Tushar Bhaduri

Big sporting events are promoted on the back of superstars known throughout the world. But these tournaments develop narratives of their own, creating their own stories around individuals who may not be well known before.

Hardly anyone would have batted an eyelid if Team India had used the last two days of the Kanpur Test for some batting practice, even shuffling the order to provide time in the middle to those in need or short of runs.

But while teams like South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies seem to have taken a step forward, India seem to have stagnated – which effectively implies going backwards when everyone else is improving.

India doesn’t have much time to lick their wounds before flying to Australia to attempt a third consecutive series win there. If anyone attempts a post-mortem of their debacle against the Kiwis, hubris would be counted as one of the big factors.

The hosts’ frailties were laid bare as batsmen fell to both pace and spin, while Kiwi tweakers outshone legendary names. Indian cricket has had its time in the sun. But is time for a regeneration.

It's for a reason that football is the most passionately-followed and debated sport in the world.

Shami, at his fittest, can bowl at a quick enough pace and gets skiddy bounce from a good length, virtues that are useful on Australian pitches.

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In cricket, the fortunes of India and Australia have flipped on a dime. Less than a month ago, the Men in Blue didn't know what hit them as they tried to come to terms with the 0-3 home series whitewash against New Zealand.

Football, tennis, motorsport, golf and even cricket, the Saudi ruling family has been extending its footprint across the sporting world, mainly through the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Since the 2022 World Cup, some of the most high-profile footballers in the world – such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez – have moved to the Saudi professional league for huge transfer fees and eye-catching salaries.