Sarthak, your writing is absolutely sublime. That passage about the captain's blazer carrying 'Pataudi's audacity, Wadekar's defiance, Ganguly's fire and Kohli's chutzpah' - and describing it as 'less garment and more a cardinal robe' - gave me goosebumps. This is why I love reading your sports writing. You don't just report what happened; you weave stories that make us feel the weight of history and emotion behind every moment. Your metaphors transform cricket from mere statistics into poetry. Exceptional piece as always!
One thing here, you have mentioned how Kohli was Odi and T20 royalty by the time he was appointed the test captain, by the same metric-- Odis in which Gill thrives on have been reduced drastically to such an extent that even tangible performances don't count or have any memory span. So, yeah, he's got to prove his worth in tests.
Gill has an exceptional ODI record. Like you rightly pointed out, he thrives. But, unlike Kohli in 2014, he isn't quite the backbone of the Indian ODI lineup just yet. Should get there. :)
Oh man, what I wouldn't give to befriend my back muscles.
Top writing, Sarthak! 🙌🏽
Thank you, Rohan!
Sarthak, your writing is absolutely sublime. That passage about the captain's blazer carrying 'Pataudi's audacity, Wadekar's defiance, Ganguly's fire and Kohli's chutzpah' - and describing it as 'less garment and more a cardinal robe' - gave me goosebumps. This is why I love reading your sports writing. You don't just report what happened; you weave stories that make us feel the weight of history and emotion behind every moment. Your metaphors transform cricket from mere statistics into poetry. Exceptional piece as always!
Thank you so much for the kind words, man. Means a lot that the essays resonate :)
Sarthak, your writing keeps even a ‘don’t care about cricket’ person like me hooked.
And that means so much to me, Binu :) You're too kind with your compliments. I'm so glad you like the essays.
Very nicely written Sarthak. Well researched as well.
Thank you, Sourabh! :)
One thing here, you have mentioned how Kohli was Odi and T20 royalty by the time he was appointed the test captain, by the same metric-- Odis in which Gill thrives on have been reduced drastically to such an extent that even tangible performances don't count or have any memory span. So, yeah, he's got to prove his worth in tests.
Gill has an exceptional ODI record. Like you rightly pointed out, he thrives. But, unlike Kohli in 2014, he isn't quite the backbone of the Indian ODI lineup just yet. Should get there. :)
Great piece Sarthak. Excited and nervous to see Gill's captaincy unfold in this upcoming tour.
Thank you, Abhishek! And indeed. Exciting times.
To write with such beauty and authority must feel like a superpower. Isn't it ?
Haha thank you, Suryansh!
This writer needs to be saved at all costs. Just like Test cricket.
Saved from the "My11 Circle Mei Aaja" jingle, 100%
I think I have reached peak detachment from socials and pop culture. I don't even know this jingle
Then you should preserve your sanity and stay as far away as possible from the My11 circle and Marie ads 😂