Express Sports

Episodes

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  What to expect from badminton, hockey World Championships 16.08.2026 29m

  This week, Pritish Raj and Mihir Vasavda look forward to the badminton World Championship and hockey World Cup, and analyse the draws and storylines to watch out for. It kicks off a busy period that also includes the Asian Games next month.Produced by Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  India vs Sri Lanka Tests preview with Robin Singh 10.08.2026 35m

  This week, The Indian Express cricket expert Venkata Krishna B speaks to former India all-rounder Robin Singh ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka, starting this weekend. Robin shares his views on the critical issues facing Indian cricket as the team enters a crucial phase.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  What next for Rohit Sharma and India’s ODI Team? 31.07.2026 19m

  Rohit Sharma’s future in India’s ODI team remains uncertain. With no official word from the selectors, hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath are joined by Lalith Kalidas to discuss the questions surrounding his place in the team, whether it is fair to single him out for India’s recent struggles, and what the team could lose by moving on from him.They also discuss whether Yashasvi Jaiswal is ready to take over, the challenges of preparing for overseas conditions, and the larger questions around India’s selection policy, team management and lack of clarity ahead of the 2027 World Cup.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Commonwealth Games: India's chances and why they aren't a priority this time 24.07.2026 27m

  The CWG began yesterday, but there's barely any buzz around it. It's not because the FIFA World Cup has dominated the headlines, but because this scaled-back edition of the Games has significantly reduced India's medal prospects. And for many of the athletes competing, the CWG is little more than a warm-up for the Asian Games. Host Mihir Vasavda and Pritish Raj discuss all this and much more in this week's episode.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Has Gambhir's India lost the T20 plot? 17.07.2026 28m

  After more than 1,500 days at the top of the ICC T20I rankings, India were knocked off the perch by England following a 5-0 series whitewash. The humiliation in England was preceded by another series defeat, in Ireland, and suddenly, the world champions coached by Gautam Gambhir are looking wobbly. In this week's episode, hosts Amit and Mihir are joined by The Indian Express' cricket expert Venkata Krishna B, who explains the reasons behind the troubled run.Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Indian athletics hits its stride 09.07.2026 24m

  Hosts Amit and Mihir are joined by The Indian Express' athletics correspondent, Pritish Raj, to unpack why India's track and field athletes have been rewriting the record books. They examine how these performances compare with Asian and global standards, discuss why some results warrant cautious optimism, and look ahead to this month's Commonwealth Games.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  FIFA World Cup from ground zero 28.06.2026 26m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Neeraj Chopra returns, qualifies for CWG 22.06.2026 24m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  FIFA World Cup is here: After chaotic build-up, it's game time 08.06.2026 22m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Why CSK need to look beyond MS Dhoni for a facelift 31.05.2026 26m

  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 SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Inside the games for athletes on steroids 27.05.2026 23m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  How bureaucrats used sports funds to upgrade colony 20.05.2026 26m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  IPL: Why BCCI is worried about unauthorised people entering dugouts 11.05.2026 24m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Tall expectations: The rise of India's badminton star Ayush Shetty 06.05.2026 26m

  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 BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Does Carlsen have a beef with Gukesh? 27.04.2026 28m

  In this episode, hosts Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavda discuss Magnus Carlsen's remarks on Gukesh's 'understanding' of chess - one of the many critical remarks the former world champion has made on the reigning champ. They analyse the strengths and weaknesses of Gukesh and Sindarov, who will face off for the world title later this year, and end the episode by discussing why India's bid for 2038 Asian Games sounds more reasonable than other events the country wants to host.Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  What Vaishali’s Candidates win means for Indian women in chess 19.04.2026 27m

  This week on the show, we discuss the story behind the making of the newest World Championship challenger from India, R Vaishali.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  The rise and rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 13.04.2026 25m

  In this week's episode, Amit, Vinayakk and Mihir marvel over the emergence of teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has taken the IPL by a storm. They analyse his early days, the technique and mindset that set him apart, and the need to nurture a young talent with care. And, at the end of the episode, there's also a special farewell.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  Italy misses FIFA World Cup again: A dynasty in decline 05.04.2026 26m

  This week on the show, hosts Vinayakk and Mihir are joined by Shashank Nair to discuss Italy’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and how it compares to the decline of other sporting dynasties. They also talk about soaring World Cup prices that could deter travelling fans, and share the storylines they’re looking forward to in the 48-team tournament starting June 11.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  What did discrimination cost Laxman Sivaramakrishnan? 30.03.2026 28m

  Laxman Sivaramakrishnan made his Test debut at just 17 and was seen as one of India’s brightest cricketing talents of the 1980s. But behind that early promise was a more difficult journey, marked by the pain of discrimination over his skin colour. In this episode, Venkata Krishna B joins Vinayakk Mohanarangan to unpack his story. You’ll also hear from LS himself, as he reflects on his journey in his own words.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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  A year of painful transition for Indian hockey 23.03.2026 40m

  Hosts Vinayakk and Mihir are joined by hockey coach and commentator Siddharth Pandey this week to talk about all things Indian hockey. The men's team recently lost all their matches at home and remained winless at the tour of Australia. Have the back-to-back Olympic medallists begun the transition too late, and will that impact their World Cup ambitions? They also discuss the bold decisions taken by women's coach Sjoerd Marijne as he aims to rebuild a side that was in doldrums.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar