cricket

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:10:08 GMT

The domestic T20 league has been a byword for excess. Largely unpoliced, held in the realms of India’s all-powerful illegal bookmakers, it was a competition vulnerable to corruption hosted in a country that had the perfect platform to exploit it. Ed Hawkins writes. Scandals past and present

Secret to Mishras success my legspin tips

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:37:54 GMT

Not many recall that I used to bowl leg-spin too. One of my "ardent admirers" Shane Warne may not like it but I used to pitch it alright. Gautam Gambhir writes. Gauti says

Time to go Mr Srinivasan

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:08:52 GMT

N Srinivasan's ultimate genius lies in turning the Indian Board, a conglomerate of powerful businessmen, politicians, and bureaucrats, into a mute spectator of his brazen actions. As the police circle his cricket empire, surely it's time to show him the door, writes Pradeep Magazine.

Twenty20 contract alone is not a ticket to stardom

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:47:36 GMT

For a young Indian player, especially if he happens to be a batsman, success in the league comes only if he ticks a few boxes. Aakash Chopra writes.

Losing wickets hurt us

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:27:25 GMT

At various stages of our Qualifier against the Super Kings, we had our noses in front, so it was disappointing that the Mumbai Indians ended up as the losing side. Anil Kumble writes.

Impossible to stay on top of the game all the time

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:38:00 GMT

We are at the business end of the tournament and it is worth reflecting on the journey that has brought us at Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad to this stage. Anil Kumble writes.

Not just about checks key is player integrity

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:12:12 GMT

Young players should learn from the raging spot-fixing controversy. Javagal Srinath writes.