arshdeep Singh ruled out after blow on bowling shoulder.

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Not only for century, even when he scored 50 everybody was clapping and even though the opposition was scoring people were really enjoying themselves.

My first international match watching in person, so may be this is a normal thing, but i found it as a nice gesture

Axar as batter is slowly becoming a liability. Didnt play any good knocks since the champions trophy. Hasnt had a significant contribution in finishing matches in recent times. As much as we love axar, hard truth is he is just sliding to be a bowler now.

Growing up, cricket was never really my thing. It was Dad's.

I still remember fighting with him for the TV remote because I wanted to watch cartoons, while he'd somehow switch the channel back to cricket whenever he got the chance. 😂

Back then, I couldn't understand what was so interesting about watching 22 people chase a ball around a field for hours.

But somewhere along the way, I started sitting with him instead of fighting for the remote.

Then I started asking questions. Why was that a no-ball? Why was that wicket so important? Why was Dad shouting at the TV when a batter played a stupid shot?

Eventually, I became the one explaining things, arguing over selections, defending players, and getting just as emotionally invested as he was.

And cricket slowly became our thing.

I remember the tension of watching India chase a target in a World Cup, the heartbreak of 2023, the madness of IPL nights, and those arguments that somehow became more entertaining than the match itself.

We'd celebrate a six as if we'd personally scored it. We'd blame the captain for every questionable decision. And after a heartbreaking loss, we'd spend another hour discussing what India should have done differently, as if the team management was waiting for our analysis. 😭

Looking back, I don't think I remember every scorecard or every result. I remember where I was sitting, what Dad said after a wicket, the arguments, the celebrations, and the little moments in between.

Now I've moved to another city for work, and I often find myself watching matches alone.

The game is still the same. The crowd is still screaming. India can still hit a last-over six and make my heart race.

But something feels different.

There's nobody beside me to exchange that look with when a ridiculous decision is made. Nobody to argue with over a selection. Nobody to turn to after a wicket and say, “Ab toh gaya match.”

Sometimes I wonder whether I've slowly lost some of my passion for cricket, or whether I've just grown so used to experiencing it with my father that watching it alone feels incomplete.

Maybe, as a kid, I thought Dad was teaching me to love cricket.

Perhaps he was also unknowingly creating memories that I'd carry with me long after I left home.

I still love cricket. I just miss the version of it that existed when watching it meant sitting beside him.

Everyone complains about flat pitches, but who is actually responsible for these flat pitches? Is it the local state associations, the BCCI, or broadcasters pushing for high scores to boost viewership?

When every single game in a series across multiple venues turns out to be a total road, it’s not accident but a planned strategy.

If the Indian head coach claims he doesn't prefer flat pitches, why can’t our curators make what the team needs? Are we that incompetent, or is the board saying one thing on camera and doing the exact opposite behind closed doors?

And lets not pretend this is exclusive for India. White ball series across all countries have been a run fest with small boundaries and flat pitches since a decade.

Is it because ICC decided to make pitches in tournaments flat pitches and boards are following the same?

Granted we won one T20 world cup becuase of these flat pitches, but how many are we scheduled to lose next. We can say we won 2024 where scoring is tricky but lets be honest we may not have a Kohli again if this flat pitches trickle down to next generations and every one just wants to hit it out of the park.

Barring three innings against England and couple against West Indies, Shreyas’ batting form is literally hurting the team. Poor strike rate, low returns in terms of runs, and mediocre captaincy as well. Almost feels like there’s a lack of clarity and zero game plan.