N Ananthanarayanan has spent almost three decades with news agencies and newspapers, reporting domestic and international sport. He has a passion for writing on cricket and athletics.
Articles by N Ananthanarayanan
Winning streak: PT Usha on running, the Rajya Sabha and a life lived for sport
As India’s fastest woman, she won a slew of medals across Asia. Then she began to groom a new generation. Now a political role beckons. But sport will always be her life, says Usha, 58.
Updated on Jul 15, 2022 06:13 PM IST
Devon Allen and playing a double role in professional sport
The US 110m hurdles contender at this month's world athletics championships in Eugene, Oregon is also a wide receiver with NFL's Eagles. Few attempts to combine different sports succeed due to the physical toll it can take.
Published on Jul 04, 2022 06:24 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Hari Chand: Barefoot, braveheart and India’s greatest distance runner
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, he ran a national record 28:48.72 in 10,000m. Though an eighth-place finish didn’t help qualify for the final, his mark stood for almost 33 years.
Updated on Jun 13, 2022 08:58 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Chopra calm as he builds up to end a 10-month wait
India’s Olympic javelin champion will compete on June 14 for the first time since his Tokyo high on August 7, 2021
Published on May 21, 2022 10:01 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Andrew Symonds, the free-spirited Aussie all-rounder, dies in car crash
Member of the victorious World Cup teams of 2003 and 2007, he will be remembered for his impact performances, and in India for the 2007-08 Monkeygate controversy
Published on May 15, 2022 07:45 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
‘Maitanam’ is a toe dip into Kerala’s passion for football
The documentary on Fifa+ attempts to strike the right notes but neither Vijayan nor Pappachan get a word in.
Published on May 05, 2022 10:25 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, Kolkata
When cricket took a beating over a match-fixing saga
New Delhi: The turn of the millennium evoked fears of the Y2k bug hitting computers worldwide
Updated on Apr 08, 2022 11:55 PM IST
IPL 2022: For KL Rahul, a season of test and opportunity
KL Rahul's white-ball credentials and wicket-keeping are settled and he will be the most in focus as leader of IPL newcomers Lucknow Super Giants.
Published on Mar 22, 2022 05:59 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Turnaround came from finding the missing link: Anirban Lahiri
India’s top golfer is happy to regain his best game after the second-place finish at the Players Championship, but wishes he had birdied the final hole and forced a playoff with one-shot winner Cameron Smith
Published on Mar 16, 2022 11:24 PM IST
The world watches as India’s Anirban Lahiri falls one short
The Pune-born, Florida-based player was at the cusp of what would have been the greatest achievement by an Indian golfer
Published on Mar 15, 2022 10:59 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Material, mental tweaks as leader Lahiri lights up Players Championship
Within a round of ending a seven-year itch, the Indian golfer led by one shot after the third round in the unofficial fifth Major
Published on Mar 14, 2022 11:04 PM IST
Ronaldo shines solo, again
The hat-trick against Spurs is a measure of how much he can bend a game to his will.
Updated on Mar 13, 2022 06:50 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
With 10,000 runs, Gavaskar enters the history books
Dubbed the Indian “run machine” and the original “little master” Sunil Gavaskar elevated the country’s cricket with his batting proficiency and professionalism against the greatest of opponents, succeeding in the pre-helmet era against the West Indies fast bowlers of the 1970s and 1980s and the great Australian sides spearheaded by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson
Published on Mar 11, 2022 11:52 PM IST
Virat Kohli, filling Sachin Tendulkar-sized shoes
Sachin Tendulkar defined Indian cricket, and by extension, the global game. Virat Kohli has followed in that tradition to retain the primacy of Test cricket and keep pace with his illustrious predecessor
Published on Mar 03, 2022 12:33 AM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Post-Kohli syndrome: hushed & subdued India
In the first ODI series after Kohli was removed as India captain, the change in the team's body language and approach was stark.
