Express Sports

In this week’s episode, Mihir Vasavda talks to chief coach of the women’s hockey team, Sjoerd Marijne, following their fifth place finish at the World Cup. Marijne explains the culture change he had to bring into the team and the work behind the scenes on their fitness to guide the team to its best-ever finish since 1974. Read the interviews here https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/india-womens-hockey-world-cup-best-finish-coach-sjoerd-marijne-10853625/ https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/sjoerd-marijne-hockey-revival-crystals-threads-belief-10853751/

The Indian Express' resident badminton expert Shivani Naik joins Amit Kamath to talk about the recent World Championship hosted by Delhi to talk about Treesa-Gayatri's bronze medal, the performance of the rest of the Indians, the evolution of the jump smash, and the lengths the organisers went to to make the visitors feel at home.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This week, our hosts Amit and Mihir are joined by The Indian Express' Nihal Koshie to discuss the story of the boy who ran into trouble. Aman Malik, a budding long-distance runner from Haryana got embroiled in a doping scandal in Kenya and is sentenced to three years in jail. We discuss his journey and what it indicates about the drugs menace in sports.To read the story, click here: https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/budding-long-distance-runner-haryana-doping-scandal-kenya-10392324/Produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed Suresh Pawar

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shivani Naik, The Indian Express’ badminton expert, joins host Vinayakk and Amit to break down an Indian shuttler’s run to the final of the All England tournament.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

India defeated New Zealand to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 WC titles, turning the Narendra Modi Stadium into the site of a very different memory for Indian cricket fans. India posted 255 for 5, with half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, before their bowlers sealed a dominant win. In today's episode host Mihir Vasavda joined by The Indian Express' Sandip G and Devendra Pandey discuss about how exactly India dismantled New Zealand and where Indian cricket may be heading next.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Amit and Mihir are joined by cricket expert Venkata Krishna B to talk about India's path to the World Cup semifinal. They look back at Sanju Samson's incredible knock against the West Indies, analyse Jasprit Bumrah's greatness and look forward to the two semifinals: New Zealand vs South Africa on Wednesday, followed by India vs England on Thursday.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this week's episode, Amit, Vinayakk and Mihir talk about the heartwarming tales from the T20 World Cup, including Zimbabwe's fairytale run, Nepal fans adding colour to the tournament and the other unfancied teams who have punched above their weight. They also look forward to the Super 8s, as the tournament enters its business end.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this week’s Game Time episode, Vinayakk and Amit discuss Sunday’s India vs Pakistan clash in Colombo that was once again a lopsided contest with Suryakumar Yadav’s side prevailing comfortably. Venkata Krishna, who was at the venue to witness the thrashing, joins in with his inputs.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on the show, Vinayakk, Amit and Mihir get together to preview the T20 World Cup. They begin by discussing if there's a growing World Cup fatigue, with a major event every year since 2021. They also talk about India's explosive batting line-up, wondering if it makes them the overwhelming favourites and touch upon other big storylines - including a Pakistani spinner with unique action - likely to unfold during the tournament.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week, hosts Amit and Mihir discuss how window for athletes to train is shrinking in and around the National Capital Region because of toxic air in winter and searing summers. As the country makes a pitch for the 2036 Olympics, this is adversely impacting the health and training of athletes from a wide range of sports, especially the juniors. International badminton stars who competed in Delhi at the India Open, have complained to the International Olympic Committee about the air pollution, and have cited health concerns.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this episode, hosts Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavda discuss the fallout from Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup, the events leading up to it, and whether it permanently damages cricketing relations between the neighbours.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week, hosts Vinayakk and Mihir dive into the off-court chaos at the India Open badminton tournament — from pigeon droppings on the court to monkeys in the stands. Though even on court, India’s performances, left much to be desired.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Recently, some of the top Indian footballers made a heartfelt appeal to solve the crisis engulfing the domestic game. There are no broadcasters and no investors willing to put their money in Indian football - and now, the players are staring at a pay cut. This week, Vinayakk, Mihir and Shashank Nair talk about Indian football's freefall and why the game finds itself mired in multiple problems.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

