Test match, First-Class cricket or T20, the Men in Blue and Gold never fail to entertain us Paltan. An intense week of action, which included a memorable milestone for our Boom Boom, some lusty hits in the CPL 2024, and winning trophies in the Duleep Trophy. Let’s read through...

Another day, another milestone for BOOM BOOM

Jasprit Bumrah produced yet another masterclass with his searing spell (4/50 and 1/24) against Bangladesh in the Chennai Test to help Team India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Boom Boom produced a magical delivery hitting the top of Shadman Islam’s off stump to tick his wicket column.

The Yorker King was back with the old ball to polish off the tail en route to scaling Mount 400 in international cricket. What a cricketer he has been! And again in the second innings when the visitors had an excellent start, it was Bumrah who provided the key breakthrough that led to a collapse.

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An eventful Duleep Trophy

Anshul Kamboj bagged the coveted Player of the Series award in the Duleep Trophy 2024-25 with 16 wickets from five innings for India C. Our boy also finished on top of the wicket-takers list after his five-wicket match-haul against India A in the last match. At just 23 years, Anshul has made the cricketing world sit back and take notice of his exploits with the ball.

Shams Mulani’s gritty 44 from 76 balls weathered the initial storm after India A were down at 36/5. He also picked up three wickets in the match, including India C’s first innings top-scorer Abishek Porel to guide the team to yet another victory. Shams and Tilak Varma capped off an excellent Duleep Trophy 2024-25 campaign helping India A lift the title.

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Romario ‘big-hitting’ Shepherd

It was yet another week of crazy big hitting from our big man Romario Shepherd in the CPL 2024. Shepherd waged a lone battle taking Guyana Amazon Warriors on his broad shoulders after the team was down at 76/7 after 12 overs against Trinbago Knight Riders. The big man smashed four sixes and three fours to remain unbeaten on 51 off just 24 in Guyana’s 148/7.

In the next match, his last-over heroics against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots took his side to a respectable total in the first innings. He carted Ryan John for three sixes and a four to amass 24 runs from the 20th over which proved to be the difference in Guyana’s win.

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Ageless wine

Kieron Pollard continued his insane hitting with four sixes and two fours in his fighting knock of 47 from 37 balls to help Trinbago Knight Riders to a decent total. However, the 37-year-old Pollard’s knock could not save the team as they fell short to Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by six wickets.

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The cool finisher

12 runs to get from six balls, why worry when you have Tim David at the crease? Tim displayed nerves of steel to smack the first two balls out of the park to finish the job. As simple as that! Tim remained unbeaten on 31 off 24 balls to see the Knight Riders through.

In the next match, Tim (25 off 20 balls) accompanied Polly to rebuild the Knight Riders innings against the Falcons with an important partnership but that proved in vain as the Knight Riders ended up on the losing side.

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A captain's effort

After a disappointing start to the Uttarakhand Premier League with only one wicket from the first three matches, the Pithoragarh Hurricanes skipper Akash Madhwal came back strongly picking up four wickets in the next two matches.

Our star pacer bowled his heart out in the Eliminator contest recording impressive figures of 3/20 against Nainital SG Pipers. But his heroics could not help his side cross the line as the Hurricanes lost the contest by four wickets.

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Standing Tall

Red ball or white ball, Dewald Brevis is always on top. Our young gun stood tall with knocks of 49 and 74 in the second unofficial Test match between South Africa A and Sri Lanka A at Benoni. His brisk knock in the second innings helped the Proteas ‘A’ side to set a competitive total for the Lankans, but the visitors got home in an entertaining finish. Though South Africa A lost the series, young Brevis shone bright with his knocks.