All posts tagged: ravi shastri

Former India head coach backs Sanju Samson as India T20I captain

Former India head coach backs Sanju Samson as India T20I captain

Published by Webster

3 min readMay 15, 2026 08:55 AM IST Sanju Samson’s stocks have been on a steady rise in the T20 format after his stunning revival in the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup earlier this year. So much so that the 31-year-old is now being considered as the potential successor to Suryakumar Yadav as India’s next T20I skipper in the forthcoming cycle. Samson, who entered the World Cup in February on the back of wretched form, turned the script around for India, starting with a must-win Super 8 match against West Indies in Kolkata with an unbeaten 97 in a tall chase. The Kerala batter then smashed back-to-back scores of 89 against England and New Zealand in the high-pressure setting of the semi-final and final in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, respectively, as India became the first team to defend the title. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has now backed Samson to take over the reins of the T20I side should India veer away from Suryakumar in the road to the 2028 World Cup, slated …

‘‘When mother came to know about my stand, no one was prouder than her’’

‘‘When mother came to know about my stand, no one was prouder than her’’

Published by Webster

5 min readApr 9, 2026 07:00 AM IST Ravi Shastri The first time I came to the Wankhede Stadium, I was just 12. I took a bus and a train, found my way to the North Stand, and sat there watching cricket. That was 1974. I was a little boy, and I couldn’t stay the whole day. But that’s where it started — Wankhede’s famous North Stand, where the college and school students, along with coaches, sat together. The most knowledgeable crowd in the country. That’s where cricket was understood. To say a stand named after me inside Wankhede is a dream would be an understatement. When my mother heard that the stand would be named after me, no one was more proud. She is a cricket encyclopedia. She watches everything. My whole family will be there, along with close friends and the cricketers I played with — from school to university to college to the Ranji Trophy. I know the sweat and blood that went into it. They know it too. My family came …

Ravi Shastri predicts ‘big future’ for Riyan Parag after leading RR to victory in thriller vs GT | Cricket News

Ravi Shastri predicts ‘big future’ for Riyan Parag after leading RR to victory in thriller vs GT | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: Apr 5, 2026 05:56 PM IST Rajasthan Royals prevailed over Gujarat Titans in what was possibly the first real thriller of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season in Ahmedabad on Saturday. RR looked set to cruise to victory for much of the game before they were given an almighty scare by Rashid Khan, captaining GT for the day with Shubman Gill out injured, and Kagiso Rabada. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO However, RR kept their cool, with Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande pulling them over the line in the last two overs. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri was all praise for RR captain Riyan Parag after the match, predicting that the batting all-rounder has a “big future” ahead of him particularly in a leadership role. “Easily one of the best games in @IPL history. Archive this one! @ParagRiyan, you have got B***s of steel and a big future ahead, especially in a leadership role. Outstanding temperament. Well played! IPL Zindabad! @rajasthanroyals #GTvsRR #IPL2026,” said Shastri on X. The 24-year-old Parag had …

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan announces retirement as commentator | Cricket News

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan announces retirement as commentator | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readMar 20, 2026 06:53 PM IST Former India leg-spinner and veteran cricket expert Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on Friday announced his retirement from the BCCI commentary panel, citing lack of opportunities to conduct toss and presentation ceremonies as reasons to end his broadcasting career. Sivaramakrishnan, who created ripples with his big, booming leg-spinners, googlies and and top spins as a 17-year-old in the early 1980s, expressed his frustration in a series of tweets, which suggested deep-seated dissatisfaction with his job. “I am retiring from commentary for BCCI,” Sivaramakrishnan wrote on his ‘X’ handle. “If I have not been used for TOSSES and PRESENTATION for 23 years and new comers come in do pitch report Tosses Presentation even when Shastri was coaching, what do you think could be the reason. “How does a company owning BCCI rights go down? Any guesses. “My retirement is nothing great. But a story of tv production unfolds. Soon you will see the bigger picture,” he tweeted. Also when a user suggested if his skin colour was an issue, Sivaramakrishnan replied, …

‘A lot tighter than it looks’: Ravi Shastri praises India after seven-run semi-final win | Cricket News

‘A lot tighter than it looks’: Ravi Shastri praises India after seven-run semi-final win | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readMar 6, 2026 02:09 PM IST Former India head coach Ravi Shastri commended India’s exciting seven-run win over England in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Shastri lauded Suryakumar Yadav and Co. for getting “absolutely everything” right from high-scoring drama to brilliant fielding efforts and courageous bowling․ The 499 runs scored in the match and the masterly innings played by Sanju Samson (89) and Jacob Bethell (105) aside, according to Shastri, the match was a lot closer than what the eventual 7-run margin of victory suggested․ The Indian fielding, especially two catches by Axar Patel, was the difference between the teams according to Shastri. “It was a lot tighter than many people think․ Yes, it shows seven runs on the board, but for those catches from Axar Patel this could have gone either way․” On India reaching the final – two years after their last World Cup win – Shastri attributed the success to consistent performances through the tournament. “They’ve played some real consistent cricket․ They have got a nice …

‘He’s come of age’: Ravi Shastri heaps praise on Sanju Samson after his 89 off 42 balls leads India into T20 World Cup final | Cricket News

