News / Author / Nilankur Das

Nilankur Das

Nilankur Das, who heads the Delhi sports team, has reported on cricket, football and archery for 16 years.

Articles by Nilankur Das

Data driven: How Mhambrey's work is helping Shami & Co

The bowlers are doing the job on the field but the tactical inputs provided behind the scenes are making a crucial difference

India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey during a training session (AP)

cricket

Updated on Nov 09, 2023 10:00 PM IST

BySanjjeev K Samyal, Nilankur Das, Mumbai, New Delhi

Argentina set off on Messi's quest

For so many years now, the world has waited for the Argentine genius to rise up to the very top. Will 2022 finally see him hold the trophy?

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his goal during the second half of an international friendly (AP)

sports

Published on Nov 16, 2022 06:04 PM IST

ByNilankur Das, New Delhi

Tokyo 2020: How South Korea have become invincible in archery

Every step of the way in every match, the Koreans found something special to pull ahead. In the quarters, India shot a 54 (out of a possible 60) in the first set in reply to Korea's opening of 59.

From left; Gold medal winners South Korea's Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin, and Oh Jinhyek(AP)

sports

Published on Jul 26, 2021 08:46 PM IST

ByNilankur Das, New Delhi

A common aim: Meet champion archers Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das

They’ve just qualified for the Olympics and will be India’s first couple at the Games. She is tenacious and single-minded. He says he finds inspiration in her excellence and ambition.

lifestyle

Updated on Apr 30, 2021 06:36 PM IST

ByNilankur Das

Pink balls, "good" surfaces and the future of Tests

Yet, there is a legitimate issue here. The definition of a "good surface" may simply be a matter of one person's opinion against another's; but the very structure of Test cricket, it's 5-day format, demands a surface that has a reasonable chance to support play for five days.

England Skipper Joe Root during the 2nd day of the 3rd Test Match in the series between India and England at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera in Ahmedabad.((ANI Photo/ECB Twitter))

cricket

Updated on Mar 02, 2021 10:11 AM IST

ByNilankur Das, New Delhi

MS Dhoni: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Bye

Simple Game Over the years, Dhoni showed a brilliant knack of breaking down the game into little fragments and mastering each bit.

cricket

Updated on Aug 16, 2020 06:26 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

Monsoon weddings in extra time

For some it was a welcome break, for others an avoidable speed breaker; for some it gave hope of stretching careers, for others it forced a re-evaluation. But there were also those who used the unscheduled break to get married.

sports

Updated on Aug 14, 2020 08:03 AM IST

Mumbai/New Delhi | ByRutvick Mehta & Nilankur Das

Road to 500 narrows after Stuart Broad

With lesser Tests and round-the-clock short-format cricket, active pacers may not have the legs to reach landmark

Stuart Broad is only the seventh bowler to enter the 500-wicket club in Tests.(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Jul 30, 2020 07:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

India vs New Zealand: No.6 - Unsung hero in the batting order

IND vs NZ: India’s Test history has numerous examples of great contributions from the No. 6, which changed a match’s outcome.

cricket

Updated on Feb 20, 2020 10:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

India seek to lift Tests out of darkness

In the subcontinent, the moment the floodlights come on, dew becomes a factor, no matter the time of the year. It increases manifold during winters

cricket

Updated on Nov 19, 2019 09:30 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: In Indore twilight, teams adjust to pink

Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin turned up for a nets session, trying to get their eyes adjusted to the pink ball in Indore’s floodlit twilight.

cricket

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 08:16 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Indore | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: Indian pacers script another big win for Kohli & Co.

India won by an innings and 130 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series, firmly on course to complete a 12th successive series win at home.

Indian bowler M Shami (R) celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah.(PTI)

cricket

Updated on Nov 17, 2019 08:32 AM IST

Indore | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: ‘Give me a chance and I will make you pay’, says Mayank Agarwal

Quietly and efficiently, Agarwal led India’s counterattack on the field after losing Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli in quick succession in the morning session.

Indian batsman Mayank Agarwal holds up his bat.(PTI)

cricket

Updated on Nov 16, 2019 07:29 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: Mayank Agarwal makes Indore double impact

IND vs BAN: Mayank Agarwal scores second double century in five innings as India end Day 2 on 493/6, lead by 343.

Indian batsman Mayank Agarwal celebrates after scoring a double century.(PTI)

cricket

Updated on Nov 16, 2019 07:33 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Indore | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: Mohammed Shami-led pace attack puts Kohli & co. on top in Indore

India were 86 for one at stumps after Rohit Sharma was caught behind off paceman Abu Jayed for six. Mayank Agarwal, on 37, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 43, put on an unbeaten 72-run stand to see off the day’s play.

