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By K.R. Nayar From Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi.  It is Team India coach Gautam Gambhir’s territory. The moment you settle into your seat in the press box at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and lift your eyes, the stands bearing his name stare right back at you. Being his home ground, he knows the pitch best and would have made sure it is not a tricky wicket like the one in Mumbai for the next match against Namibia on February 12. Immediately after the team landed from Mumbai on February 8, Gambhir hosted a dinner for the team at his residence. He has done it before too. His wife Natasha and daughters Aazeen and Anaiza welcomed the players and support staff.  This is when Gambhir turns host rather than a coach. ICC statistics revealing an increase in T20 World Cup viewership  Fitness first, vigilance always If there is one thing non-negotiable in this campaign, it is fitness. Team India knows its strength lies in its most valuable players staying match-ready. So, Tuesday’...

By K.R. Nayar From Arun Jaitley Stadium  Delhi. Soon after Pakistan announced that they have withdrawn the boycott of their match with India, the question doing the rounds is whether there is a winner following this huge drama. The answer is a resounding no. The constant flip-flop inconvenienced thousands of fans and journalists who had to cancel flights and even scrap hotel reservations. In short, the indecisiveness only created chaos.  India-Pakistan fans will together enjoy watching the contest again. Knowing that Pakistan has, over the years, been an unpredictable team, and that their decision can change any moment, this reporter did not cancel any flight or hotel bookings.  For a reporter, whether a match is played or abandoned, there is always a story— and hence, presence matters.   Only loss and nothing to gain A boycott would have achieved nothing but huge financial losses for everyone. Pakistan officials now admit they withdrew the boycott ...

By K.R. Nayar From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Nepal fans walked into the stadium expecting an evening of enjoyment. They walked out with their heads held high, hearts full of pride, and voices hoarse from cheering their team. What they witnessed was not just a cricket match, but a moment that will live long in Nepal’s sporting memory. Nepal fans wearing the Dhaka Topi. Photo by K.R. Nayar Hundreds of Nepali fans routinely turn up for their team’s matches in the UAE, but for this opening World Cup encounter, the numbers swelled into the thousands. Indian fans too joined in, cheering loudly for Nepal and celebrating every moment of their audacious performance. Wearing the Dhaka Topi A sea of traditional caps stood out in the crowd yesterday. Curious about the striking headgear, this reporter asked fans about it and learnt that it was called the Dhaka Topi. With Bangladesh not featuring in this World Cup, the obvious question arose — how did a cap named after Dhaka find such pro...

By K.R. Nayar   From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Indian fans were in for a rude shock on Saturday evening. After the USA won the toss and elected to field, it was taken for granted that they would witness an extension of the fireworks from the opening ceremony by the Indian batters. But what actually happened was jaw-dropping. With the scoreboard reading 46 for 4 in 5.6 overs, latecomers may have thought it was the USA that was batting first . Photos: BCCI Twitter But for Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning assault on the USA bowlers, the story would have very different. Suryakumar Yadav’s batting was a lesson on how to bat under pressure while his other reputed batters fell one by one at the other end. It resembled poetry written under pressure.  Despite the humiliation of losing to the USA looming large, a flurry of strokes came out of his blade. One must be fortunate to be able to witness the kind of strokes he played – the scoop over fine leg, the elega...

By K.R. Nayar From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Usually, junior teams grow up in the shadow of their seniors. This time, it is the seniors who are drawing inspiration from the next generation. On Saturday, India begin their T20 World Cup campaign riding high on the dazzling achievement of their Under-19 team, crowned champions of the Under-19 World Cup. It is a triumph that truly deserves to be called ‘Future Perfect’ for Indian cricket. Fans are already buzzing with anticipation, eager to see 14-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — who smashed a historic 175 off just 80 balls in the final — one day don the senior India jersey and light up a World Cup stage.  Wankhede Stadium entrance decorated for the start of the T20 World Cup. Photo by K,R. Nayar  With India’s women’s team having recently lifted the Women’s World Cup as well, Suryakumar Yadav and his men will be keen to add their names to this growing tale of World Cup glory.  Poster of the T20 World Cup at the entra...

By K.R. Nayar From Wankhede Stadium Mumbai. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked into the press conference room 45 minutes after the scheduled time. The media waited patiently in the press conference room, with every seat taken. When Surya finally arrived, there was no apology—just a wide, disarming smile. And that was enough. In an instant, the irritation melted away. That’s the effect Surya has on people. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav addresses the pre-match press conference He answers questions the same way he bats—light on his feet, smiling, often slipping in a cheeky one-liner. Yet, the pre-match press conference ahead of the opening game of the T20 World Cup he is defending was no casual affair. When this reporter asked whether playing so-called weaker teams, barring perhaps Pakistan, was an advantage or a disadvantage, Surya’s response was, “I don't see any weak teams in the competition. All 20 teams are very much capable of playing good cricket in this format. On a ...