Shows
Sledging RoomDid R Ashwin time his retirement right? BGT spiced up ahead of Boxing Day | Sledging Room S2 Ep 68Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to announce his retirement shocked the cricketing world. Rumors began circulating on Day 5 of the Gabba Test when Ashwin was seen sharing a hug with Virat Kohli in the dressing room. He then made his way to the post-match press conference alongside Rohit Sharma, where he quickly announced his retirement before leaving. While many were taken aback by the announcement, it appears that Ashwin had carefully considered his decision. The spinner is set to return home on Thursday. At 38, when the Test season began with the home series against Bangladesh – where he earned the Play...2024-12-1836 min
Sledging RoomRohit Sharma's blunders and India's limp loss in pink-ball Test vs Australia | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 67Not many expected India to suffer a limp loss like they did in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After hammering Australia by 295 runs in Perth under Jasprit Bumrah's captaincy, India were humbled by 10 wickets in Adelaide. India conceded the momentum after a one-sided defeat in the pink-ball Test. Questions have been asked about Rohit Sharma's captaincy and his fading returns with the bat. Rohit looked uninspiring in Adelaide and managed just 9 runs with the bat after opting the No. 6 slot. Rohit made questionable calls and lacked conviction with his bowling and fielding changes. Is...2024-12-0946 min
Sledging RoomBGT: Rift in Australian camp? India land stinging Perth blow | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 64India landed a stinging first punch in Perth, beginning the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy on a high. India hammered Australia by 295 runs, handing the hosts their first-ever loss at the Optus Stadium in Perth.Not many expected India to dominate the first Test like they did. Did you? It was a masterclass from Jasprit Bumrah and his men, especially after they were rolled over for 150 in the first innings.Jasprit Bumrah was unplayable with the red Kookaburra in Perth. At his very best, he made life difficult for the Australian batters. Are they scared of facing Bumrah...2024-11-2632 min
Sledging RoomIPL auction prediction: Will Rishabh Pant lead Project Punjab in 2025? | Sledging Room, S02, Ep 63As we gear up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, there’s another major cricket event over the weekend. It’s time for the IPL mega auction. The two-day bidding wars will be held in Jeddah and it will clash with Days 3 and 4 of the first Test between Australia and India. First things first, should the cricket have administrators avoided this clash? Well, money matters! There are 12 players across two marque sets. Rishabh Pant is in the news after stoking controversy over the way he left Delhi Capitals. In a tweet, he said the decision to leave the fran...2024-11-2148 min
Sledging RoomBorder-Gavaskar Trophy: Can weakened India breach Perth fortress | Sledging Room, Ep S02, Ep 62The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is almost here! Aren’t you excited? India have been sensational in their last two tours of Australia. However, with a team in transition that has a few injury and availability concerns, it seems that India are on the back foot early in the series. India will not have captain Rohit Sharma, who is on paternity leave, and star batter Shubman Gill, who fractured his thumb during training, for the Perth Test. Mohammed Shami’s absence was already a big loss and India will not have two of their best batters, adding pressure on coach Gaut...2024-11-1844 min
Sledging RoomThe fiery Gautam Gambhir press conference and Sanjay Manjrekar's tweet | Sledging Room, S02, Ep 61Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Gautam Gambhir, saying he 'does not have the right demeanour' to speak to the media after the head coach addressed a press conference in Mumbai before his departure to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In a strongly-worded social media post, Manjrekar urged the Indian cricket board to keep Gambhir away from interacting with the press. Gambhir kept his responses straightforward and brief. From backing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to praising KL Rahul's versatility, Gambhir was at his optimistic best, emphasising that India is focused on completing a series hat-trick Down Under...2024-11-1247 min
Sledging RoomIndian cricket’s worst defeat! Is it time to drop Kohli and Rohit? | Sledging Room S2, Ep 60Few anticipated India would lose a home Test series -- especially not to New Zealand, a team that has struggled on foreign soil since the World Test Championship began in 2019. A 0-3 scoreline added to the disbelief. New Zealand, brilliantly led by Tom Latham, exceeded expectations, outshining India in all facets of the game.The statistics are stark. Rohit Sharma, the captain, has managed just 133 runs in 10 innings, while former captain Virat Kohli has scored 192 runs in the same number of innings. Between them, they recorded only two fifties over five Tests at home during the 2024 season.2024-11-0538 min
