Authors - EssentiallySports

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Our Authors: The Voices of EssentiallySports

At EssentiallySports, our content comes to life through the passion and expertise of our authors. We're a close-knit team, united by a combined love for storytelling and sports – a passion that’s been at the heart of our company, starting right from our founders. Our writers aren't just reporting; they're bringing unique insights, deep analysis, and vibrant narratives to the sports world.

What Our Authors Cover Best

Our diverse team of writers thrive in delivering exclusive interviews, breaking news, and in-depth analysis across an extensive array of domains, including NBA, NFL, NASCAR, UFC, Golf, College Football, WNBA and all the major American leagues. They craft pieces that go beyond the headlines, offering perspectives designed to enhance your fan experience, with factual accuracy always at the forefront.

Connect with Our Authors

We believe in transparency and fostering connections. To learn more about our individual authors, their backgrounds, and their specific areas of focus, please explore their individual author pages. You can often connect with them directly on their social media channels, linked from their profiles.

Contact

For general inquiries, or if you wish to reach our editorial team, please email us at editorial@essentiallysports.com.

Our Writers

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Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the NASCAR desk. With eight years in motorsports journalism, he’s interviewed top names from F1’s Pierre Gasly to Moto2’s Tony Arbolino. That range of access has cemented his reputation as a trusted voice among gearheads. He’s also unafraid to challenge officiating calls, most recently defending Joey Logano after the DYL penalty in Phoenix.

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Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist who has reported on five NBA seasons and two Olympics at EssentiallySports. As part of the Journalistic Excellence Program at ES, he continues to refine his hard reporting with grounded storytelling rooted in fan culture. Trusted for real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments, he is the NBA Matchday Newsdesk’s go-to reporter. An OKC-loyal since the Seattle Supersonics days, he hopes to one day sit down for an exclusive with Russell Westbrook.

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Senior UFC Writer Himanga Mahanta is a jack of all trades at EssentiallySports. Breaking News, Beat Reports, Exclusive reports, Opinion columns - you name it, and he’s done it. For almost three years, Himanga has been an active contributor in the combat team, leading the Live Coverage desk. An ardent Conor McGregor fan, he’s also done a fair share of beat reporting on Joe Rogan. When he’s not looking for the next trendsetting MMA story, he’s a soccer fanatic cheering on his favorite team, Chelsea.

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Abhishek Mishra is a senior soccer specialist at EssentiallySports. He primarily focuses on the USWNT beat, with broader coverage spanning the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, MLS, and NWSL. While he specializes in injury reports, his work also explores broader themes like equal pay. A former collegiate player, Abhishek brings firsthand insight to the pitch, making him a trusted voice among soccer fans at every level.

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Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways. Vatsal’s coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win captured both the emotional weight of her victory and the context of her comeback. He draws on his experience as a recreational player to add a courtside lens to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center.

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Sagnik Bagchi is a senior writer at EssentiallySports, where he covers collegiate and Olympic sports through opinion-led storytelling. His volleyball reporting explores program shifts and leadership transitions—such as Harper Murray’s evolving role and John Cook’s candid retirement reflections at Nebraska. With nearly four years of experience, Sagnik has contributed across key beats from the Paris 2024 Newsbreak team to behind-the-scenes NHL Playoff coverage. His versatility earned him a place in the ES Journalistic Excellence Program. He previously covered bodybuilding, earning a shoutout from IFBB Pro Greg Doucette for his reporting.

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Sudeep Sinha is a senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Since his joining in early 2023, Sudeep has penned over 2800 articles, many of which have featured in Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports. An ardent supporter of Canelo Alvarez, Sudeep has expertly covered pivotal moments in boxing, from USA Boxing’s struggles at the 2024 Paris Olympics to Ryan Garcia’s PED controversy. When not writing, he finds solace in reading, cycling, and debating with fellow fans on boxing subreddits.

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Rohan Singh Bhaunt brings over a decade of basketball experience to his role as Senior NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. A former point guard and video educator with a 62K-strong YouTube following, Rohan channels his high basketball IQ into detailed play-by-play analysis. His background helps demystify complex strategies, blending a player’s lens with sharp editorial clarity. He continues to foster a community of active players through practical breakdowns and easy-to-adopt playing tips.

