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Asia Cup trophy must never be a political casualty

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By K.R. Nayar The trend of not receiving the Asia Cup winners’ trophy has continued, with the Indian women’s team following their men’s team in refusing to receive the trophy. Indian women’s team refused to receive it after recording their eighth title triumph in Dubai on September 13, 2026, while the men’s team did the same after they won the Asia Cup for the ninth time on September 28, 2025. The Asia Cup trophy that did not get lifted Should an Asia Cup trophy be humiliated in this manner? India’s refusal to accept the trophy is because the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President is Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has notified the ACC in writing that Indian teams would not step onto the presentation podium if Naqvi was handing out the trophy. This is because of the Indian government’s policy regarding diplomatic relations with Pakistan’s ministers. Naqvi holds a dual role as the PCB Chairma...
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Pakistan running out of time to retain its arch-rival status with India

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By K.R. Nayar There was a time when an India-Pakistan cricket match was held - be it between the men or women  - and one would say ‘anything can happen’. But now, nothing happens - India emerges victorious. On Saturday, India beat Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup by seven wickets in Dubai. The match was totally one-sided with Pakistan getting bowled out for 55, their lowest-ever total in women’s T20Is. India strolled to the target in just 8.4 overs. Is this what we want to witness when two teams considered arch-rivals meet? When India and Pakistan met, it was billed as one of cricket’s great rivalries. Of late, matches between these two countries resemble a practice match. When Pakistan was 27 without loss, one did not expect they would manage to cross just the 50-run mark. It was not a collapse but a landslide. India’s spinners looked like road rollers. They bulldozed the Pakistan batting line-up. The demolishers were Shree Charani and Prema Rawat, with three wickets apiece,...
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What’s behind Rohit Sharma’s retirement rumour and Agarkar’s mysterious absence?

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By K.R. Nayar Yesterday, almost all leading newspapers and cricket websites had the story related to Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), brushed aside speculation over Sharma’s future while addressing the media in Mumbai. When Sharma scored 138 against England recently, why was there speculation about his future in the first place? That remains a mystery. Rohit Sharma  The rumour mill had been working overtime – perhaps even harder than Sharma has been working to remain fit for the 2027 ODI World Cup. It all happened following the BCCI’s review meeting over India’s performance in Ireland and England. For the past few months, there have been numerous reports about chief selector Ajit Agarkar not wanting Sharma to be part of the 2027 World Cup team. Interestingly, Agarkar did not attend the BCCI meeting due to “personal commitments.” This has happened at a time when there is also speculation over whether Agarkar’...
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Free-hit debate brings back umpire Mamsa’s witty tales on no-balls

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By K. R. Nayar  A debate over free hit in Test cricket has ensued following India’s spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule suggesting it as a means to curb bowlers indulging in no-balls. This took me on a journey down memory lane with the late, renowned umpire A. M. Mamsa.  Umpire A M Mamsa As a qualified state-panel umpire from Kerala, I would always attend Mamsa’s umpiring classes in Mumbai to sharpen my knowledge. Over the years, we developed a huge liking for each other. He always wondered why I was attending his umpiring classes despite clearing the state-panel umpiring test. Frankly, I would attend his classes mainly to listen to his stories. He was a reservoir of interesting tales and used to explain each rule with a tinge of humour. And maybe, that was the reason the rules and laws remained fixed in my mind. He had groomed many umpires from Mumbai who then went on to become top umpires. Mamsa was born in Rangoon, Burma, in 1919. He was in his 70s when I met him in ...
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India leaves Colombo with points lost as Sri Lanka gains in confidence

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By K.R. Nayar   The Colombo Test ending in a draw has made India’s path to the World Test Championship final tough. Sri Lanka, by securing a hard-fought draw, have boosted their morale. In fact, India walked away frustrated; Sri Lanka walked away rejuvenated. Sri Lanka’s twenty-five-year-old left-handed Sonal Dinusha, with knocks of 103 and an unbeaten 133 in the second Test, following his knocks of 100 and 84 in the first Test, has announced that he has the potential to become a superstar. Was Dinusha and 26-year-old Pasindu Sooriyabandara, with knocks of 80 and 92, the only reason behind India being unable to record a clean sweep? Their resistance certainly exposed India’s inability to finish the job. When young batsmen refuse to surrender, even the strongest bowling attack can begin to look ordinary. Sri Lanka now have every reason to believe that their emerging generation can stand up against one of the stronger Test sides in the world. Gary Kirsten, who took over as Sr...
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Dhruv Jurel: From a secret dream to global spotlight

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By K.R. Nayar  When Dhruv Jurel hit an unbeaten 115 to lift India to a score of 503 for 9 decl. in the first innings, he stamped his class as a fighter. As a boy, he had to play the game secretly because his father wanted him to focus on his studies and join the armed forces. After hitting the second Test century of his career, everything about him and his career is now public. If it was Devdutt Padikkal who hogged the headlines on the first day, it was Jurel on the second day. Jurel is the son of a 1999 Kargil War veteran, and has ensured that his team marches to victory. When he hit his first Test century (125) in only his sixth Test match against the West Indies in October 2025 in Ahmedabad, he had shaped India’s victory by an innings-and-140-runs. Today, Jurel is talked about as a wicketkeeper- batter who can win matches with useful knocks. In the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, he had scored 51 runs in the first innings. To support his dream of becoming a top cric...
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Padikkal’s second century is more than just a milestone

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By K.R. Nayar Devdutt Padikkal’s second consecutive Test century has elevated him to a special place among India’s top batters. The fact that he has become the first Indian No. 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara in 2018-19 to score centuries in consecutive away Tests will be talked about for a long time. What Padikkal has exhibited is his remarkable temperament and class. But beyond the statistics and the milestones, Padikkal’s achievement tells a more compelling story — the story of temperament, class, perseverance and the determination to belong at the highest level. Padikkal’s brilliant footwork and shot selection are laudable. To hit another century after his knocks of 167 and 44 in the first Test at Galle, which earned him the Player of the Match award, and then crack 117 runs in the first innings of the second Test reveals his tremendous appetite for runs. This can carry him to many more three-figure knocks in the future. Consistency is never achieved by just wishing for it, but by wo...
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