Sledging RoomIPL retention gossip, Rohit-Kohli no-show in Tests | Sledging Room, S2, Ep 59The BCCI is set to release the Indian Premier League retention list on October 31. There is a lot of noise in the Indian media about who will stay and who will leave the 10 franchises. It seems fans might be in for some shock news as the likes of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant might leave their respective franchise. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room, Kingshuk Kusari, Saurabh Kumar and Alan John bring out some exclusive news about the Indian Premier League and discuss the latest gossip from all the franchises. Apart from that the...2024-10-2841 min
Sledging RoomRishabh Pant back in whites? Test selection chatter begins | Sledging Room, S02 Ep 51Hold onto your hats, Indian cricket fans! After a six-month hiatus, Team India is dusting off their white gear and gearing up for action under the guidance of the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir. The stage is set for an electrifying two-match Test series against Bangladesh, kicking off September 19 in Chennai. This series is India’s chance to rev up its engine and fortify its spot at the summit of the 2025 World Test Championship table. The series will mark India’s first red-ball outing since their impressive 4-1 series win against England in March 2024. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are riding high...2024-09-0444 min
Sledging RoomJay Shah as ICC boss good news for Tests, AI helping Pakistan cricket? | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 50It's time for another Indian to take over as the new ICC chairman. BCCI secretary Jay Shah was elected as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Upon his election, Shah affirmed his commitment to making Test cricket the "bedrock" of the game during his tenure. Meanwhile, Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has raised concerns about the ICC’s revenue-sharing model, warning of serious consequences if it isn't addressed soon. Test cricket has been losing its appeal in countries like Pakistan, West Indies, and South Africa, leading to empty stands during matches. The ec...2024-08-2837 min
Olympic TalesCan Neeraj, Sat-Chi guide India to first-ever double-digit medal tally? | Olympic Tales, Ep 02117 Indian athletes are set to participate in the Paris Olympics. Some believe that India will have their greatest-ever show in the history of the competition this time around. India certainly have athletes to back that claim. Neeraj Chopra in javelin, Nikhat Zareen in boxing and Satwik-Chirag in badminton are some of the biggest names in Paris. There are other things that make this Indian contingent special. The inclusion of a sports psychologist and psychiatrist is a pathbreaking addition from India's side. This is the first time in the history of Indian sports that the mental aspect of the...2024-07-2249 min
Olympic TalesParis Olympics 2024: How’s the josh and what’s in it for Indian athletes? | Olympic Tales, Ep 01It’s time for the biggest sporting spectacle—the Paris Olympics. The Games will begin on July 26 and run until August 11. As many as 117 Indian athletes, the second-most significant contingent, will be in action at the Games.In this new India Today special podcast, ‘Olympic Tales’, we debate why it’s not always right to look at the medal count to judge the progress of Indian sports. Are we doing enough to become a sport-playing nation? Are we giving our athletes enough space in the media?Indian Olympics movement has come a long way. From winning just one m...2024-07-1831 min
Sledging RoomGambhir era begins: Will India's World Cup hero win more ICC titles as coach? | Sledging Room S 02, Ep 43The Gautam Gambhir era as India's head coach has begun. Gambhir's tenure runs until 2027, during which India will compete in three ICC white-ball tournaments and possibly the World Test Championship Finals in 2025 and 2027. Gambhir is expected to secure more ICC titles, but the last 11 years have shown how challenging it is to win world trophies, with only Australia consistently succeeding. Gambhir's response to his new role announcement was characteristic. Instead of featuring his image or past World Cup trophies, he prominently displayed the national flag alongside a message: "India is my identity." Known for his pragmatic...2024-07-1030 min
Sledging RoomIndia are T20 world champions again: Sorry Rohit, Sorry Virat, Sorry Dravid | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 42Saturday, June 29, will be remembered for ages in Indian cricket history. It was an emotional moment for many who had witnessed heartbreak after heartbreak over the last decade. Rohit Sharma’s India ended an 11-year wait for the International Cricket Council (ICC title) title, beating South Africa in one of the most thrilling finals in the history of the men’s T20 World Cup. Rohit led from the front throughout the campaign. Virat Kohli stepped up when it mattered the most—in the final. Head coach Rahul Dravid signed off on a high, singing a redemption story in the Car...2024-07-0145 min