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Suryakant Das is a Senior Writer manning the UFC Live Coverage Desk at EssentiallySports. He has over two years of experience writing about MMA and is a standout in the in-house ES Journalistic Excellence Program. His expertise in the field is on display in the diverse range of topics he covers - real-time updates from live events, pre-fight and post-fight interviews, and even the hot takes from the Joe Rogan Experience. His work has received recognition from UFC media figure Nina Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, among others.

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Soheli Tarafdar is our Lead College Football writer who handles the ES Marquee Saturdays Live Newscenter. She decodes locker room rumors, cryptic posts, and behind-the-scenes drama in the college football world. A big believer of the Joel Klatt school, she strongly endorses Klatt’s assertion that ‘you either love football or you love being a football player. Soheli is currently a part of the ES Journalistic Excellence Program where an elite team of writers are trained on the UUU (Unique, Unusual and Untold) aspects of writing in new-age journalism.

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Pritha Debroy is a basketball journalist on EssentiallySports’ Lifestyle Desk, where she covers the off-court lives of both active and retired NBA stars. Her reporting spans athlete-owned ventures and fashion narratives that shape public perception. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she brings cultural insight and editorial clarity to stories beyond the hardwood.

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Jaideep R Unnithan is a distinguished senior boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Since joining in October 2022, he has penned over 2,600 articles. A passionate chronicler of day-to-day developments from inside and outside the ring, Jaideep nurtures his deep love for the sport by often revisiting old Alexis Argüello and Marvin Hagler bouts. However, he is equally invested in young boxers like Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez, David Benavidez, and Dmitry Bivol, if you consider Bivol younger, which he does. He is also fascinated by Naoya Inoue, who, according to him, has that old-school warrior mentality. Aside from his writing, Jaideep loves to spend his leisure time reading, an activity that comes in handy when he dons the hat of a storyteller for ES.

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Tanushree Bhowmick is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports with over five years of experience in sports and lifestyle journalism. Having covered UFC and MMA extensively, she now brings that lens to Olympic wrestling—highlighting how traditional combat disciplines echo through modern fighting. With a keen eye for technique and storytelling, her work explores how champions are shaped across both worlds.

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Maleehah Shakeel is our Senior Olympic Sports Writer. From the World Athletics Championships 2023 to the Paris Olympics and the Winter Cup 2025, Maleehah has covered the sport's biggest moments. Her Live Blog on Jordan Chiles’ medal revocation became a go-to hub for fans to learn every development. Beyond writing, Maleehah is always reading up on fans' psyche, to finetune her craft. As part of EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, Maleehah brings a strong editorial voice that focuses on the people, pressure, and turning points behind every headline.

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Ashmit Kumar is a Senior basketball Writer at EssentiallySports with three years of experience. A Journalism graduate, he has been an integral part of the ES NBA coverage’s live trends desk for the past two seasons. His portfolio also includes deep dives into player endorsements, shoe deals and Team USA’s Paris 2024 gold, where he collaborated with beat writers across sports as part of our 24/7 Olympics coverage. Now part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, Ashmit combines reporting depth with a sharp editorial voice, bringing clarity and balance to a fast-evolving league.

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Diptarko Paul is a Senior Writer at EssentiallySports who brings a sharp focus to standout performances in often-overlooked Olympic sports. A State Championship swimming qualifier, he blends 8 years of content creation with insightful commentary and immersive storytelling. From shaping editorial voices at Yahoo India to driving Coinbase’s content strategy, his career spans digital media, esports ecosystems, and American sports coverage. He served as a key member of the Paris Olympics trends desk and earned a spot in the company’s prestigious Journalistic Excellence Program, where he sharpens his reporting under the mentorship of industry veterans.

