Express Sports

In this week on Game Time, The Indian Express' Shivani Naik joins hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda to make sense of the slump in Indian badminton, the form of singles stars including PV Sindhu, the hope in doubles, and why patience will be the key in this transition phase.Produced by Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavada and Amit Kamath discuss the one thing that the entire sporting world, not just the chess world, was talking about in the last few days, the famous Magnus Carlsen fist bump on the table and the pat on the back after losing to D. Gukesh at Norway Chess Championship.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar 

In this episode, hosts Vinayak Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda are joined by The Indian Express's Sandip G for an in-depth discussion on the rise of Madhya Pradesh as a cricket hub. They explore how the state has produced nearly a dozen players who have featured for various teams in the ongoing IPL. Sandip shares stories and insights from his travels across the state, while Vinayak explores trends uncovered through a detailed survey.Additional links:https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/shashank-singh-rajat-patidar-tale-of-three-madhya-pradesh-cities-indian-t20-boom-10034852/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ipl-2025-survey-india-state-t20-leagues-impact-mp-punjab-delhi-10035386/Produced by Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirements, all eyes on India's transition into a new era with Shubman Gill named as captain and Rishabh Pant his deputy ahead of a daunting tour of England for five Test matches. Mihir Vasavda, Venkata Krishna B and Vinayakk Mohanarangan discuss what's ahead for the Indian men's Test team.Produced by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

On Friday at the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj Chopra finally achieved something he had long aimed for—a 90m-plus throw. His 90.23m effort not only marked a personal best but also made him the 25th man to enter the 90m club in javelin. In this episode of Game Time, Amit Kamath and Vinayakk Mohanarangan discuss what this long-awaited milestone means for Chopra and its significance in the sport.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) was abruptly suspended on Friday due to the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. However, with a ceasefire now in place, the BCCI is planning to extend the tournament until May 30 and will be releasing a revised schedule soon.In this episode, recorded on Saturday (May 10), host Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath discuss what led the BCCI to put the IPL on hold and how the board explained its decision.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath discuss the electrifying rise of two teenage sensations, Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old Barcelona forward shining in the Champions League, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old batting prodigy from Bihar who's stormed into the IPL spotlight. As headlines hail them the next Messi and Tendulkar, we ask: is early success really a blessing is disguise?Produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda, Amit Kamath, and Vinayakk Mohanarangan dive into one of the toughest moments in an athlete's journey — retirement. They discuss why players often struggle to time their exit right, the emotional and financial challenges they face in life after sport, and how some find new purpose while others grapple with identity loss. Tune in for insights, anecdotes, and reflections on a decision every athlete must eventually confront.Produced by Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this episode of Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda, Amit Kamath, and Vinayakk Mohanarangan analyze how a tweak in gun laws, increased accessibility, and growing interest have made shooting in India arguably second only to cricket in terms of mass participation.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Amit, Vinayakk and Mihir dissect the changes to Los Angeles Olympics sports programme, how it impacts India's medal hopes, the landmark decision to allot more spots to women than men and recap the Badminton Asian Championship and Shooting World Cup.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Timer, hosts Mihir Vasavda, Amit Kamath, Vinayakk Mohanarangan, and Devendra Pandey discuss the cricketing logic of CSK persisting with Dhoni as well as the emotional connect the fans have developed with him. And they also touch upon the BCCI's decision to host a Test match in Delhi during peak pollution season.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this episode of Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavada, Amit Vinayak and Vinayakk Mohanarangan discuss the first week of the IPL, where controversy brews over pitches, batting dominance, and the role of bowlers. From Ajinkya Rahane's pitch request at Eden Gardens to Kagiso Rabada's candid take on the rising scores in the tournament, we explore the latest trends and debates around cricket's most exciting league. Plus, updates on Arif Khan's Winter Olympics qualification and a breakthrough in Indian athletics.Produced by Ichha SharmaMixed and edited by Suresh Pawar