Sledging RoomT20 WC Final Preview: Will Rohit Sharma's India be third time lucky? | Sledging Room, S02 Ep 41Adelaide 2022 has been avenged. India's pursuit of an ICC title appears on track after a 68-run mauling of England in Guyana. England were handed a proper drubbing and this victory will feel a lot sweeter for India as they have made light work of the reigning champions. After the defending champions crashed out in Guyana, English media started crying foul, questioning ICC's decision to allot the second semi-final to India irrespective of their Super Eight standing and the fact that Rohit Sharma's men were the only top side not to play a single match under lights during the entire tournament. 2024-06-2824 min
Sledging RoomT20 World Cup Super 8s buzz: The big Virat Kohli question for India | Sledging Room S2 Ep 38India has reached the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup without losing a single game. India has now travelled to the West Indies for the Super 8 stages and will face Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Should India change their playing XI, given the conditions will be much more spin-friendly? If so, who gets dropped from playing XI? Many fans on social media have argued for the exclusion of Ravindra Jadeja, given that neither has the all-rounder scored any runs in group stages nor has he picked up any wickets. But will India be brave to drop a senior...2024-06-1843 min
Sledging RoomNew York's imperfect pitch, scheduling issues mar T20 World Cup in US| Sledging Room, S2, Ep 36India head coach Rahul Dravid took a slight dig at the tournament organisers ahead of their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Ireland. Speaking in a press conference, Dravid said it was odd to hold training sessions at a park in an ICC tournament. The stadium was built in a very short time. Even three months ago, there was a public park on the premises. The ICC had avidly advertised how quickly the stadium had been built. However, as it turns out, things had horribly gone wrong. Inconsistent bounce on a fresh pitch and puffs of dust coming out...2024-06-0530 min
Sledging RoomT20 World Cup in the US: Will ICC’s Big Gamble Pay Off? | Sledging Room, S2, Ep 35The IPL is over, and the biggest T20 carnival is here. The USA and the West Indies will co-host the men’s T20 World Cup from June 1 to June 29. The USA will host a cricket tournament of such magnitude for the first time. 3 venues are hosting the T20 World Cup in the USA, and the big India vs Pakistan clash will be played in New York. The ICC’s move to award the USA the hosting rights is a major step toward globalising the game. One of the most popular sports in the world is heading to the bigg...2024-05-3129 min
Sledging RoomKKR win IPL 2024: Who should take credit? | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 34Have you seen a more dominant campaign than this? KKR looked like champions and played like champions, winning the IPL 2024 trophy in style. They won 9 out of 14 matches in the league stage and hammered the SunRisers in Qualifier 1 to progress to the final. Let's not talk about the title match! It was one of the most one-sided tournament finals, definitely the most one-sided IPL final. Shreyas Iyer became only the fifth Indian captain after MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya to win the IPL trophy. For Gambhir, it was a sensational return to Kolkata as...2024-05-2839 min
Sledging RoomWhy Late Bloomers RCB May Not Reach IPL 2024 Playoffs | Sledging Room, S2, Ep 29A Virat Kohli-inspired RCB is somehow alive in the playoffs race. From looking destined for an early exit to winning four matches on a trot, RCB has scripted quite a turnaround in IPL 2024. Much of RCB's turnaround has to be credited to Kohli. Shutting down all his critics, he has let his bat do the talking and made a statement with his match-winning contributions to RCB in their last three games. RCB's fourth straight win meant PBKS became the second team to get knocked out of the IPL 2024 playoffs race. Punjab's barren run without a playoff appearance has n...2024-05-1026 min
Sledging RoomRoaring Lions: Virat, Samson Out To Prove People Wrong | Sledging Room, S2, Ep 26We are living in Virat Kohli's world. The RCB star first hit out the GT bowlers for a match-winning unbeaten 70 and then tore into critics of his strike rate and his often-questioned ability to play against spinners in the middle overs. Kohli's remarks have been met with contrasting reactions. While a few lauded Kohli for giving it back, others have questioned the need to go after critics after having had issues while facing spin in the past. Well, what truly matters is that Virat Kohli is batting at his best just ahead of the T20 World Cup in 2024...2024-04-2934 min