‘He’s come of age’: Ravi Shastri heaps praise on Sanju Samson after his 89 off 42 balls leads India into T20 World Cup final | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readMar 6, 2026 12:45 PM IST Former India coach Ravi Shastri hailed Sanju Samson’s performance in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England on Thursday, stating that the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter had become ‘wiser’ with his shot selection and, as a result, shown more consistency with the bat. The right-hander made 89 off 42 balls in the knockout game, playing a central role in India making a mammoth 253/7 in 20 overs. “I think finally realising and coming to terms with the fact that he needs to be more consistent. He’s got to be wiser with his shot selection, and he’s got to back his strengths.” “The thing with Sanju is he’s got every shot in the book, but lapses in concentration. I think he’s toughened up mentally, and there’s never anyone who’s doubted his skill or talent ever since he made the side.” “What people have been disappointed is that the run of consistency that should have been there by now isn’t there, but he’s come of age now,” Shastri said on the …

‘Every over he bowls is an event’: Ravi Shastri on Jasprit Bumrah ahead of India vs England semi-final | Cricket News

‘Every over he bowls is an event’: Ravi Shastri on Jasprit Bumrah ahead of India vs England semi-final | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readUpdated: Mar 5, 2026 04:04 PM IST Jasprit Bumrah has yet again emerged as India’s bowling spearhead at the T20 World Cup, and the 32-year-old will undoubtedly be the man in focus during the high-octane semi-final match against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Bumrah’s level-headed character and supreme arsenal of skills have helped him gather nine wickets in six matches thus far this edition. And while that isn’t the highest among the Indian bowlers – Varun Chakaravarthy leads with 12 wickets – Bumrah’s jaw-dropping 6.30 economy has constricted oppositions throughout the tournament. Former India coach Ravi Shastri praised Bumrah’s unrivalled skillset and game awareness during the ICC Review Podcast on the eve of the semi-final. “Every over he bowls, you know it’s an event. He doesn’t give too many runs away, but he can crack open a game – just like he did against West Indies,” remarked Shastri. “Those wickets don’t come by fluke. There’s a deep thought process behind each delivery, total awareness of who he is bowling to, and …

‘You had everything; you had timing, you had placement…’: Ravi Shastri showers praise on Sanju Samson | Cricket News

‘You had everything; you had timing, you had placement…’: Ravi Shastri showers praise on Sanju Samson | Cricket News

Published by Webster

5 min readMar 2, 2026 02:29 PM IST With his knock of 50-ball knock of 97 runs against West Indies in what was a virtual quarter-final at Eden Gardens on Sunday night, Sanju Samson ensured that India made its highest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history. Samson’s knock, which was studded with 12 boundaries and four sixes, also was the highest score by any Indian batter in a run chase in the tournament’s history, surpassing Virat Kohli’s record knocks of 82 against Australia at Mohali in 2016 and against Pakistan in 2022. Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has showered praise on Samson’s impactful knock and shared how Sunday’s knock had everything in terms of timing, placement, power as well class. “It is Sanju’s special Samson today, and that innings was special, because just his calmness, his composure, and just the sublime touch right through that innings. You had everything. You had timing, you had placement, you had explosive power, you had class and what I liked best was even with wickets falling …

‘This is a World Cup, do you need this kind of entertainment?’: Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri question laser show in powerplay | Cricket News

‘This is a World Cup, do you need this kind of entertainment?’: Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri question laser show in powerplay | Cricket News

Published by Webster

2 min readMar 1, 2026 10:17 PM IST India cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri were not big fans of the laser show at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the India innings of the Super 8 game against West Indies at the T20 World Cup on Sunday. The India vs West Indies Super 8 game of the T20 World Cup was on a knife’s edge when the teams took a break after the powerplay ended. At this point, the Indian team were 53/2 after having lost their batting stars Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for identical scores of 10 runs each. Sanju Samson had taken upon himself the responsibility of keeping India’s run rate racing with a quick 24 from 13 balls. FOLLOW LIVE: India vs West Indies Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026 In the three-minute break after powerplay, the stadium was plunged into darkness as a laser show played out. The two Indian cricket legends did not appreciate the display that came at a critical time with a spot in the …

Wankhede Stadium to name Level 1 stand that hosts commentators’ boxes, after Ravi Shastri | Cricket News

Wankhede Stadium to name Level 1 stand that hosts commentators’ boxes, after Ravi Shastri | Cricket News

Published by Webster

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to name one of its iconic stands at the Wankhede stadium on former India player-turned-coach and commentator, Ravi Shastri. The MCA wants its Level 1 stand below the Press Box named on the bombastic icon of Mumbai cricket. Apart from Shastri, the MCA Apex Council has decided to honour other notable figures, naming the entryway gates after India player, the late Dilip Sardesai, former India women’s captain Diana Edulji and former Mumbai spinner late Eknath Solkar. While entrance No. 3 will be called the Dilip Sardesai Gate, Gate No. 6 will be named after Eknath Solkar and No. 5 – the Diana Edulji Gate. “We have decided to name a stand on Ravi Shastri. He has made great contributions in cricket in various roles. His name was discussed in Mumbai’s Apex Council and it was decided to go ahead and name the stand on him. The Apex Council has agreed to name gates on former India women’s captain Diana Edulji, late Dilip Sardesai and late Eknath Solkar. The …