Based in Mumbai, Devendra Pandey is a Ramnath Goenka Award winner who works with the sports desk as a Deputy Associate Editor. A failed cricketer, who tried hard to become one from the many that throng Mumbai's maidans, he has been working as a sports journalist for the past 17 years. He writes extensively on cricket and keeps a close watch on the behind-the-scenes happenings in cricket administration in the country. He has covered multiple World Cups and major cricketing events around the globe.

January 18, 2009 14:47 IST
After three final appearances in four years,Kaif speaks to our correspondent about UPs rise despite the obstacles on the way. Excerpts:
Sun, Jan 18, 2009
January 18, 2009 14:46 IST
No infrastructure,no tradition,lots of politics,but Uttar Pradesh are the most consistent team in domestic cricket of late.
Sun, Jan 18, 2009January 17, 2009 00:12 IST
It's a maidan incentive that old-school coaches have had in place for years.
Sat, Jan 17, 2009January 17, 2009 00:04 IST
The beer bottles in the dressing room got extra chilled as the last UP pair delayed the inevitable.
Sat, Jan 17, 2009January 16, 2009 01:58 IST
The Mumbai dressing room warmed up for the big party on Friday with a couple of mini-celebrations at the end of Day Four....
Fri, Jan 16, 2009January 16, 2009 01:57 IST
Remembering batting records have always been big in Mumbai be it a man in the maidan or the Master himself,memorable feats sit conveniently on their finger tips...
Fri, Jan 16, 2009January 15, 2009 00:03 IST
There is an intriguing statistic connected to UPs amazing run to the Ranji final. Despite overhauling several first-innings scores this season...
Thu, Jan 15, 2009January 15, 2009 00:01 IST
Before the Ranji Trophy semi-final,Zaheer Khan was enjoying a well-deserved international break. All I did during that time was catch up on sleep, he says about the brief time away from the game...
Thu, Jan 15, 2009January 14, 2009 23:21 IST
The trademark,goofy smile on Praveen Kumars face has gone missing. After bowling 34 wicketless overs in Mumbais first innings...
Wed, Jan 14, 2009January 14, 2009 23:13 IST
When Uttar Pradesh opener Shivakant Shukla went out to bat on Tuesday after Mumbai were restricted to a total of 402,the 22-year-old southpaw would not...
Wed, Jan 14, 2009January 13, 2009 03:36 IST
Rohit Sharma and Abhishek Nayar go back a long way Sharma,a die-hard car freak,has often had Nayar as his navigator during long drives...
Tue, Jan 13, 2009January 13, 2009 01:54 IST
HE was in the middle of a dream spell,having just sent back Mumbai openers Wasim Jaffer and Vinayak Samant. But then,18-year-old UP paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar suddenly froze...
Tue, Jan 13, 2009January 12, 2009 00:25 IST
The team meeting was about to commence in the UP dressing room but bowling coach Ashish Winston Zaidi was still busy arranging refreshments.
Mon, Jan 12, 2009January 12, 2009 00:22 IST
Hyderabad is second home to Mumbais middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma. His grandfather hails from Andhra Pradesh and his mother tongue is Telugu...
Mon, Jan 12, 2009January 12, 2009 00:20 IST
The story goes that after the nail-biting final moments of their Ranji Trophy semi-final at Nagpur,the Uttar Pradesh team decided to have an impromptu group photo...
Mon, Jan 12, 2009January 10, 2009 00:03 IST
Though he has recovered fully,things arent getting any easier for RP Singh his first assignment after the lay-off will be the Ranji final...
Sat, Jan 10, 2009January 09, 2009 22:51 IST
Once one of Team Indias leading bowlers,Laxmipathy Balaji was out of cricket for three years due to a stress fracture...
Fri, Jan 09, 2009January 09, 2009 22:41 IST
If Mohammad Kaif,with his awkward stance and the jerky backlift is chalk,Wasim Jaffers languid grace at the crease fame is cheese....
Fri, Jan 09, 2009January 08, 2009 02:44 IST
As Uttar Pradesh approached Tamil Nadus first-innings total of 445,the dressing room was expectedly tense.
Thu, Jan 08, 2009January 07, 2009 00:43 IST
When two unknown players come to the pitch with the sole intention of sticking around...
Wed, Jan 07, 2009January 06, 2009 00:30 IST
Praveen Kumar isnt the typical tearaway pacer,one who gives batsmen sweaty palms.
Tue, Jan 06, 2009January 06, 2009 00:26 IST
If there was contest for the man with the longest face in the subdued UP dressing room...
Tue, Jan 06, 2009January 05, 2009 00:35 IST
When the Ranji season kicked off in the first week of November,two batsmen instantly grabbed the headlines.
Mon, Jan 05, 2009



