Indian cricket Odyssey :A view from the Third eye of a fan

 Title: The Silent Epidemic: How Betting is Tarnishing Cricket’s Legacy in India Dr B.S.Chakravarthy  Introduction: A Historical Perspective on Gambling in India Gambling in India has long been a contentious issue, governed by outdated laws and varying state regulations. The Public Gambling Act of 1867, a colonial-era law, prohibits running or managing public gambling houses, effectively outlawing most forms of betting on games of chance. However, this law, crafted in a pre-digital era, fails to address modern forms of gambling, particularly online betting. States like Sikkim and Goa have embraced regulated gambling, including casinos and online platforms, while others, such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, enforce strict bans. Maharashtra, under the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887, also prohibits most gambling activities, with exceptions for skill-based games. The distinction between games of skill (e.g., rummy, poker, or fantasy sports  and games of...

Shubman Gill being appointed as India’s Test captain feels more like a decision made out of compulsion than conviction. While Gill is undoubtedly a stylish batter with potential, his test record—especially overseas—is underwhelming. In his entire career so far, he has managed just one fifty outside Asia. His average is 26. His struggle against the moving ball is well-known, and most of his runs have come on batting-friendly pitches at home. Here, his average is 46.  The selectors seem to have based their choice on his white-ball success and the perception that he’s a long-term prospect. It’s true that he has shown temperament and maturity in ODIs and the IPL, but Test cricket in places like England or South Africa is a different ball game. They probably wanted a young player with pedigree to groom for the future.  Rishabh Pant, who has been India’s best Test batter over the last three years, was an option. He has scored crucial hundreds in Australia, England, and South Africa...