#Review: Running Between the Wickets by Devendra Prabhudesai

Running Between the Wickets attempts something bold—it condenses nearly a century of Indian cricket, from the team’s debut in 1932 to the emotionally charged season of 2024–25, into a single narrative arc. The book thrives on drama: stirring comebacks, heartbreaking defeats, and uncanny echoes of history. The framing itself is clever—the 22-yard strip is both a literal pitch and a metaphorical stage for India’s changing fortunes.

What I particularly enjoyed was the way it doesn’t just catalogue matches but brings out the human side of cricket. The description of Rohit Sharma’s final moment, for instance, carries genuine poignancy, tying the personal with the national memory of the sport. Similarly, glimpses of Rahul Dravid’s rare display of emotion remind us that cricket is more than statistics—it is a lived story of resilience, loss, and triumph.

That said, the narrative sometimes feels weighed down by its sweeping scope. The attempt to cover so many decades inevitably means certain eras and players are given less depth than they deserve. Some passages move so quickly that they read more like highlights than analysis.

Still, the book captures the rollercoaster essence of Indian cricket. For fans who crave history infused with drama and déjà vu, this is a rewarding read.

Find this book here.