Sledging Room

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's top brass seems to have listened to legendary Sunil Gavaskar. The BCCI is showing it’s not a cheerleader for star players. The latest restrictions on families, wives and girlfriends have created a stir in the cricket community. Are the families on a tour a distraction? Well, this clampdown on family time is not new, but it has been brought back after India’s flop show in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, raising concerns about the health of the senior national men’s team. Meanwhile, all eyes are on the selection committee meeting, scheduled for January 18/19, as the Champions Trophy squad announcement is due over the weekend. Should Jasprit Bumrah be a part of it? Are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli automatic selections? How about Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy for the Champions Trophy? In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the family diktat and the probable Champions Trophy squad. Tune In! Produced by Garvit Srivastava Sound mixed by Nitin Rawat

India surrendered the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after seven years following a disappointing campaign that concluded in Sydney. The team unravelled after their loss in Melbourne, and Jasprit Bumrah’s absence denied them the opportunity to push for a series-levelling win in Sydney.Is it fair to point fingers at individuals? Or is this a collective failure of the Indian team?Yes, Rohit Sharma was poor both with the bat and as captain. Virat Kohli lacked the spark that once made him a Test cricket great. The two senior batters failed to step up when the team needed them the most.But if we criticise the batters for their failures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, why should the coaches escape scrutiny?Under Gautam Gambhir, it has been all talk and no action. Why was his coaching staff unable to address the team’s technical troubles?With India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final now extinguished, is it time to begin the transition process? Should India wait until the England tour in June to make the tough decisions?In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy failure.Tune in!Produced and sound mixed by Nitin Rawat

Another decade-long streak has been broken under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. India lost a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne for the first time in 13 years after their big guns flopped once again. Pressure is mounting on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma overstaying their welcome in the Test team? How long will we keep hearing the oft-repeated refrain: “Retirement is a personal call?" Does anyone within the Indian cricket team’s setup have the authority to tell Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli that their time is up? Can the head coach or selectors take the bold call of dropping them in Sydney? Some established senior players in the past, including Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane -- the heroes of India’s last Test series triumph in Australia -- were told their services were no longer required when their form dipped. Is there a different standard for the superstars? In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Rishabh Beniwal, and Saurabh Kumar discuss the Boxing Day horror and what to expect in the New Year’s Test. Tune in! Produced and sound mixed by Nitin Rawat

The build-up to the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been fiery. India superstars Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have been the centre of attention for the Australian media. The host media targeted the India duo with bizarre allegations ahead of the 4th Test match.While Kohli was accused of misbehaving with a female reporter, the press accused Jadeja of not entertaining questions in English. While both allegations were busted later, did Australian media cross a line with the Indian team?If the whole media vs players has been one of the talking points this week, the teams have had more drama. Ravichandran Ashwin opted to retire and fly out in the middle of the tour; the Australian team management snubbed a young batter after just 3 Test matches.Both teams are expected to field fresh line-ups for the Boxing Day Test. But which team has the upper hand? India - who will be playing at their traditional stronghold in Australia? Or the hosts, who have done sensationally well in the last three Tests at the venue?Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss this in the latest episode of the Sledging Room.Tune in!Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mixed by Nitin Rawat

Ravichandran 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 Player of the Series award – Ashwin seemed to have at least a couple of years of cricket left in him. However, with India not having any immediate red-ball commitments, his uncertain position as a starter in overseas matches, and ongoing knee issues, Ashwin decided to call it a day. He retires with an impressive tally of 537 wickets from 106 Tests. Ashwin made the announcement after the Gabba Test ended in a draw on Day 5. Australia and India remain level in the series as they head into the Boxing Day Test, with the third Test in Brisbane ending in a draw due to more bad weather on the final day, which reduced play to just 24.1 overs. The decision to conclude the match was made shortly after the tea break, which had been advanced due to poor light and impending rain. India, set a target of 275 in about 54 overs, were 8 for 0 in their second innings when play was called off. After a rollercoaster of a Test match at the Gabba, the focus now shifts to Melbourne, where the India-Australia rivalry will be reignited in the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test starting on December 26. Did R Ashwin time his retirement perfectly? In the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari dissect India's draw in Gabba and discuss how Ashwin's retirement might hamper India's BGT chances. Tune In! Produced and Sound mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

Not 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 time running out for Rohit Sharma? What about Virat Kohli's never-ending struggles with the tight line outside off-stump. The two big guns failed to step up when the team needed them the most. Should India go back to Jasprit Bumrah for the Brisbane Test, starting December 6. Should there be changes to the bowling unit? Should Rohit return to the top of the order? With plenty of questions to answer, India look to bounce back in the third Test. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari diessect India's loss in Adelaide and discuss why it may be just a one-off. Tune In! Produced and Sound mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

