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By K.R. Nayar The fourth Test between India and England ended in a draw on Sunday. Many have called it a great escape for India.  Yes, defeat had loomed over India like a gathering storm. But what unfolded was not a tale of survival—it was a tale of defiance, of grit, of fire forged in the furnace of pressure.   No one believed that after England posted a lead of 311 runs, and India reeling at 0 for 2, India would end the match in a draw at 425 for 4.   One can label it as an escape if only one or two wickets were left or if the last pair had blocked the final overs. India’s brave batting in the second innings was such that England could manage to get only four wickets. They made England toil hard for 143 overs, leaving them drained and frustrated. India’s batting was an exhibition of true grit and valour.   It is a fact that the Indian batting did not click in the first innings and that the England batters excelled raking up 669 runs. India’s batting under...

By K.R. Nayar Gurumurthy Palani, who has been spreading the game among Associate countries over the years in different roles, has been elected to the reputed International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC). Representing France, Palani, who is a highly qualified banker with 30 years of experience in banking, consulting, and fintech, has carried a deep passion for the game and has been serving it for many years. He was elected to this august body along with Anurag Bhatnagar of Hong Kong and Gurdeep Klair of Canada.   Gurumurthy Palani with Jay Shah, chairman of ICC, after being elected to the ICC CEC  Over the years, I’ve followed Palani’s numerous    initiatives to spread the game not only in France but also in Bahrain, where he has set up a High Performance Academy. The number of events he has staged for men’s and women’s cricket and his efforts towards creating facilities to nurture talent have all contributed to his elevation to the ICC’...

By K.R. Nayar  Mumbai.  Listening to former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is always motivating. Over the years, starting from the days even before he captained India, to listening to his comments as captain during the World Cup and many international events, one factor that has always stood out is his blunt views. No wonder he has the nickname Dada. Though in his mother tongue, Bengali, Dada means elder brother, it also denotes the leader of a gang or a powerful figure. Sourav Ganguly speaks about the ongoing India-England series. Photo by K.R. Nayar  Ganguly has a powerful personality, and that must be the reason he could, as captain, instill the ability to play fearless cricket, challenging the best teams in world cricket. Responding to queries about the Indian team’s ongoing series in England — soon after a press conference for the Indian Racing Festival 2025 at the Bandra Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai — he expressed his disappointment over India losing the Lord’s Te...

By K.R. Nayar   When you play at Lord’s – the Home of Cricket – one must play with the least number of blemishes. It is not without reason that this ground is hailed as the most revered in the game. Those who play here must deliver their best, as the ground’s rich history demands that.  Lord’s Test matches are always written as special chapters in the history of the game, and that is why those who watch a Test from this venue feel proud and privileged too.   India lost by 22 runs to England after an intense battle, because the winner will be the team that committed the least mistakes — as demanded in cricket and by this ground. From 248 for 3 in the first innings while chasing England’s 387, India ended up failing to take a lead. Though they bowled out England for 192 in the second innings, there were some unwarranted pull shots by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was out for a duck, and Jasprit Bumrah, who played a similar shot after providing valuable support to Ravin...

By K.R. Nayar Thiruvananthapuram.   Malayalam film actor, the late Sathyan, was a genius, whose acting skills I have always idolised. Though I took on journalism as my profession, my passion for acting was ignited by Sathyan Master, as everyone would respectfully address him.   He was truly a master of acting. I have lost count of how many times I’ve watched his classic movies. The ease with which he brought life to any role he played is a lesson for any actor.     With Satheesh Sathyan at his residence.   To give a context to the excitement and thrill I experienced on meeting his son, Satheesh Sathyan, in Thiruvananthapuram early this week, let me explain the influence Sathyan Master has had on me. I was fond of acting from a very young age, a passion that stemmed from watching Satyan Master’s films.     Sathyan Master I would participate is school plays, and later on went on to act alongside the great actors of that time in a profess...

By K.R. Nayar It’s not often that one hears of youngsters rising from the lap of a legendary cricketer. Ayaan Misbah, the prolific run-scorer and captain of the UAE Under-16 team, literally rose from the lap of India’s legendary batter Virender Sehwag, and is being talked about as UAE’s sensational star.  The tale behind how this boy earned this rare honour, and then constantly tries to live up to the glory set by Sehwag, is interesting.  Ayaan was born in Delhi. Years back, Sehwag had visited the cricket ground of Jamia Millia Islamia University College in Delhi. Misbah’s mother, Romana Suhaib, who was the warden of the college, approached Sehwag for a photo with her then two-year-old son, Ayaan, sitting on his lap. Sehwag agreed and also posed with Misbah’s father, Faisal Misbah, who is a keen cricket and sports enthusiast.   Two-year-old Ayaan Misbah with his father and Virender Sehwag Unfortunately, that picture of Ayaan on Sehwag’s lap got misplaced, but the one wi...