Sledging RoomImpact Player Rule 'Hurting' Indian Cricket, Rohit Sharma Calls Out Rumours | Sledging Room, Ep 23The Impact Player rule has helped unearth gems like Ashutosh Sharma, who is making waves in the IPL 2024 season. The 25-year-old from Madhya Pradesh and Shashank Singh have been the usual suspects for PBKS in an otherwise floundering batting line-up. But, several cricketers have raised concerns about the Impact Player rule. Yes, record-breaking scores of 270 and 280 add much flair to the viewing experience. But it's removing the balance between bat and ball as teams get an extra specialist batter. More importantly, all-rounders, especially Indian all-rounders, are not getting enough opportunities. Rohit Sharma, speaking on his appearance...2024-04-1926 min
Sledging RoomIPL 2024: Have RCB's Chances of Reaching Playoffs Vanished? Sledging Room, S2 Ep 21After the RCB women's side won the WPL 2024, there was hope and expectation that the men's side would do better and finally win the season this time. However, RCB being RCB have started the tournament on a horrific note with five losses and one win in the first six matches of IPL 2024. In fact, MI handed the Bengaluru side a thumping seven-wicket hammering at Wankhede and now RCB are languishing in the 9th position. RCB were so bad that after the loss, captain Faf du Plessis conceded that his team was struggling because their bowling group did not have "as...2024-04-1224 min
Sledging RoomIPL 2024: Why Kohli's criticism is not fair and automatic T20 World Cup picks | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 20Virat Kohli hit another T20 hundred, his 8th IPL century but RCB lost yet again. Kohli anchored RCB's innings with a brilliant 113 off 72 balls, while the rest of the team could only muster 59 off 48 balls. Despite receiving 11 extra runs from RR, RCB's total never posed a threat as RR comfortably chased it down with 5 deliveries and 6 wickets to spare. Despite losing Yashasvi Jaiswal early, RR's Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson capitalized on the favorable batting conditions, with Buttler scoring an unbeaten century off 58 balls and Samson contributing a quickfire 69 off 41 balls.Questions arose about RCB's batting strategy despite...2024-04-0835 min
Sledging RoomIPL 2024 Preview: Can Hardik Pandya Keep Mumbai Indians House In Order? | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 16Ee Sala Cup Namdhu! The long wait has ended. Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans can finally rejoice as Smriti Mandhana and her team have won a trophy for RCB as their Women's Premier League campaign ended on a triumphant note. More than RCB's victory, the packed crowds at the Women's Premier League matches are another message to the naysayers of women's cricket. And we are just days away from the start of the biggest T20 carnival of the year, the Indian Premier League. Can RCB complete a double? At the same time, all eyes will...2024-03-2055 min
Sledging RoomIPL 2024: What's In Store For Pant And CSK's Succession Plan | Sledging Room S2, Ep 15It's that time of the year when fan wars become a norm. Yes, it's time for another season of the Indian Premier League. Before previewing and analysing the strengths and weaknesses of the ten teams, let's give you a brief on the major talking points in the lead-up to IPL 2024. Oh, and all Bazball sympathisers, it's time to concede defeat. India hammered England 4-1 to kill the hype around England's much-talked-about approach to Test cricket. Also, it's time to credit the BCCI for trying to put Test cricket where it belongs with their new 'Test cricket...2024-03-1353 min
Sledging RoomTime To Give Due Credit To Captain Rohit And His Young Brigade | Sledging Room, S2, EP 13It's time to concede defeat. Yes, those who backed England to strike again in the Test series were proved wrong. The final nail in England's coffin was hit by a young brigade led by Rohit Sharma, which found new heroes in the absence of their established mainstays. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep and Kuldeep Yadav have also stepped up and delivered big for the team, under the able guidance of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid. India have found new heroes in every Test to bounce back from the 1-0 deficit and seal an...2024-02-2843 min
Sledging RoomLessons From Mammootty For England After Bazball Shredded To Pieces | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 12Well, is it time to write Bazball's obituary? It seems so as Ben Stokes's led touring side was hammered by 434 runs, their biggest margin of defeat since World War II, in Rajkot. It was a proper statement from Rohit Sharma and his men as England failed to walk the talk.Despite the defeat, Ben Stokes was bullish that England will not change their approach. He labeled criticism, some of them constructive, as 'outside noise'. Head coach Brendon McCullum echoed the thoughts of Stokes, saying that it's up to them whether or not to listen to what people are...2024-02-2155 min
Sledging RoomIPL vs Ranji Trophy : Why Blame Players When BCCI Selectors Snub Domestic Talent | Sledging Room, S2 Ep 11Yes, the cricket world is waiting for the India vs England series to resume. After two intense Tests in Hyderabad and Vizag, there was a lull before the storm as the teams enjoyed a week’s break. But, plenty happened. Even as the buzz has been around the Rajkot Test, a BCCI diktat to players dominated the narrative on social media. Reports have suggested that BCCI was not happy with players skipping Ranji Trophy duties to prepare for IPL 2024. Why should the players prioritise Ranji Trophy? Yes, the domestic red-ball tournament is part of Indian cricket’s ri...2024-02-1446 min
