Articles by Abhijeet Kulkarni
U-turn leaves coach Babu in the lurch
The reconciliation between Saina Nehwal and P Gopi Chand has left coach Bhaskar Babu with no option but to return to the Sports Authority of India centre in Saroornagar, Hyderabad, and train budding shuttlers.
Updated on Jun 07, 2011 12:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Wanted: A suitable partner for Tendulkar
Throughout the group stage, the Mumbai Indians played a game of musical chairs with the second opener's spot, with as many as five players walking out with Sachin Tendulkar to start the innings. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on May 24, 2011 01:23 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Final spin before sunset
Watson blitzkrieg gives fitting farewell to the Royals skipper; leaves Mumbai's playoff chances hanging by a thread. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Scorecard
Updated on May 21, 2011 02:09 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Royals fight for pride, Indians for a lot more
Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne will face each other in a competitive match for the last time when the Mumbai Indians take on the Rajasthan Royals in their last home game of IPL-4 at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Match box
Updated on May 20, 2011 02:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Foul-mouthed Munaf may face action
An innocuous top edge that sailed to the boundary at best would have attracted a smirk or a word or two from the bowler. But having been hit for a six two balls earlier, Munaf Patel could not hold himself back.
Updated on May 15, 2011 12:53 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Mishra takes apart a hot-headed Munaf
For 19 overs, Deccan Chargers looked like they were only interested in going through the motions. That is when Mumbai Indians speedster Munaf Patel decided to bring some life into the contest with a verbal tirade against Amit Mishra, who had just top edged him to the boundary. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Scorecard
Updated on May 15, 2011 12:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Keen to set the equation right
The charm of cricket is also in the numerous statistics that an ardent fan likes to rattle off at every opportunity. But number crunching isn't the favourite past-time of cricketers or team managements.
Updated on May 14, 2011 03:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Restive Saina gets assertive
During a felicitation function in Mumbai last year, Pullela Gopi Chand called out Saina's name and the ace shuttler quickly wrapped up her interaction and called it a day.
Updated on May 12, 2011 11:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, New Delhi
All is not well between Saina, Gopi Chand
Apparently, all is not well between Saina Nehwal and Pullela Gopi Chand. The world No. 4 has moved away from her mentor and chief national coach, and has been training under senior coach, Bhaskar Babu, since March. And she plans to go with this arrangement till the 2012 London Olympics.
Updated on May 12, 2011 11:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
‘The toughest day of my career’
Sourav Ganguly's name in the starting XI was greeted with the loudest cheers in the Rajiv Gandhi stadium and the crowd booed Jesse Ryder on the boundary line after he replaced the former India skipper, who was shifted to a safer fielding spot after just one ball had been bowled. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on May 11, 2011 01:16 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Return of the old warrior
The hosts again flattered to deceive after a confident start and Pune Warriors India had little trouble in racing to their second consecutive victory with six wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Scorecard | Ganguly back in action
Updated on May 11, 2011 02:08 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Resigned to fate
When a team starts to plan for the next season, with four matches in the current edition to go, it is clear it has conceded defeat. And the body language of the Deccan Chargers makes no effort to hide the fact. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on May 10, 2011 01:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Jonty's motorcycle diaries
On the field, Jonty Rhodes has been teaching the Mumbai Indians' players the tricks to being nimble and to quickly change direction. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on May 03, 2011 11:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Master, pupil sew it for MI
Paul Valthaty had just slapped Andrew Symonds for a straight six and was threatening to cut loose after a sedate start. Symonds bowled a similar delivery again and the opener repeated the stroke only to discover that long on fielder Kieron Pollard had moved a few steps to his left and was in a perfect position to take the catch. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Scorecard
Updated on May 03, 2011 12:48 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
It’s Mumbai vs Mumbaikars
The franchisee owners chose the name Mumbai Indians as it had a pan-India appeal. The composition of the squad too reinforced the Indian connection more than Mumbai.
Updated on May 02, 2011 12:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
‘Finally, I have started to stand up for myself’
Ashwini Ponnappa is one of the hardest hitters on the international women’s badminton scene. But the 21-year-old, with the fastest recorded smash in women’s doubles, was considered to be ‘mild’ off the court, a trait that threatened to affect her career.
Updated on Apr 23, 2011 11:53 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Mumbai change room for better luck
The enormity of the stakes is unmistakable as is the slick and glitzy look. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports
Updated on Apr 20, 2011 12:57 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Valthaty leads charge with bat and ball
Put into bat, Deccan Chargers scored 165 for eight in their Indian Premier League match against Kings XI Punjab today. Scorecard
Updated on Apr 17, 2011 03:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Team can’t win? Blame it on Vastu
The Deccan Chargers victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday has come as a huge relief for the Hyderabad Cricket Association officials as the result has convinced the franchisee owners that the home venue was not jinxed for the team. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 16, 2011 12:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Gilchrist factor playing on Chargers’ mind
The last time the Deccan Chargers took on the Kings XI Punjab at home, Adam Gilchrist put the hosts on course for their first triumph in the opening 17 minutes. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Match box
Updated on Apr 16, 2011 02:16 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Chipli live: A treat to watch
When Bharat Chipli arrived for the Deccan Chargers’ selection trials ahead of IPL-4, he had few expectations, given the lack of form. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Scorecard
Updated on Apr 15, 2011 12:55 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Gone off track, Ishant awaits wickets, India call
The IPL presents a golden opportunity for Sharma to regain his berth in the Indian squad with the national selectors keen on creating a bigger pool of players due to the hectic schedule this year. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 14, 2011 12:29 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Chargers look to turn the corner at home
The voices are not loud yet, but one can feel the tension as the staff prepares the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium for the Chargers' second home game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, with the team showing little promise in the earlier two matches. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 14, 2011 02:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Spinning it his way, like always
On Saturday, Shane Wrane showed he still had the guile and ability to get the best out of a bunch of youngsters with his intelligence and also lead from the front. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 10, 2011 12:02 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Rajasthan make sure the drought endures
The Deccan Chargers management would be splitting their hairs. What else would they have to do to earn a victory, apart from picking a good squad and distributing complimentary passes in bulk to bring in supporters to the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Hyderabad. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 10, 2011 01:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
It's time to establish a fresh identity
Deccan Chargers' coach Darren Lehmann has a lot to worry about since the core of the team he built over the last two years has disintegrated and he has very little time to prepare the squad for the tournament opener. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports. Match box
Updated on Apr 09, 2011 01:51 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Hyderabad
Guru Gary bows out, on a high
Gary Kirsten bid farewell after presiding over the most successful three years in Indian cricket, donning a cloak of invisibility that kept him away from the limelight until the players carried him for a lap of honour after winning their biggest prize — the World Cup. Famous last words
Updated on Apr 06, 2011 01:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
India need support for Zaheer, says Kirsten
When Gary Kirsten took charge, cricket-crazy India was asking a number of questions, and whether the former South Africa opener with little coaching experience could revive a team of stars that had sunk low after the first round exit in the 2007 World Cup and was nursing the scars of the Greg Chappell era.
Updated on Apr 06, 2011 12:35 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Cup trophy given to Indian team original: ICC
Responding to reports that the World Cup trophy presented to Team India was a replica as the original had been seized by the customs department in Mumbai over non-payment of duty, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday said the winners had got the original trophy and the one with the customs was the perpetual Cup that stays with the ICC.
Updated on Apr 05, 2011 01:40 AM IST
Reuters | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai
Master hails the leader
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who stayed away from interacting with the media through the duration of the tournament, was on Monday effusive in his praise of the team for their dedication and determination and called skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni the best captain he had played under. Abhijeet Kulkarni reports.
Updated on Apr 04, 2011 11:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Abhijeet Kulkarni, Mumbai