Priya Raghavan covers cricket and the Indian Premier League from Mumbai. Her reporting runs on numbers as much as on lore: batting-average decay, spin-friendly venues, team payroll math, and the quiet decisions that decide a series before the toss.
Recent work
When Bumrah Sits Down: India's Pace Depth Problem Has No Easy Fix
Jasprit Bumrah's absence consistently reduces India's pace attack from formidable to ordinary, exposing a structural gap that no current seamer has convincingly filled. The Indian Express analysis of why India's pacers struggle without Bumrah sharpens a debate that goes well beyond selection — it reaches into the NCA's developmental priorities and the WTC cycle ahead. This piece examines the tactical and generational dimensions of India's over-reliance on a single bowler.
England vs India: The Fixture That Moves Markets and Makes Careers
England versus India is not merely a bilateral series — it is cricket's most commercially loaded fixture, a test of away-series authority, and a recurring referendum on India's ability to win in seaming conditions. This analysis examines what the rivalry reveals about India's evolving batting philosophy, pace-bowling strategy, and the selection decisions that determine whether a series is won before the toss or lost in the dressing room.
Ashwin's ODI Doubt Lands at the Worst Possible Moment for Cricket's Middle Format
R Ashwin has declared T20s 'here to stay' while expressing pointed uncertainty about ODIs — a statement that carries unusual weight given his retirement vantage point. The comments arrive precisely as the ICC wrestles with scheduling, and as India, the game's dominant commercial engine, prepares for the Champions Trophy. The debate is no longer theoretical: selection decisions, broadcast priorities, and player development pipelines now hang on which side of this argument administrators choose.
India's Lord's Reckoning: A Must-Win Moment That Rewrites Women's Cricket History
India face an undefeated Australia in a decisive Women's T20 World Cup 2026 group stage match at Lord's, where only victory keeps India's semi-final hopes alive. The fixture carries weight far beyond the scoreboard — it is a test of whether this Indian squad, blending youth and experience, can convert potential into performance at the precise moment it matters. Harmanpreet Kaur's side must solve Australia's pace attack while deploying their spin trio intelligently on a Lord's surface that could swing early and dry out late.
Thirteen Sixes and a Legend's Nod: Sooryavanshi's Audacity in Context
Kumar Sangakkara has recalled the moment Rajvardhan Sooryavanshi told him he intended to hit 13 sixes — a declaration that speaks to the fearless instinct driving India's next wave of white-ball batsmen. The Rajasthan Royals' development model, which shaped Yashasvi Jaiswal before Sooryavanshi, sits at the centre of the national selection conversation heading into the next T20 cycle. Whether Royals back rhetoric with playing time is the question the franchise cannot avoid.
Sooryavanshi's Bouncer Problem Exposes Fast-Track Cricket's Technical Gaps
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's continued struggles against bouncers outside off-stump in the India A tri-series reveal technical vulnerabilities that could reshape how Indian cricket evaluates young talent for professional cricket.
GMR Group Completes Hampshire Takeover as Indian Cricket Capital Flows into County Cricket
GMR Group has completed its acquisition of Hampshire County Cricket Club, with Kiran Kumar Grandhi taking over as group chair following Rod Bransgrove's exit. The deal marks full Indian ownership of one of England's historic county clubs and strengthens connections between Indian and English cricket.
Agarkar's Shreyas Iyer Endorsement Signals India's Calculated T20I Reset
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar's description of Shreyas Iyer as 'well-deserving' for India's T20I captaincy reveals the deliberate succession planning behind the leadership change. The appointment marks India's strategic reset in the format ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
Afghanistan's Test Debut Against India Marks Cricket's Greatest Underdog Story
Afghanistan faces India in their first-ever Test match between the nations, representing a historic milestone for cricket's most inspiring rise. The team that has stunned major powers in limited-overs cricket now confronts the ultimate challenge in the format where India remains nearly unbeatable at home.
Gujarat Titans' Championship DNA Meets RCB's Eternal Quest in High-Stakes Encounter
Gujarat Titans face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a clash between championship pedigree and trophy ambition. GT's tactical approach under Hardik Pandya's leadership meets RCB's star-studded lineup anchored by Virat Kohli, with both teams fighting for crucial playoff positioning in the IPL standings.
SRH and RR Navigate Elimination Mathematics in IPL's Tightest Playoff Race
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals enter the IPL 2026 Eliminator with contrasting approaches to high-pressure cricket. The winner-takes-all fixture exposes how modern tournament structures create distinct psychological pressures that separate championship contenders from early exits.
RCB's Steep Chase Against KKR Exposes IPL's Playoff Mathematics
Kolkata Knight Riders posted a commanding 192/4 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, putting immense pressure on the chasing side at 81/1. The match situation exemplifies how individual performances cascade into playoff calculations that reshape the tournament's final phase.
LSG vs RR: Middle-Table Desperation at Ekana Stadium
Tonight's IPL clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals represents more than mid-table positioning — it's a test of whether expensive squad builds can solve tactical weaknesses under pressure.