It's time for the pink-ball Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the Indian team surprisingly being the favourites. Buoyed by their success in Perth, their captain's arrival has bolstered the visitors, Rohit Sharma, ahead of the second match of the series in Adelaide. However, the arrival of Rohit poses a serious question to team management. With KL Rahul doing well as the opener in the Perth Test, will India decide to demote the batter down the order to No.5 or No.6. It had been a spot in which he was playing before the start of the Australia tour, and the result was mixed. Rohit got some match practice during the game against Prime Minister's XI and came out to bat in the No.4 spot. Rahul opened the batting in the match and looked solid and comfortable. Is this an indication that Rohit could sacrifice his place to help his in-form teammate continue his fine run? The hosting of the Champions Trophy has been a hot topic of discussion in recent times, with India and Pakistan at a stalemate and not willing to budge. But could this have been avoided long ago, and did the ICC fumble while dealing with the situation? Kingshuk Kusari, Rishabh Beniwal and Alan Jose John dissect these big questions on the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast. Tune in! Produced and Sound mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

The IPL mega auction was a blockbuster affair over two days in Jeddah. It took the attention away from India’s landmark Perth Test win, but cricket fans must have enjoyed the bidding wars.The two marquee sets of players grabbed all the limelight in the lead-up to the auction ever since the pruned list of 574 players was announced for the mega auction. As expected, a few teams splurged big money on big faces, who opted to enter the auction after successful stints with their ex-franchises. Some of them had nasty break-ups.Punjab Kings, who are not known for being smart in the auction, were led wonderfully well by newly appointed coach Ricky Ponting and their think tank in Jeddah.Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced the stick for missing out on big buys, but it seems it was a conscious choice as they resisted the temptation of spending big on Day 1. Under Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik, RCB made smart buys throughout the two-day auction, impressing their fans. Barring the Will Jacks controversy, RCB did all right.What do you make of the teams' performances on the auction table?In the latest episode of the Sliding Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari review the IPL auction.Tune in!Produced and Sound mixed by Anna Priyadarshini

India 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? Is he the best bowler that India has produced?What about the remarkable Yashasvi Jaiswal? He got out for a duck in the first innings of his first Test in Australia. However, he buckled up and hit a daddy hundred in the second innings, deflating Australia.And well, the King is back! Virat Kohli ended a nearly 16-month wait for a hundred in Test cricket.Everything is going right for India. With Rohit Sharma returning for the 2nd Test in Adelaide, will India go 2-0 up in the series?In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the sweet start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Tune in!Produced and Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

As 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 franchise was not about money. Will Pant be the costliest player in the history of the IPL auction? Will Punjab Kings go for him? What about KL Rahul? Is he returning to Bengaluru? Will KKR go for Shreyas Iyer again? In the latest episode of Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Alan john predict the potential big buys and narratives in the IPL auction. Tune In! Produced and Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi  

The 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 Gautam Gambhir, who is already under the pump. Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead India in Perth and the visitors will need to bring in their incredible fighting attitude to the fore.Can India stun Australia with a weakened side in Perth where the hosts are yet to lose? Who should replace Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill in the XI? Is there a place for young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the XI? In the latest episode of the Sledging Room, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the build-up to the much-awaited series opener in Perth. Tune In! Produced and Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Former 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. He even stated that Ricky Ponting's views about Virat Kohli's form would not matter as India aims to bounce back in Australia. It seems Gambhir's take on the upcoming series has divided opinions. Is it fair to criticise the former opener heading for his first major overseas tour? Should Indian cricket fans be a little more lenient and considerate? Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the explosive start to the Border-Gavskar Trophy buzz in the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast. Tune in! Produced and Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Few 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.Although India secured a victory against Bangladesh in a two-Test series, their subsequent series against New Zealand saw them falter dramatically, losing 0-3 in a manner that exposed their vulnerabilities for the first time in many years.Is it time to look beyond Rohit and Virat in Tests?What does a series loss of this magnitude tell about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and Gautam Gambhir’s coaching credentials?Will India be able to bounce back in Australia?Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari reflect on the shocking loss that has hurt their egos and reputations.Tune in!Produced & Sound Mix By: Sachin Dwivedi

The 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 focus stays on India's Test series against New Zealand, where the hosts have lost their first-ever bilateral against the Black Caps in the history of their cricket. As concerns lay around the form of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the trio talk about the imminent transition of the Indian Test team and how the senior members of the side have fared in the recent past. The conversation focuses especially on Rohit Sharma, who has looked unclear in his approach on several instances. Is India's form a point of concern before the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy? Tune In! Produced & Sound Mix By: Sachin Dwivedi  

Yes, we at the Sledging Room praised Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir when India swept Bangladesh 2-0 at home earlier in October. Their approach to the Kanpur Test was fascinating. However, it’s time for some tough questions again after India was stunned by New Zealand in the first match of a three-Test series in Bengaluru. India struggled in pace-friendly conditions in Bengaluru. They made a significant error at the toss, and Rohit Sharma was brave enough to acknowledge it and take the blame. Despite their past successes, India has shown vulnerabilities even at home recently. Some of Rohit Sharma’s tactics are questionable. Are India, under Rohit Sharma, capable of defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia? Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the Bengaluru Test shocker and its implications in the latest episode of Sledging Room. Tune in! Produced & Sound Mix By: Kapil Dev Singh