It's summertime, and that can only mean one thing—the IPL is back! In this episode, hosts Mihir Vasavda, Vinayak Mohanarangan, and Venkat Krishna B. chat all things IPL, from Dhoni's fitness and Chennai's spin-heavy strategy to surprise captaincy calls at RCB and KKR. Will this be MS Dhoni's final bow? Can Punjab Kings finally come of age? And what does ‘Project Bumrah' mean for MI and Team India?Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Sunil Chhetri, one of the greatest footballers of his generation, had bid farewell to international football nine months ago. However, with India facing a do-or-die situation in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers, the former captain has made an unexpected return to the national team.This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath discuss what Chhetri's comeback means for Indian football and the concerns it raises about the team's future.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In today's episode, hosts Mihir Vasavada and Amit Kamath discuss India's long-awaited victory in the ICC Champions Trophy and their first ICC tournament win since 2013. From Virat Kohli's tournament performance, which could silence retirement talks for now, to Rohit Sharma's match-winning knock. The hosts also discuss the standout performances, like KL Rahul's solid innings and Varun Chakravarthy's incredible bowling, which led India to the finish line. Hosted by Mihir Vasavda and Amit KamathProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, our cricket correspondent Venkata Krishna B joins hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan, and Amit Kamath to discuss the recent India-Pakistan match in the Champions Trophy, noting that while the rivalry was exciting, the match itself didn't live up to expectations. They also look forward to India's upcoming match against New Zealand.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, our cricket correspondent Venkata Krishna B joins hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan, and Amit Kamath to discuss the complexities of the Champions Trophy's hybrid model and the challenge of balancing two vastly different playing conditions between Pakistan and Dubai, its impact on team strategies, and the road ahead for India and other teams.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda, Vinayakk Mohanarangan, and Amit Kamath discuss the latest developments in Indian hockey. As the FIH Pro League begins in Bhubaneswar—also serving as a 2026 World Cup qualifier—India's men's and women's teams make their return to international competition, each with their own distinct goals.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath discuss Indians and people of Indian origin investing in franchises of The Hundred, a British cricket league. They then talk about India's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, two decades after the controversial 2010 edition.Produced by Ichha Sharma and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

From the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand to potential future stars like Anupama Upadhyay and Rakshitha Ramraj, The Indian Express' Shivani Naik joins host Mihir Vasavda, Amit Kamath, and Vinayakk Mohanarangan to discuss the current state of Indian badminton. In light of recent tournaments and the upcoming Olympic cycle, she reviews the sport's highs and lows, offering insights into where Indian badminton stands today and what the future might hold.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Returning from Australia after covering the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Indian Express chief cricket writer Sri Veera joins hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath to share ground-level stories, behind-the-scenes reporting challenges, and unique insights into covering an international cricket series.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Gukesh is the world champion, and another Indian could challenge for the title in 2026. Magnus Carlsen is no longer interested in competing for the World Chess Championship. There is also the prospect of a breakaway league looming. What does this mean for chess? Hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Amit Kamath discuss it in this episode of Game Time.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

India lost their grip on the Border Gavaskar Trophy as they lost the Sydney Test. The Indian Express' Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda recap a disappointing outcome with Sriram Veera joining from Sydney.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

A whopping FIFTEEN wickets fell on Day 2 of the Sydney Test. The Indian Express' Vinayakk Mohanarangan, Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavda recap the day's action with Sriram Veera joining from Sydney.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Another batting debacle leaves India on the ropes in the series finale, with Gill and Kohli getting out in questionable fashion while Pant shows willingness to take blows before being dismissed. The Indian Express' Vinayakk Mohanarangan, Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavda recap the day's action with Sriram Veera joining from Sydney.Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

An exclusive story by The Indian Express' Devendra Pandey, Sriram Veera, and Venkata Krishna B went viral online yesterday. The report revealed that shortly after India lost seven wickets in 20.4 overs, conceding the Melbourne Test to Australia, head coach Gautam Gambhir delivered stern remarks to the entire squad in the dressing room on Monday. The story sparked widespread discussion about the current state of the Indian cricket team, Gambhir's leadership, and whether such a 'leak' should have been reported at all.In this episode, host Mihir Vasavda is joined by Devendra Pandey to dig deeper into the story and address the questions it has raised.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarRead the story here: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/gautam-gambhir-india-dressing-room-chaos-cracks-whip-bgt-ind-aus-9753802/