Sledging RoomBazball Naysayers Proved Wrong: India In Danger Of Losing Home Series | Sledging Room, S02, Ep 09Okay, let’s start with an apology. An apology to England, their captain Ben Stokes, their head coach ‘Baz’ McCullum and their much-talked-about approach, Bazball. Bazball won’t work in Pakistan, they said. Bazball won’t work against Australia in the Ashes, they said. Bazball has no chance against India in India, they said. Stokes’s all-conquering England side have proved naysayers wrong, and have done so in some style with the flair and fearlessness that McCullum was known for in his playing days. Questions have to be asked of India, especially captain Rohit Sharma. Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaugha...2024-01-3150 min
Sledging RoomKohli's New Avatar, Pandya's New Competitor Ahead Of T20 World Cup | Sledging Room, S2, Ep 07Rohit Sharma’s return to T20I cricket has been underwhelming, but it's quite clear that the team management and selectors have zeroed in on the senior campaigner to lead India at the T20 World Cup. There's no doubting Sharma's class and a couple of good knocks in the IPL might be enough for him to book his ticket to the USA and the West Indies.On the other hand, Virat Kohli, like he always does, has stirred up debates with his first outing in T20I cricket in 14 months. The former captain, who is known for being an...2024-01-1748 min
Sledging RoomVirat Kohli's T20I Future And RCB's Big IPL 2024 Blunder | Sledging Room, S2 E1Yes, the Sledging Room is back. As expected, we have asked a few tough questions as early as the first episode of Season 2.India lifted a T20I trophy after missing out on the World Cup. Yes, the scheduling of the series is questionable, but nothing can take away the efforts of the young Indian team, led by an impressive debutant captain Suryakumar Yadav.India will next embark on a major tour of South Africa where they will play 3 T20Is, as many ODIs and 2 Tests. The biggest talking point from the selection news was the...2023-12-0633 min
Sledging RoomIndia In Great Shape For World Cup, Pakistan Not Good Enough | Sledging Room, Ep 69India has eased concerns over their World Cup preparation with solid performances in the Asia Cup, which finished with a resounding win over Sri Lanka in the final. Mohammed Siraj picked 6 for 21, the fourth-best figure by an Indian bowler, to bowl Sri Lanka out for only 50.Shubman Gill finished as the leading run-scorer in the tournament, while Rohit Sharma stood out with three successive half-centuries. Virat Kohli was outstanding in the Super 4 match against Pakistan, hitting his 47th ODI hundred. At the same time, KL Rahul returned to international cricket with a superb hundred against Pakistan and a...2023-09-2045 min
Sledging RoomIndia vs Pakistan Asia Cup Reserve Day Completely Justified | Sledging Room, Ep 68There was a bit of criticism for the Asian Cricket Council's decision to deploy a Reserve Day for India's Super 4 match of the 2023 Asia Cup against Pakistan. But that furore was uncalled for. Thank goodness there was an extra day.The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) faced significant backlash over its decision to schedule a reserve day for the Super Fours match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023. Critics argued that the move was inconsistent and unfair to other teams participating in the tournament. The controversy arose when the ACC announced a reserve day for the India-Pakistan...2023-09-1344 min
Sledging RoomCan India's 'Special 15' Mount A Serious Challenge At The World Cup? | Sledging Room, Ep 67India named their 15-man provisional squad for the 2023 Cricket World Cup and there were no real surprises. KL Rahul, who has not played international cricket since March, made it to the side.Prasidh Krishna and Tilak Varma were named in the Asia Cup squad but they were not included in the World Cup line-up. Sanju Samson, named as a travelling stand-by for the Asia Cup, was also snubbed for the World Cup.Is this the best India could have gathered then? Rohit Sharma certainly thinks so but can this team mount a serious challenge at the...2023-09-0645 min
Sledging RoomIndia's Confusing World Cup Build-up Baffles Former Cricketers | Sledging Room, Ep 62India won the ODI series against the West Indies but their chaotic build-up to the 2023 World Cup has raised several more questions. Why were Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli rested when they were part of the squad? Why were India not playing close to their full strength with the World Cup just a few weeks away? And why was Yuzvendra Chahal not given a single game? How many of the bowlers who played in the ODIs against West Indies end up playing the World Cup? Is Suryakumar Yadav a certainty for the World Cup despite his horror run...2023-08-0241 min