Sledging Room India Today Podcasts

Kolkata became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs. After being a mid-table struggler in the last few seasons, KKR has been the team to beat this season. And it’s no coincidence that Gautam Gambhir returned to the side as their mentor. Under Gambhir, KKR played like champions and won two titles -- in 2012 and 2014.

However, a few pundits, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, have questioned if giving all the credit to Gautam Gambhir is fair. Ian Bishop, former West Indies pacer, made it a point to mention Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant captaincy in IPL 2024. Then, there is Chandrakant Pandit, who is a domestic doyen when it comes to coaching. It is a combined effort, but there’s no doubt that Gambhir’s return has made it tick for the Knight Riders.

Are they capable of going all the way? Do they have any chinks in their armour? If they go all the way and win their 3rd title, will they retain Shreyas Iyer for the next season? Who will be their retentions, considering they have had a strong core over the years? Will they keep faith in the likes of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine?

Meanwhile, MI is out of the playoffs race. They look disoriented, and their former captain, Rohit Sharma, looks disinterested. Is it time for Rohit to leave the franchise? Will KKR be his new home in 2025?

Before all that, India would want Rohit Sharma to regain form and lead well at the T20 World Cup.

Join Akshay Ramesh, Alan Jose John and Kingshuk Kusari as they discuss KKR’s rise and Rohit Sharma’s concerning form in the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast.

Produced & Mixed By: Kapil Dev Singh

A 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 now extended to its 11th season. Despite recording the most successful run chase in T20 cricket and defeating five-time champion Chennai in Chepauk, Punjab failed to advance to the last four. Punjab was the most entertaining team this season, but a few lapses meant they missed another playoff spot.

Speculation is rife about KL Rahul's long-term future with the LSG franchise, which is currently sixth in the 10-team points table and has two more league games left this season. If KL Rahul leaves LSG, will he go to RCB, CSK, or PBKS? It will be interesting to see how this saga unfolds.

At the same time, another question arises: Will Virat Kohli open the batting alongside captain Rohit Sharma? Join Alan John, Saurabh Kumar and Diya Kakkar in another IPL episode of the Sledging Room Podcast.

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Produced & Mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

Sunil Gavaskar shredded Virat Kohli's arguments into pieces. In one of the most straightforward pieces of television commentary, the legendary India batter lashed out at Virat Kohli, who had questioned his critics and the credibility of people who spoke about his strike rate.

Kohli has often stressed the importance of not listening to outside noise, but it seems the superstar batter lets criticism affect him. In a strongly worded post-match interview midway through the IPL 2024 season, he attacked his critics and questioned people 'sitting in a box' and talking about his strike rate.

Gavaskar's takedown of Kohli's comments has also exposed the toxic nature of a section of fans on social media. How can you go and question Sunil Gavaskar's credentials as a cricketer? Well, here's a simple question to all toxic fans: When did you start following the game?

At the same time, another question arises: Is Gavaskar targeting only a few? Why go on a rant against Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli? Why not talk about Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav?

Meanwhile, is there any point in questioning MS Dhoni's batting position for CSK? Why is so much noise about what the former wicketkeeper, who is in the twilight of his career, is doing for the Super Kings in what probably is his last IPL season as a player?

Join Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari in a spicy episode of the Sledging Room Podcast.

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Produced & Mixed by Kapil Dev Singh

India has named a 15-man squad with four reserve players under Rohit Sharma's leadership for the T20 World Cup 2024. While the top order is heavily stacked with experienced veterans like Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar, the squad is completed by four spinners, three pacers, and two wicketkeepers.

There was a joy for Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal, but despair for Rinku Singh, one of India's brightest T20 finds, who was dropped to reserves when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee finalized India’s squad in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Before the IPL began, Rinku was a top contender for the T20 World Cup squad, known for his finishing skills akin to MS Dhoni's. In his 15 T20Is for India, he's scored 356 runs at an impressive average of 89 and a striking rate of 176.23. But the star finisher was dropped to the reserves when the final squad was announced.

It remains to be seen who will fulfil the finisher's job in the World Cup in Rinku's absence, as Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja have both struggled recently. One of the wicketkeepers, either Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant, will have to do it. Shivam Dube has earned his maiden call-up with first-choice all-rounder Hardik Pandya named vice-captain.

With spin likely to play a significant role in Caribbean conditions, Chahal's inclusion could prove vital. However, the composition of the final lineup, particularly regarding the batting order, remains a decision for the team management. Concerns also linger over India's pace bowling stocks, with Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh not being in the best of their forms in IPL 2024.

Will India miss Rinku Singh's services, and how will the final playing XI shape up once the tournament begins in the Carribean? Saurabh Kumar, Akshay Ramesh, and Sabyasachi Chowdhary discuss how strong is India's T20 World Cup squad in the latest episode of Sledging Room Podcast.

We 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. If India has to end the ICC title drought, the form of Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be key.

After 9 matches in the IPL 2024, Sanju Samson ranks 4th in the Orange Cap list. Samson has the highest strike rate among the top 5 batters in the league and has also led his team to 8 wins out of 9 matches. What more will Samson need to do to get into the T20 World Cup 2024 squad? The Rajasthan captain has been consistently ignored by the selection panel for the ICC tournaments, and this year, he is in contention with a resurgent Pant and a wily KL Rahul, who has adapted to the modern template of T20 batting.

Will Samson make it to the side? If yes, who sits out, and how does the Playing XI look for India in the tournament set to be hosted jointly by the USA and West Indies? Saurabh Kumar, Alan John, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss Virat Kohli's and Sanju Samson's roles in the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast.

Produced and Mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

The public seems to think Virat Kohli’s place in the T20 World Cup is a given. However, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru superstar shot himself in the foot when he came up with a snoozefest in Hyderabad in RCB’s win over SunRisers on April 25, days ahead of the T20 World Cup selection meeting.

Yes, Virat Kohli deserves another shot at the T20 World Cup, but will his inclusion do more harm than good to Team India? Can he bat at No. 3, considering his struggles against spin, especially after the powerplay? Should he be used as a pinch-hitter in the powerplay? If that’s going to be the case, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is hungry for big runs, might have to warm the benches.

Also, if media reports are anything to go by, Sanju Samson might miss out on a World Cup berth again. Having missed the ODI World Cup last year, Samson looked set to go to the USA and the Caribbean. However, it seems the selectors are more inclined to take KL Rahul as the second wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant set to take the gloves.

Will we get to see Shashi Tharoor’s furious rants on social media again? Does KL Rahul deserve a spot more than Sanju Samson?

With the selectors set to name the T20 World Cup in the final week of May, Saurabh Kumar, Akshay Ramesh and Kingshuk Kusari discuss the probables in the latest episode of Sledging Room Podcast.

Produced and Mixed By Kapil Dev Singh