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By K.R. Nayar From R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo. It was special to arrive in the land of Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Muralitharan. But sentiment quickly gave way to intensity—the India–Pakistan showdown has turned the atmosphere into a cauldron. Even without being a player, one can feel the intense pressure. Imagine what it must be for the players. Shocking results like Zimbabwe beating Australia makes Sunday’s India-Pakistan even more un- predictable.  In a contest like this, reputation counts for little and statistics are mere decoration. Matches of this magnitude are decided by those who can silence the noise and execute under pressure.  The Ministry of Crab advert at the Colombo airport  Sangakkara and Jayawardene’s Ministry of Crab The first striking image on arrival in Colombo is a massive billboard of the famed Ministry of Crab, a restaurant owned by Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Like their partnership in cricket, they have run this joint successfully for ne...

By K.R. Nayar From Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi. Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan turned Thursday evening at the Arun Jaitley Stadium into a festival of fearless stroke play. They gifted India a 93-run win. Kishan’s batting was like that of a man who was set free to go out and enjoy hitting freely. It was a treat to watch his footwork and the elegant swing of his bat that makes the ball slice through the gap on its way to the boundary. When he drove on the up, the ball sped across the turf as if pulled by an invisible string. He executed his pull not with brute force alone but with exquisite timing. What makes Kishan special is his audacity. He rules over the bowlers. His 61 off 24 balls set the stage for India’s victory. He got many hoping that India might break the record for the highest total.  Pandya, the street fighter Pandya walked in to the field with a swagger. He his aware of his role as a finisher, and he finished off Namibia’s hopes of restricting India to a total...

By K.R. Nayar From Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi.  Without doubt, a Super Over is a heartbreak for the losing team. The sorrow in the Afghanistan camp was impossible to console. It is quite likely that had South Africa lost the match, fans may not have been so upset given that the Proteas are a power in world cricket and have played more international matches than Afghanistan.  However, the real winner was cricket, and this Super Over has elevated the charm of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. This match was not a tie-breaker but a contest that tested the heartbeat of almost every fan. A match goes into the Super Over when the skill and strategy of both teams cannot decide a match and it demands one final burst of audacity through six balls. In this match, two Super Overs were needed to decide the winner. Of late, South Africa has erased their chokers tag, and they did that in this match too. Cricket turns beautiful when it is fought tooth and nail. Million pulses race ...

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...