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Disita Sikdar is our Senior Olympic Sports Writer, specializing in gymnastics and wrestling. She covered the 2024 Summer Olympics, when a team of ES journalists reported live from Paris. Her work includes a writeup on an ES Exclusive of Simone Biles’ coach and choreographer. Certified through EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program and a co-author of a literary anthology, she brings a unique narrative edge to her sports journalism. Currently pursuing a Master's in Literature, Disita is drawn to the adrenaline of track and field and the split-second moments that make history.

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Prasun Chakrabarty is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports. He has provided live coverage of key events like the World Athletics Indoor Championships and the U.S.

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Khosalu Puro is our primetime college football writer whose work spans Locker Room buzz to End Zone drama. After spending four years as a writer with a regional publication, Puro has been the face of ES Marquee Saturdays for two seasons. She also represents the desk of CFB Pro Writer Program, designed to engage with fan creators. A Master’s Degree holder in journalism from a top university program, Puro’s firsthand experience with NFL fan communities helped her build focused college football cohorts.

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Sumedha Mukherjee is a senior NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports, covering both the Cup and Xfinity Series with a keen focus on race-day strategy. A recipient of the 2023–24 Best Motorsports Writer award at EssentiallySports, she blends deep research with real-time instincts—like flagging Joey Logano’s fuel window gamble at Nashville, recalling his identical play at the 2019 South Point 400. As part of the Journalistic Excellence Program, Sumedha delivers sharp, real-time analysis tailored for today’s digital-first NASCAR fan.

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Ripunjay Gaba, a tennis enthusiast-turned-journalist at EssentiallySports, found his way from freelance sports journalism to the publishing house in ES. Here, his writing canvas encompasses the game specifics while finding poetic resonance in covering major sporting events. Ripunjay, a perpetual upgrader, uses avid reading to bring varied flavor to his Tennis reporting. From the Netflix Documentary Break Point to the various Tennis podcasts, his coverage stays diverse. Beyond the world of articles, he extends this commitment to physical well-being with regular workouts, infusing dynamism into both the narratives he crafts and the life he lives. In Ripunjay's world, every keystroke is a step closer to unraveling the essence of tennis.

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Rahul Goutam Hoom is a senior NHL correspondent at EssentiallySports with nearly three years of experience covering the league. He holds a Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism and specializes in delivering sharp, accessible coverage to hockey audiences across North America. A consistent voice at the ES Trends Desk, Rahul brought a beat reporter’s clarity and a fan’s lens to the Florida Panthers’ season, including standout reporting on Matthew Tkachuk’s humorous rule breach during a regular-season game. His cross-sport versatility extends to equestrian coverage as well, with contributions to the ES Horse Racing Desk’s Kentucky Derby reporting.

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Yashika Dutta covers NCAA basketball at EssentiallySports, bringing two years of reporting experience to the ES Basketball Newsdesk. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she delivers features on the Big Ten Conference and high-stakes March Madness games that channel the intensity of college hoops. A former player herself, Yashika’s stories reflect an on-court understanding that has earned engagement from UConn coaches and Olympian Rori Dunk.

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Parnab Bhattacharya is a Beat Writer at EssentiallySports in the Golf Division. With four years of writing experience, he is now exploring his deep-rooted love for the gentleman's sport. Parnab's area of expertise is his predictive and perspective pieces, where he explores all things golf, diving deep into the whys and whats behind players' and Tours' moves in the sport, and unflinchingly voicing his take. His love for sports extends beyond the golf course. As a Madridista at heart, he swears by Saint Iker's reflexes and CR7's predatory instinct, when not lost in the pages of a Dostoevsky novel or exploring global cinemas.

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Shivangi Agrawal is our Senior NFL Writer who represents the Visual Storytelling Desk at EssentiallySports. She is constantly on the lookout for digital narratives during NFL Sundays and has often crafted tailor-made angles for the underserved audience. With seven years of television and digital experience as Senior Copy Editor at Network 18, Shivangi believes stories that blend traditional football experiences with personalized feel will be the way forward for modern-day audiences.

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Sagnik Ghosh is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports. His story of becoming an NFL writer is as interesting as his story of becoming an MMA practitioner. Coming from such a sport where athletes look to knock the brain cells off each other for a living, Sagnik resonates with the aggression that American Football offers.