Sledging Room

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

The anticipation was finally over as the BCCI released the Indian squad for the first Test against Bangladesh on a lazy and uneventful Sunday night on September 8. As expected, the regulars were all picked in the 16-member squad, which welcomed Rishabh Pant back into all-whites.While Pant had a great return in the Duleep Trophy, could the BCCI have given him more game time before making the call to have him back in the squad? Dhruv Jurel did a fine job behind the stumps during the England series and has shown he is a serious contender for the Australia squad.The big name missing from the squad list was Shreyas Iyer, who is back into the good books of BCCI after all the misunderstanding during the England series. However, the Indian batter seems out of the Test picture as KL Rahul has been brought back into the mix. Rahul is tipped to replace Sarfaraz Khan in the lineup for the 1st Test as the competition for the middle-order spot is heating up. Shreyas may need to take his game to the next level in the domestics, especially given the emergence of talents like Musheer Khan.Yash Dayal was one of the heartwarming stories from the squad announcement. He has completed a redemption arc for the ages. Dayal's inclusion comes as India looks to find their next consistent left-arm pacer to create a big talent pool.Regarding the lineup, the big toss-up will be between Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Will India go for more strength in their batting lineup, or will Kuldeep's proficiency give him the edge?Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Alan Jose John dissect the big questions ahead of the first Test between India and Bangladesh.Tune in!Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Nitin Rawat

Hold 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, having just swept Pakistan off their feet in a historic series win. Mohammed Siraj is poised to lead the pace brigade, and Jasprit Bumrah will likely be rested for this series. Kuldeep Yadav will likely spin his magic alongside the all-rounders. The final pace spot is a hot ticket, with Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh battling it out, the latter on the verge of a Test debut. Mohammed Shami’s much-anticipated return might have to wait until the New Zealand series. And here’s the big news: Rishabh Pant is expected to make a grand comeback to Test cricket after a whopping 634 days away, following an arduous recovery from a severe accident. Alongside him, watch for young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who’s expected to join the squad. Srikar Bharat, India’s first-choice keeper against England before Jurel stole the spotlight, might be watching from the sidelines this time. Get ready for a cricketing fiesta that promises thrills, spills, and some severe spin and pace action! In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss who is likely to make it to India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh. Tune in! Produced and sound mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

It'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 economic viability of Test cricket has been in question for years, and the rise of lucrative T20 leagues has further threatened the traditional format. Given India's financial influence in the cricketing world, Shah's commitment to supporting Test cricket is reassuring for its fans. On the other hand, it has not been the best of times for the Pakistan cricket team lately. After the early exit in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, they suffered a humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test of the ongoing series. To arrest the freefall, the Pakistan Cricket Board has turned to Artificial Intelligence to help select players. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi expressed concerns about the lack of a strong talent pool to replace underperforming players. The PCB hopes its new domestic tournament, the Champions Cup, scheduled in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29, will help develop talent in the long run. The PCB plans to use AI to select a pool of 150 players based on data from the 50-over tournament. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Saurabh Kumar, Sabyasachi Chowdhary and Kingshuk Kusari discuss how Jay Shah's tenure as ICC head might turn out and what has gone wrong with Pakistan cricket. Tune in! Produced and sound mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

It’s time for the last leg of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. The race for the spots in the final is heating up. India and Australia are in the pole position. South Africa and Pakistan are in with an outside chance. Bazballing England need a perfect run from here on.India are set for their stiffest test when they are set to tour Australia later this year. Yes, Australia have not beaten India in a Border-Gavaskar Test series in a decade. And Australia are not going to go down without a fight in the upcoming 5-Test series.Are India favourites to complete a hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia? Can a Test team that is in transition manage to repeat the heroics of the last two tours? Will Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma combine to script history?Meanwhile, Pakistan will begin their busy home season on August 21 against Bangladesh. Questions have been asked of their all-pace bowling attack for the series opener in Rawalpindi.Can captain Shan Masood walk the talk? Will he be allowed a free hand in this crucial phase?In the latest episode of Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss what promises to be an exciting few months of Test cricket.Tune in!Produced & Sound Mixed By: Kapil Dev Singh

The BCCI and IPL franchise owners sat down on 31 July to hold discussions about the future of the league. According to media reports circulating at the time, things got heated between few of the franchise owners when the topic of mega auction was raised.The mega auction, where teams are only allowed to retain a maximum of 4-5 players has always been a point of contention for not only the franchises but the fans as well. The successful franchises argue that why should they throw away their good work and rebuild from scratch, and those franchises, whose plans have not gone well, look to hit the reset button.In this episode of Sledging Room, which returns back after a gap of 2 weeks, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the pros and cons of mega auctions, and if there is a better way for the IPL to sustain their product. There is no denying that the mega auction brings a lot of drama to the league, but is it fair for the franchises to hit the reset button every 4 years?Apart from the auctions, the trio also discusses India's recent series loss in Sri Lanka - the first since 1997, and the latest appointment of Morne Morkel as the bowling coach of the Indian team.Tune in!Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

India white-washed Sri Lanka 3-0 in the T20I series under the watchful eyes of Gautam Gambhir. One of the most prominent features in the series was that batters chipped in with the ball when necessary. Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh rolled their arms in a crunch situation and helped India win the final match of the series. This was reminiscent of the pre-2011 era of Indian cricket, where the team had able part-timers in Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, among others, who had the ability to hold their nerve when handed the ball. While it is too early to tell if this could be a regular thing, it is surely a welcome change for the Indian team, who have struggled with their combinations in white-ball cricket with their top order not contributing with the ball.  In this episode of the Sledging Room, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the point of the Sri Lanka T20I series and what they learned from Gambhir's first stint as the India head coach. Tune in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

How good was head coach Gautam Gambhir in his first press meet? First things first, full marks for his punctuality. He sat down to address several questions with the selection committee chairman, Ajit Agarkar before India departed for the tour of Sri Lanka. One of the most interesting things to emerge from the press conference was the reasoning behind India appointing Suryakumar Yadav ahead of Hardik Pandya as T20I captain. Were injury concerns the only reason why India decided to snub Hardik Pandya? Ajit Agarkar mentioned ‘feedback from the dressing room’ as one of the main reasons behind India naming Surya Rohit Sharma’s successor. Do these reasons convince you? Also, Gautam Gambhir has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Can the two seniors push it until 2027? Did Gambhir make a U-turn with this statement? What to make of Shubman Gill’s appointment as vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is? Does he deserve an automatic spot in the shortest format? Akshay Ramesh, Kingshuk Kusari, and Alan Jose John discuss the much-talked-about press conference in the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast. Tune in! Produced & Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Just when Hardik Pandya was poised to take over as captain of the Indian team, reports from the Indian media suggested that the BCCI was rethinking and re-evaluating its options. Suryakumar Yadav was floated as a strong option because of his consistency in fitness and his record with the Indian team in the Australia and South Africa series. The discussion continued the selection panel's tradition of making very late adjustments to the squad. Just like Rinku Singh was not included at the very last minute in the Indian T20 World Cup team, Pandya's position as Rohit Sharma's successor in the T20I side has been put in doubt. In this episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Kingshuk Kusari, Alan John, and Debodinna Chakraborty discuss the onset of Gautam Gambhir's era in the Indian team and how it could be one of the most exciting periods for viewers in the country's cricket history. Gautam Gambhir has a big personality, and it is expected that his on-the-face attitude will be injected into the Indian side. If that happens, India could be an absolute force to reckon with in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to be played later this year in Australia. But before that happens, India has to get its house in order. There are questions about the transition, the absence of a new support staff for the SL series, and who, between Suryakumar and Hardik, will take over the Indian side after Rohit Sharma's retirement. Tune in! Produced & Sound Mix by: Kapil Dev Singh

The 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 approach, Gambhir prioritizes team success over individual stars. His cricketing journey, marked by a late and diligent Test comeback, reflects his commitment to meritocracy rather than age-based exclusions. This philosophy extends to his support for players like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell in the IPL, demonstrating his belief in talent beyond conventional norms. Despite past publicised conflicts, Gambhir and Virat Kohli share a deep-seated competitiveness and aversion to defeat. Their similarities suggest a potential for a productive working relationship, especially given Kohli's role in Gambhir's international return. When Gambhir's tenure ends, he will aim to leave India as the best side in the world, not only in ICC rankings but also with multiple World Cup trophies. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Diya Kakkar preview how the Gautam Gambhir era could pan out. Tune in! Produced and Mixed By Sachin Dwivedi