Updated on Jan 25, 2022 10:31 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Ross Taylor's goodbye and the importance of on-field farewells
New Zealand's record run-getter ended a long career with an emotional win over Bangladesh; the stake-holders of Indian cricket though never seem to give much thought to a traditional farewell for their players.
Updated on Jan 11, 2022 08:53 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Past lessons in South Africa for India, Kohli and Dravid to learn from
India, who have won only three Tests in South Africa over seven previous tours, are searching for their maiden Test series win in the country.
_1639935696113_1639935712818.jpg "India Test skipper Virat Kohli(Getty Images)")
Published on Dec 19, 2021 11:13 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
What does the future hold for New Zealand bowling hero Ajaz Patel?
The Kiwi left-arm spinner has bucked a trend in his country of pace heroes. While cricketing stardom is assured, will Ajaz build on his historic feat in the Mumbai Test?
Published on Dec 14, 2021 06:28 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
After Test highs, a quiet exit for coach Shastri
The former India skipper, who joined the team as director in 2014, took the team to great heights in Test cricket and formed a strong bond with skipper Virat Kohli.
Updated on Nov 09, 2021 04:39 AM IST
Antonio Conte’s second coming holds a Harry Kane-sized promise
The Italian who has won silverware with pretty much every club promises to spice up the Premier League battle of world class managers after taking over at Tottenham Hotspur.
Published on Nov 03, 2021 09:51 PM IST
David Warner’s battle reflects Australia's concerns as they face Sri Lanka
The explosive opener has struggled to shake off his woeful form and hopes he can find some rhythm in a tricky contest against a hard-working Sri Lankan side.
Published on Oct 27, 2021 09:40 PM IST
Why IPL feels like a billion dollars and more
When Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG splurged Rs. 7,090 crore (approximately $947 million) - almost a billion dollars - to acquire the Lucknow franchise on Monday, it wasn’t just about how far IPL has come as a financial behemoth.
Published on Oct 26, 2021 11:47 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Succession: controversy and the Indian cricket captain
The most important post in Indian sport comes with its share of drama, power struggles and complex relationships.
Published on Oct 14, 2021 08:46 PM IST
Rasesh MandaniN Ananthanarayanan
Emotional Virat Kohli signals end of a so-near-yet-so-far RCB era
His nine-year tenure as IPL skipper ended without a title after his team was eliminated by KKR in a low-scoring Eliminator in Sharjah.
Published on Oct 12, 2021 09:34 PM IST
The David Warner fade out marks IPL reality, big career dip
The explosive Aussie opener seemed to have played his last IPL game this season after Sunrisers Hyderabad dropped him against Rajasthan Royals.
Updated on Sep 29, 2021 05:09 PM IST
Ashwin returns to IPL, primed for bigger prize ahead
It all started in the IPL for Ashwin, now one of Test cricket's greatest bowlers. Now it's again the platform from where he hopes to get into the World Cup.
Updated on Sep 18, 2021 07:47 AM IST
From Rafiq to Boucher, racism refuses to leave cricket alone
Although the international body, ICC, issues warnings against racist behaviour by fans at global events, institutions and individuals continue to come under fire with steps against racism often seen as inadequate at a social level.
Published on Aug 25, 2021 12:00 PM IST
Tokyo 2020: The silence and the screams
With no spectators, who make the quadrennial event feel like no other sporting event in the world, some of the great performances across a fortnight had to make do with shrieks of delight or tears of joy or dismay from the athletes themselves.
Updated on Aug 08, 2021 10:55 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
Tokyo 2020: Golfer Aditi Ashok raises hope for a surprise medal
The 23-year-old shot a bogey-free five-under 66 on Thursday morning at Kawagoe to maintain stay in a tie for second place she her four-under 67 in the first round.
Published on Aug 05, 2021 09:52 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi
India vs England: Bumrah returns to Trent Bridge with fresh targets to meet
India vs England: The last time Jasprit Bumrah played a Test match at Trent Bridge, the India pacer picked up a five-wicket-haul.
Published on Aug 03, 2021 09:03 PM IST
N Ananthanarayanan, New Delhi