Indian bowler M Shami (L) celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim.(PTI)

cricket

Updated on Nov 15, 2019 07:35 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Indore | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: When mind dragged down Virat Kohli

“I have gone through a phase in my career where I had felt that it was the end of the world. I just didn’t know what to do and what to say to anyone, how to speak, how to communicate. To be honest, I couldn’t have said that I am not feeling great mentally and I need to get away from the game. Because you never know how that’s taken,” said Virat Kohli

cricket

Updated on Jul 23, 2020 07:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Indore | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: Onus on visitors to bring parity in Test

After thumping South Africa in the three-Test series, India will aim to maintain their supremacy in ongoing World Test Championship and extend their lead when they take on Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series beginning Thursday at the Holkar Stadium.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Head Coach Ravi Shastri (L) during a practice session.(ANI)

cricket

Updated on Nov 14, 2019 07:35 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Indore | ByNilankur Das

India vs Bangladesh: India test the contours ahead of pink-ball Test

The feedback from India players—Cheteshwar Pujara, MohammedShami, Wriddhiman Saha, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin—who have played a pink-ball game at least once at domestic or club level, revealed a few traits.

cricket

Updated on Nov 13, 2019 09:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Indore | ByNilankur Das

Nadal 2.0 doesn’t want to lose sleep over results

Nadal’s win-loss record in his last five events is now is now 27-1, with titles at the Rome Masters, the French Open, the Montreal what, and the US Open. In the last three years, despite the injuries, Nadal has won five of the 12 Grand Slams

New York: Rafael Nadal, of Spain, poses with the championship trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, to win the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in New York. AP/PTI(AP9_9_2019_000007A)(AP)

sports

Updated on Sep 10, 2019 02:09 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

US Open: Slow court forces Federer to change his game

The DecoTurf courts at Flushing Meadows are resurfaced every year and a court generally speeds up slightly during the tournament because the top layer of acrylic paint, which contains sand, gets worn away as more and more matches are played on it

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, returns a shot to Damir Dzumhur, of Bosnia, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019, in New York.(AP)

sports

Updated on Aug 30, 2019 10:25 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

Prithvi Shaw lucky he is an Indian cricketer

And while delivering the verdict, BCCI considered Shaw’s age (19) and intent (not to enhance performance) and chose to impose a light ban, that too retrospectively.

File image of Prithvi Shaw(Getty Images)

cricket

Updated on Aug 01, 2019 11:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

ICC World Cup 2019: How washouts could affect the semi-final lineup

Keeping rain threats, curtailed overs and revised targets in mind, captains could be forced to field first, even though teams batting first have won eight (57.1%) of the 14 completed matches so far.

cricket

Updated on Jun 14, 2019 08:00 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli and team take guard against jittery South Africa

ICC World Cup 2019: As the powerful limited overs juggernaut of India takes on a cornered South Africa, expect nothing less than yet another extraordinary encounter.

Virat Kohli (captain) of India and Faf du Plessis(c) of South Africa with the series trophy during the 1st One Day International match between South Africa and India held at Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban on the 1st feb 2018 Photo by Ron Gaunt / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

cricket

Updated on Jun 05, 2019 10:39 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNilankur Das

‘Tiger Woods is not that intimidating but he still is a presence’

Defending champion Fowler pointed out that even though Woods had lost a bit of that intimidating presence he had in the late 90s and 2000s, he still stays a cut above.

sports

Updated on Nov 30, 2018 09:01 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Albany (Bahamas) | ByNilankur Das

Tiger Woods back to where his grand revival began

When he played at the 2017 Hero World Challenge here at the Ernie Els-designed Albany Golf Course following a seven-month lay-off after spinal fusion surgery, he was ranked 1199 in the world.

File image of Tiger Woods in action during a tournament.(AP)

sports

Published on Nov 28, 2018 10:40 AM IST

Nassau, Bahamas | ByNilankur Das

India vs West Indies: Umesh Yadav shines as India rout West Indies, win series 2-0

West Indies were wrapped up for 127 in their second essay giving India a meager 72 runs target with Umesh Yadav bagging his maiden 10-wicket match haul.

India beat West Indies by 10 wickets in the second Test in Hyderabad on Sunday.(AFP)

cricket

Updated on Oct 14, 2018 05:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Hyderabad | ByNilankur Das

India vs West Indies: KL Rahul gets team backing despite another failure

Prithvi Shaw, with a century and a solid 53-ball 70 in the two Tests against West Indies at home, now looks the only opener in form. Vijay and Dhawan have been dropped and KL Rahul’s form looks shaky.

cricket

Updated on Oct 13, 2018 09:30 PM IST

Hyderabad | ByNilankur Das

India vs West Indies: Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane put hosts in command

India had wrapped up the West indies’ innings within the first half-hour on Saturday with West Indies managing to add just 16 runs to their overnight total. Roston Chase brought up his fourth Test hundred in the first ball of the second over of the day.

