Episodes

  • FIFA World Cup from ground zero

    FIFA World Cup from ground zero
    Jun 28 2026
    In this episode, Sandip G., The Indian Express' man on the ground in the US and Mexico, takes us behind the scenes of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Sandip joins hosts Amit and Mihir to talk about the emotions of stepping into the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City for the first time, contrasts the atmosphere there with the mood in the US, and shares his thoughts on the teams that have impressed him most after the group stage.

    Read Sandip's World Cup dispatches here: https://indianexpress.com/profile/author/sandip-g/

    Produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    26 mins
  • Neeraj Chopra returns, qualifies for CWG

    Neeraj Chopra returns, qualifies for CWG
    Jun 22 2026
    Amit and Mihir return this week to talk about Neeraj Chopra's comeback after nearly eight months. The javelin great competed in the Doha Diamond League on Friday - his first competition since the World Championships last year. They discuss his performance, his decision to go solo without a foreign coach, the technical changes and the path ahead as the season picks momentum ahead of the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

    Produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    25 mins
  • FIFA World Cup is here: After chaotic build-up, it's game time

    FIFA World Cup is here: After chaotic build-up, it's game time
    Jun 8 2026
    This week, Mihir Vasavda is joined by Sandip G, The Indian Express' man on the ground in the USA and Mexico, where the FIFA World Cup gets underway this week. Sandip provides a crash course on covering a tournament of this scale, before they discuss why European teams may find it tough to succeed at this tournament, and if Carlo Ancelotti can finally lead Brazil to the promised land.

    Produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    23 mins
  • Why CSK need to look beyond MS Dhoni for a facelift

    Why CSK need to look beyond MS Dhoni for a facelift
    May 31 2026
    In this episode, Mihir Vasavda is joined by The Indian Express' cricket expert Venkata Krishna B. They talk about how Chennai Super Kings - the five-time IPL champions who owe their identity and stature to their former captain - are forced to put their future plans on hold because of Dhoni's uncertain future. They also talk about the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and what it means for Indian cricket.

    Produced by Ichha Sharma
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    27 mins
  • Inside the games for athletes on steroids

    Inside the games for athletes on steroids
    May 27 2026
    In this episode, our co-hosts Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavda discuss one of sport’s most controversial innovations — a competition for athletes who use performance-enhancing drugs. The inaugural edition of the Enhanced Games took place in Las Vegas over the weekend. They examine the ethical questions surrounding the event, as well as its Indian connection.

    In photo: Aron D’Souza, the Indian-origin man whose brainchild the Enhanced Games are, is marketing the event as a disruptor to the Olympics.

    Produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    23 mins
  • How bureaucrats used sports funds to upgrade colony

    How bureaucrats used sports funds to upgrade colony
    May 20 2026
    An investigation by The Indian Express has found that funds meant to support athletes and build public sporting infrastructure were also used to develop high-end facilities inside civil services institutions and a residential colony for bureaucrats. In this episode, host Mihir Vasavda, who undertook this investigation, talks about how the National Sports Development Fund was allegedly diverted, the records uncovered through RTI documents, and why the findings raise larger questions about accountability and the use of public money.

    You can read the investigation here.

    Hosted and produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    27 mins
  • IPL: Why BCCI is worried about unauthorised people entering dugouts

    IPL: Why BCCI is worried about unauthorised people entering dugouts
    May 11 2026
    In this week’s episode, host Mihir Vasavda is joined by cricket expert Venkata Krishna B to discuss a concerning development in the Indian Premier League. The BCCI’s anti-corruption unit has flagged the presence of unauthorised persons in IPL dugouts, and board secretary Devajit Saikia has said there will be no leniency and that no one will be spared. Venkata explains the match-day protocols, the exact nature of the violations, and why the BCCI is concerned.

    Produced by Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    24 mins
  • Tall expectations: The rise of India's badminton star Ayush Shetty

    Tall expectations: The rise of India's badminton star Ayush Shetty
    May 6 2026
    In this week's episode, Amit and Mihir are joined by The Indian Express' badminton expert Shivani Naik to analyse the rise of 21-year-old badminton player Ayush Shetty. The 6-foot-4 shuttler has turned heads with his performances at the Asian Championships and Thomas Cup. Shivani dissects his playing style, the pros and cons of being a tall player and what his emergence means for Indian badminton.

    Produced by Ichha Sharma and Shashank Bhargava
    Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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    26 mins