Watching, studying, writing, talent-spotting: a life in cricket

In this special episode, we chat with veteran cricket journalist and author Makarand Waingankar. Over the last five decades, Makarand has been witness to the changing tides in Indian cricket. He has written extensively about the game – from the  maidans as well as the giant stadiums – and carries with him stories and anecdotes to last several lifetimes.  Apart from his work as a journalist, Makarand played a key role at the BCA-Mafatlal Academy in the early 1990s - which produced cricketers like Abey Kuruvilla, Salil Ankola, Paras Mhambrey and Sairaj Bahutule. A decade later, he would play a vital part in the setting up of the BCCI's Talent Resource Development Wing, which would go on to unearth talents like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and Piyush Chawla. We chat with Makarand about the various hats he has worn over the years, and he provides us with a wonderful portrait of how cricket was when he started his journey and how vastly different things are now. Talking Points: Sunil Gavaskar's emergence in Bombay cricket Ashok Mankad's tactical genius Ravi Shastri's ability to rise to the occasion Frank Tyson, the gentle giant Abey Kuruvilla's meteoric rise The Talent Resource Development Wing Jagmohan Dalmaya's vision The current state of talent-spotting in India The lack of passion in Mumbai cricket Participants: Makarand Waingankar (@wmakarand) Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Related: A million broken windows: he magic and mystique of Bombay cricket - Makarand Waingankar Guts and Glory - Makarand Waingankar Yuvi - Makarand Waingankar Bombay Boys - Makarand Waingankar Makarand Waingankar interview - cricketcountry.com Makarand Waingankar columns since 2015