Rishabh Pant (L) and Ajinkya Rahane added put on an unbeaten partnership of 146 runs for the fifth wicket against West Indies.(AP)

cricket

Updated on Oct 13, 2018 05:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Hyderabad | ByNilankur Das

India vs West Indies: Roston Chase fights back for WI but hosts remain on top

Roston Chase remained unbeaten on 98 with seven fours and a six while Devendra Bishoo was batting on 2 for the visitors at stumps on Day 1.

cricket

Updated on Oct 12, 2018 05:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Hyderabad | ByNilankur Das

India vs West Indies: Umesh, Shami included for WI ODIs as India look for World Cup pace options

Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested for the first two ODIs against West Indies. The first game will be played in Guwahati on October 21.

File photo of Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur during a practice session.(PTI)

cricket

Updated on Oct 11, 2018 07:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Hyderabad | ByNilankur Das

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Nilankur Das

Nilankur Das, who heads the Delhi sports team, has reported on cricket, football and archery for 16 years.

The bowlers are doing the job on the field but the tactical inputs provided behind the scenes are making a crucial difference

For so many years now, the world has waited for the Argentine genius to rise up to the very top. Will 2022 finally see him hold the trophy?

Every step of the way in every match, the Koreans found something special to pull ahead. In the quarters, India shot a 54 (out of a possible 60) in the first set in reply to Korea's opening of 59.

They’ve just qualified for the Olympics and will be India’s first couple at the Games. She is tenacious and single-minded. He says he finds inspiration in her excellence and ambition.

Yet, there is a legitimate issue here. The definition of a "good surface" may simply be a matter of one person's opinion against another's; but the very structure of Test cricket, it's 5-day format, demands a surface that has a reasonable chance to support play for five days.

Simple Game Over the years, Dhoni showed a brilliant knack of breaking down the game into little fragments and mastering each bit.

For some it was a welcome break, for others an avoidable speed breaker; for some it gave hope of stretching careers, for others it forced a re-evaluation. But there were also those who used the unscheduled break to get married.

With lesser Tests and round-the-clock short-format cricket, active pacers may not have the legs to reach landmark

IND vs NZ: India’s Test history has numerous examples of great contributions from the No. 6, which changed a match’s outcome.

In the subcontinent, the moment the floodlights come on, dew becomes a factor, no matter the time of the year. It increases manifold during winters

Cheteshwar Pujara, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant and R Ashwin turned up for a nets session, trying to get their eyes adjusted to the pink ball in Indore’s floodlit twilight.

India won by an innings and 130 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series, firmly on course to complete a 12th successive series win at home.

Quietly and efficiently, Agarwal led India’s counterattack on the field after losing Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli in quick succession in the morning session.

IND vs BAN: Mayank Agarwal scores second double century in five innings as India end Day 2 on 493/6, lead by 343.

India were 86 for one at stumps after Rohit Sharma was caught behind off paceman Abu Jayed for six. Mayank Agarwal, on 37, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 43, put on an unbeaten 72-run stand to see off the day’s play.

After thumping South Africa in the three-Test series, India will aim to maintain their supremacy in ongoing World Test Championship and extend their lead when they take on Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series beginning Thursday at the Holkar Stadium.

The feedback from India players—Cheteshwar Pujara, MohammedShami, Wriddhiman Saha, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin—who have played a pink-ball game at least once at domestic or club level, revealed a few traits.

Nadal’s win-loss record in his last five events is now is now 27-1, with titles at the Rome Masters, the French Open, the Montreal what, and the US Open. In the last three years, despite the injuries, Nadal has won five of the 12 Grand Slams

The DecoTurf courts at Flushing Meadows are resurfaced every year and a court generally speeds up slightly during the tournament because the top layer of acrylic paint, which contains sand, gets worn away as more and more matches are played on it

And while delivering the verdict, BCCI considered Shaw’s age (19) and intent (not to enhance performance) and chose to impose a light ban, that too retrospectively.

Keeping rain threats, curtailed overs and revised targets in mind, captains could be forced to field first, even though teams batting first have won eight (57.1%) of the 14 completed matches so far.

ICC World Cup 2019: As the powerful limited overs juggernaut of India takes on a cornered South Africa, expect nothing less than yet another extraordinary encounter.

Defending champion Fowler pointed out that even though Woods had lost a bit of that intimidating presence he had in the late 90s and 2000s, he still stays a cut above.

When he played at the 2017 Hero World Challenge here at the Ernie Els-designed Albany Golf Course following a seven-month lay-off after spinal fusion surgery, he was ranked 1199 in the world.

West Indies were wrapped up for 127 in their second essay giving India a meager 72 runs target with Umesh Yadav bagging his maiden 10-wicket match haul.

Prithvi Shaw, with a century and a solid 53-ball 70 in the two Tests against West Indies at home, now looks the only opener in form. Vijay and Dhawan have been dropped and KL Rahul’s form looks shaky.

India had wrapped up the West indies’ innings within the first half-hour on Saturday with West Indies managing to add just 16 runs to their overnight total. Roston Chase brought up his fourth Test hundred in the first ball of the second over of the day.

Roston Chase remained unbeaten on 98 with seven fours and a six while Devendra Bishoo was batting on 2 for the visitors at stumps on Day 1.

Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested for the first two ODIs against West Indies. The first game will be played in Guwahati on October 21.

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