Hosts Mihir Vasavda, Amit Kamath, and Vinayakk Mohanaranga wrap up the year by discussing the most significant sporting moments of 2024, highlighting the triumphs, controversies, and the unforgettable events that defined the year.Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Vinayakk Mohanaranga and Mihir Vasavda are joined by Sriram Veera and Pratyush Raj to dissect India's defeat in the fourth Test, which leaves them trailing 1-2 heading into the final match of the series. They also discuss the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as well as Rishabh Pant's another debatable dismissal.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Vinayakk Mohanarangan, Venkata Krishna, and our man in Melbourne, Sriram Veera, look back at Day 4 of the Melbourne Test where India had Australia in a spot of bother but let things slip.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Sriram Veera, Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda look back at the young batsman's maiden Test century that has given India a fighting chance to save the Test match.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Sriram Veera, Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda look back at a dramatic day where India seem to have lost the plot in the last 20 minutes that saw Jaiswal getting run out, Kohli losing his wicket cheaply and India staring down the barrel once again.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan, Mihir Vasavda and Sriram Veera analyse the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, which lived up to the hype. 19-year-old debutant Konstas challenged Bumrah & Co. in an unprecedented manner as Australia dominated Day 1. But the biggest talking point will be Kohli's barging into Konstas's shoulder in a show of aggression.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In today's episode, Venkata Krishna B joins Vinayakk to discuss the surprising decision by Ravichandran Ashwin to retire in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar series and much more.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Sriram Veera, Mihir Vasavda, and Sandip G discuss how Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah dug deep to brighten India's chances of salvaging a draw from an impossible situation after KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja scored fine fifties, with Australia set to be without the injured Josh Hazlewood for the remainder of the Test and possibly the series.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Sriram Veera joins Mihir Vasavda and Lalith Kalidas to analyse India's batting collapse, whether the visitors can save this Test and wonder how Jasprit Bumrah must feel like watching his teammates cheaply throw away their wickets.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Can India still salvage the Brisbane Test? Sriram Veera joins us with insights from the Gabba, while Mihir Vasavda and Vinayakk Mohanarangan discuss Rohit Sharma and Co struggles.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Sriram Veera joins us from Brisbane, with insights on how Indian players have been faring before the third Test, alongside Mihir Vasavda and Vinayakk Mohanarangan.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Yesterday, the 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju upstaged China's Ding Liren in the final game of their best-of-14-games to become the youngest ever world chess champion in Singapore. Gukesh is now the second Indian to claim the prestigious classical chess world title, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand.In this episode, hosts Amit Kamath, Mihir Vasavda, and Vinayakk Mohanarangan discuss Gukesh's historic victory, and how he managed to outplay the reigning champion.Further listening: Why 17-yr-old Gukesh is a worthy successor to Vishy AnandProduced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Australia level the five-match series with a comfortable 10-wicket win. Our cricket correspondent Venkata Krishna B joins hosts Mihir and Vinayakk to analyse the defeat, captain Rohit Sharma's slump and if it's affecting his captaincy.Produced by Niharika NandaEdited and Mixed by Suresh Pawar

With India on the brink of losing the Adelaide Test, Sriram Veera joins us from Australia to discuss Day 2 action with Mihir Vasavda and Vinayakk Mohanarangan.Produced by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Sriram Veera joins from Adelaide as Mihir Vasavda and Vinayakk Mohanarangan discuss a brilliant Day 1 for Australia in the 2nd Test.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Sriram Veera, The Indian Express' man in Australia, joins from Adelaide with Mihir Vasavda and Vinayakk Mohanarangan, looking forward to the 2nd Test of Border Gavaskar Trophy.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar