Blog Posts by Jharna Kukreja Chauhan

It seemed like any other day in Bangalore. Traffic moved at a snail’s pace. FM stations were still playing ‘Chamak Chalo’ and the locals continued to crib about how the temperature was a couple of notches higher than usual.

But there was one thing different. Bangalore’s favourite son was calling curtains on a huge chapter of his life.  A chapter that not only rewrote records of the nation’s favourite pastime but also brought back words like determination, integrity and dignity to the gentleman’s game

The media room at the Chinnaswamy stadium (venue of Dravid’s exit press conference) had the national press trickling in much before the scheduled start.  The mood was already nostalgic and the Karnataka State Cricket Association contributed by greeting everyone with despondent instrumental music from ‘Veer Zaara’ (Tere liye, hum hain jiye, honton ko siye…Dil mein magar, jalte rahe, chaahat ke diye).

Shortly after, in walked the man of the moment - Rahul Sharad Dravid with his father, wife Read More »from Calm, cool, collected

First things first, I’m a diehard Dravid devotee. I’ve done it all. Made the scrap books, sent him letters, camped at the Wankhede to watch nets sessions, gone and watched Tests alone in the stadium, woken up at 2 am to get a glimpse of him batting on foreign shores, cut class to cheer him on and I once even managed to flag down the car of a CCI member, make him take me back in and get me onto the guest list so I could watch a training camp from close quarters.

Why do I do all this? Why do I love Rahul Dravid so much? Here goes:

My initiation to the game of cricket was as a gawky, troubled 14-year-old back during the 1996 World Cup. I switched on the TV mainly to try and spot my cousins at the Wankhede who were there to watch the India-Australia tie. While that attempt proved futile, the buzz at the ground, the contests, the atmosphere and the revelry all caught my attention. I was hooked for life.

Little did I know that my newfound craze would soon coincide with the arrival of a young Read More »from Confessions of a Dravid Fan

(During the course of the third Test between India and the West Indies at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai we’ll post live updates, analysis, reader comments and reactions. Please hit F5 periodically for new posts.)

4:45 pm: West Indies 575/9 at the End of Day 2

India have made a late comeback into the game, picking up the last five wickets in just over 11 overs for under 50 runs. This was not before the first six West Indian batsmen made half centuries including the massive ton from Bravo.

4:00 pm: 'Better late than never' - That's what you can say about this spell from debutant pace bowler Varun Aaron. He's picked up three wickets starting with centurion Darren Bravo who chased a wide delivery. Next to go was Carlton Baugh who was done in by speed - a 144.3 km delivery knocking off his stumps. The final wicket to fall was that of captain Sammy who edged a ball pitched outside the off stump to his opposite number.

2:30 pm:

Read More »from Day 2 at the Wankhede

(During the course of the third Test between India and the West Indies at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai we'll post live updates, analysis, reader comments and reactions. Please hit F5 periodically for new posts.)

4:35 pm: West Indies 267/2 - End of Day 1

After being outplayed in the first two Tests, West Indies have made a strong comeback on Day 1 in Mumbai. The pitch has played out like a batting beauty and all four Windies batsmen have managed half centuries.

Meanwhile, South Africa's loss to Australia yesterday has brought about some changes in the ICC Test rankings. India have moved up to the Number 2 position. The Proteas had been ranked in second position but the 1-1 series result against the lower ranked Australia meant it lost one ratings point and fell below India.

3:45 pm: West Indies batting lineup isn't doing all that bad in the absence of Chanderpaul. Kirk Edwards has now made his way to his half century.

Read More »from Day 1 at the Wankhede

(During the course of the second Test between India and the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata we'll post live updates, analysis, reader comments and reactions. Please hit F5 periodically for new posts.)

2:00 pm: India have wrapped up the Test and the series, Umesh Yadav picking up the last two wickets. VVS Laxman is Man of the Match for his 176 not out - another award at the Eden Gardens for the middle-order batsman.

1:15 pm: Darren Bravo's wicket has opened up the floodgates. It was looking like a completely different game when Bravo and Samuels had their partnership going, but after Bravo was dismissed wickets have fallen in a heap. Off-spinner Aswhin has also come to the party, not willing to be outdone by Ojha.

1:00 pm: The Pragyan Ojha - Rahul Dravid combination has managed to turn around things for the Indians. It looked like the game was heading into the 5th day, but two tossed up deliveries from Ojha went towards the man with the most catches in Test cricket. Dravid

Read More »from Day 4 at Eden Gardens

(During the course of the second Test between India and the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata we'll post live updates, analysis, reader comments and reactions. Please hit F5 periodically for new posts.)

4:00 pm: Stumps have been declared on Day 2 with the West Indies on 34/2 due to poor light. The Caribbean side have their backs against the wall with three days of play left and 18 wickets in hand.

2:45 pm: Umesh Yadav has got an early breakthrough for India with the wicket of Adrain Barath for just one run. This was after Dhoni declared at 631/7 with Laxman unbeaten on 176. Laxman's fans might be upset that he did not get a chance to reach his double century but that early wicket would have justified Dhoni's decision.

2:15 pm: MS Dhoni has made his way back after a dazzling 144 and now it seems that the Indian side is waiting for Laxman to complete his double century before they declare.

2:00 pm: The second session on Day 2 saw MS Dhoni do justice to the flat track at the

Read More »from Day 2 at Eden Gardens

(During the course of the second Test between India and the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata we'll post live updates, analysis, reader comments and reactions. Please hit F5 periodically for new posts.)

4:30 pm: India 346/5 at the end of Day 1

The day's play got over with what seemed like a bit of a farce. Ishant Sharma walked in at the fall of Dravid's wicket and was then promptly dismissed while still on nought. Does it make sense to send a nightwatchman in when India are on 345? Does Yuvraj Singh need to be protected at such a stage in the match? Yuvraj  then came in only to be led off the field due to poor light.

Meanwhile the Dravid-Laxman partnership once again starred for India.  Here's a

flashback from the same ground in 2001 when they together batted India for their famous 376 run stand that turned the tables on champions Australia

4:00 pm: A momentary lapse has cost Dravid his wicket. It was an innocuous delivery from Brathwaite and

Read More »from Day 1 at Eden Gardens

(During the course of the first Test between India and West Indies at the Kotla, we'll post live updates, analysis, reader comments and reactions. Please hit F5 periodically for new posts.)

1:00 pm: India have won the 1st Test by 5 wickets and debutant R Ashwin has been awarded Man of the Match for his 9 wickets in the game

11:20 am: Tendulkar has departed for 76 and with him the hopes of millions of fanboys who were all set to regurgitate their 'Sachin is God' messages/tweets/blogs. Cue news agencies who will not send out stories on 'Sachin misses ton of tons' yet again (sigh).

Some hilarious tweets on the subject:

sidvee Nobody taught umpire RJ Tucker history in school

Indian victory in vain as Tendulkar falls short

rameshsrivats What century and all? Obviously an Indian win is the key thing here. Goes off to cry in a corner

chuck_gopal Will Yuvraj let Laxman get to his 50 now? #InduvidualAchievementAlwaysMoreImportant

Question to our readers - Are we too obsessed with individual

Read More »from Day 4 at the Kotla