On Sunday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped a bombshell by leaving out former captain Babar Azam, along with fast bowling stars Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, for the last two Tests against England. The decision to exclude Babar, Shaheen, Naseem, and Sarfaraz Ahmed was made by a selection committee constituted last week. This committee includes former international umpire Aleem Dar, former pacer Aqib Javed, ex-captain Azhar Ali, and analyst Hassan Cheema, who took the bold step of dropping four senior players from the squad. Being dropped from the national team, particularly for a player who has been a cornerstone of the batting lineup, can be demoralising. This could lead to self-doubt and questions about his place in the team, potentially undermining his confidence further. Many, including Pakistan’s leading white-ball batter Fakhar Zaman, questioned the board’s decision to drop Babar, highlighting how Virat Kohli was given an extended run to regain his form by the BCCI. To put it bluntly, Babar enjoyed the hype and comparisons to modern-day greats, including Virat Kohli. However, he hasn’t managed to shut out the outside noise during this period of intense scrutiny. Meanwhile, the Indian women's team failed to impress in the Women's T20 World Cup. After losing to Australia and New Zealand in the group stage, they are on the brink of an early exit. Is it time to ask tough questions of the team and the management group? Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the big Pakistan bombshell and India's T20 World Cup show in the latest episode of the Sledging Room. Tune in! Produced & Sound Mix By: Kapil Dev Singh

Sunil Gavaskar dropped a bombshell when he wrote a column for Sportstar, hitting out at those who credited Gautam Gambhir for India’s Kanpur Test win against Bangladesh. Gavaskar said the sole credit for India’s aggressive approach should have gone to Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Test team. He said he felt people indulging in ‘foot-licking’ by crediting the newly-appointed coach. It seems the legendary Gavaskar missed the mark on this occasion. While he stated the obvious by praising Rohit Sharma for India’s fearless approach, his swipe at the head coach's supporters left a bad taste. Meanwhile, India women’s cricket has been facing criticism for its slow start to the women’s T20 World Cup. Some critics have accused the women’s cricket team of not asking the right questions. Can India wriggle out of trouble and make it to the semi-final? It looks less likely after a timid batting performance against Pakistan. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari join the bandwagon and try to make issues out of non-issues. Tune in! Produced and Sound Mix By Kapil Dev Singh

The Indian Premier League announced its most detailed mega-auction rules for the 2025 season. In a surprise move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, not only made the tournament robust but also provided several safeguards for franchises from players who randomly opt out of seasons citing various personal concerns. The BCCI also made an 'India-first' move by making sure that no overseas players earn more money from the auction than the highest-paid Indian player. The board further provided incentives to all the players in the Indian Premier League, by introducing the first ever match-fee. Now, players participating in an IPL game will be additionally paid a sum of Rs 7.5 lakh - something that would really help the local cricketers coming from poor backgrounds. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of the new retention and auction rules. Before the IPL retention rules, the trio discuss India's incredible victory in the Kanpur Test match against Bangladesh and also Babar Azam's surprise exit from the Pakistan ODI and T20I captaincy. Produced & Sound Mixed By: Kapil Dev Singh

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made a riveting comeback in Test cricket during India's first match against Bangladesh in Chennai. Pant scored a tremendous century, helping India win a comprehensive 280-run victory. Pant also matched MS Dhoni's tally of Test centuries in the process, hurling himself into the debate about the greatest keeper-batters from India in Test cricket.In the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss whether the argument has merit and whether Pant is really on his way to becoming one of the greatest keeper-batters in the history of red-ball cricket in India.The trio also discuss the impact Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin have had on Test cricket for the country and how the in-form duo have dominated in the last four years whenever they have worn whites for India.But before all of that, the latest episode begins with the question of whether fans take India's domination in home Tests for granted and the possible reasons behind it.Tune in!Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

India will be heading into a busy period of Test cricket, starting with the two-Test series against Bangladesh. 10 Tests will be played in a span of 16 weeks, as red-ball cricket will be the flavour of the next few months. India will be looking to get into the third successive World Test Championship final, and a lot will depend on how they perform at home—against Bangladesh and New Zealand—and the all-important five-Test series in Australia from November to January 2025.It will be a crucial phase of Indian cricket which will define Rohit Sharma’s legacy as Test captain. While Virat Kohli remains one of the greatest red-ball captains for India, Rohit has done well in the limited opportunities he has gotten. Having taken over Test captaincy after Virat Kohli’s unforeseen announcement in 2021, Rohit has succeeded. He was not the frontrunner to take over from Kohli, but the former Mumbai Indians captain has created a well-knit unit that has his style -- relaxed and fun-filled.Rohit Sharma, as an opener, has been phenomenal in Test cricket. Promoted to open the innings in 2019, Rohit has been one of the leading run-getters in the World Test Championship. He has proved to be India’s crisis man at home and overseas.Will he continue after the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle? Should India look to groom a successor in the next few Tests? Will we see Rohit playing and competing in the 2027 ODI World Cup?Tune in!Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh