Sledging Room India Today Podcasts

The top four of IPL 2024 have been finalised. KKR and SRH are all set to face in the Qualifier 1, while RR and RCB will meet in the Eliminator in Ahmedabad on May 21 and 22. Yes, if you hadn’t followed up on the last two weeks of the IPL, you would have been rubbing your eyes after seeing RCB in the fourth spot.

Faf du Plessis-led RCB made a miraculous late run to reach the playoffs. They won six on the trot, including the knockout punch to CSK and MS Dhoni. RCB vs CSK in Bengaluru was a cracker of a contest. Virat Kohli fired. MS Dhoni fired. But, it ended in heartbreak for the 42-year-old after Yash Dayal’s moment of redemption.

Have we seen the last of MS Dhoni as an IPL player? The former CSK captain was angry at himself and heartbroken after CSK missed the playoff berth by the barest of margins.

However, unruly fan behaviour overshadowed the thrilling contest. CSK fans alleged RCB fans abused the travelling supporters in Bengaluru and behaved badly with women outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. On the other hand, a few RCB fans alleged they had experienced something similar in Chennai.

Are the fan wars becoming toxic? Is it ruining the sport? What was the need to criticise Kohli and RCB for celebrating their win? Why get personal?

In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Kingshuk Kusari, and Sabyasachi Chowdhury discuss the thrilling finish to the league stage of IPL 2024 and predict the playoffs. 

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Produced and Mixed by Sachin Dwivedi

Even as the IPL is nearing its business end, BCCI has sounded the bugle, inviting applications for the potential successor of Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid. This move comes as Rahul Dravid's tenure ends after the T20 World Cup in 2024.

According to sources, India may hire a foreign head coach after nearly a decade. Notable triumphs under prior foreign coaches, such as John Wright and Gary Kirsten, make this option appealing. Wright led India to the 2003 ODI World Cup finals, and Kirsten oversaw India's victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup after a 28-year absence. The deadline for coach applications is May 27, paving the way for crucial decisions in Indian cricket.

There have been reports that the board is considering former New Zealand captain and current CSK head coach Stephen Fleming as a potential successor to Dravid. However, given the BCCI's requirement that the new head coach be in charge of all three formats, it remains to be seen whether Fleming would apply for the position, which will need him to stay with the squad for 10 months per year.

However, why can't India look at someone like Gautam Gambhir for the head coach role? Gambhir, known for his tactical and leadership abilities, could be a possibility. The former India opener, who played pivotal roles in the finals of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup, assisting the team to victory on both occasions, served as the mentor of the Super Giants for two seasons in 2022-2023. Notably, LSG qualified for the IPL playoffs on both times and led KKR to the IPL 2024 playoffs.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah may have rejected the idea of having different coaches for different formats, but maybe in the next few years, the Indian team might need to look for different coaches for the red-ball and white-ball formats.

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Produced & Mixed By Sachin Dwivedi

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.