As the year comes to a close, we wrap up 2025 with a special year-ender episode. In this edition, we speak to journalists and editors from The Indian Express newsroom, not from the sports desk, about the sporting moments that stayed with them this year. From iconic wins and unforgettable matches to personal favourites that sparked joy, debate, or disbelief, our colleagues share what made 2025 memorable for them as sports fans. Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week, Amit and Mihir are joined by a special guest, Michael Payne. Widely credited as the architect of the modern sports marketing model, Payne offers a ring-side view into some of the biggest Olympic deals and explains how the mega-event was transformed into a commercial colossus. The former marketing director of the International Olympic Committee -- who recently published his third book, _Fast Track and Dark Deals_ -- also explains what India must be wary of as the country mounts and aggressive pitch to host the 2036 Olympics.Produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on the show, host Mihir Vasavda speaks to The Indian Express’ Lalith Kalidas about his investigation into how Puducherry has become a backdoor into Indian cricket’s elite leagues. They discuss how fake addresses, eligibility papers, and a parallel selection system allow players from other states to bypass residency rules, often in plain sight of cricket’s governing bodies, and how money, access, and lax oversight allow the system to thrive.You can read the investigation here.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week, our hosts Amit and Mihir are joined by The Indian Express’ Nihal Koshie to discuss the story of the boy who ran into trouble. Aman Malik, a budding long-distance runner from Haryana got embroiled in a doping scandal in Kenya and is sentenced to three years in jail. We discuss his journey and what it indicates about the drugs menace in sports.To read the story, click here: https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/budding-long-distance-runner-haryana-doping-scandal-kenya-10392324/Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed Suresh Pawar

Former Indian cricket coach international cricketer L. Balaji joins The Indian Express' Mihir Vasavda and Venkata Krishna B to analyse India's 2-0 series loss against South Africa, the concerns in the pace-bowling department and why, despite the defeat, there's no need to panic.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed Suresh Pawar

At the ongoing FIDE World Cup in Goa, neither world champion Gukesh, nor Pragg and Arjun Erigaisi made it to the semis. This week hosts Mihir Vasavda, Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Amit Kamath discuss the extent to which this is a cause for concern.Further listening: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/chess/chess-world-cup-a-question-for-grandmasters-what-after-work-their-reply-take-a-walk-10350335/Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed Suresh Pawar

The journey of Indian women's cricket from sidelines to spotlightThis week, Vinayakk and Mihir are joined by expert guest Ananya Upendran, who played for Hyderabad and India A during her career and is Program Lead at GoSports Foundation for the Equal Hue program. Ananya reflects on the journey of women's cricket over the years and the challenges it overcame before becoming world champions.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda talk about one of the most famous sporting moments in India's history as the women's cricket team won the World Cup on Sunday. They look back at India's campaign, talk about the incredible journeys of the players who made it happen and what this could do for women's cricket in the country.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh PawarAdditional links:Her grit, Her game, Her glory: From Harmanpreet Kaur to Shafali Verma, meet India’s 16 pioneering World Cup winnersHer story is history: Harmanpreet Kaur & Co on top of the world

This week, host Mihir Vasavda talks to The Indian Express chess experts Amit Kamath and Mayank Chaudhary about the untimely passing away of American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky. They talk about how the Russian great Vladimir Kramnik has found himself at the centre of the controversy, and discuss the larger issue of cheating in chess, especially how Kramnik’s unsubstantiated allegations against Naroditsky took a mental toll on him.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The Indian Express' Venkata Krishna B joins host Amit Kamath this week to discuss what fans can expect from Shubman Gill's reign and what the future could hold for stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week on Game Time, hosts Amit Kamath, Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Mihir Vasavda share their views on the complete breakdown of cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. From Suryakumar Yadav's actions to Pakistani players' gestures on the field and the Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi running away with the trophy... Is there a way back from this historic low?Produced Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Amit Kamath, Vinayakk Mohanarangan and Venkata Krishna B discuss the ICC Women’s World Cup starting on September 30 in Guwahati. Can India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, create history by winning their first ever title? And is there truly home advantage?Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Hosts Amit Kamath, Vinayakk Mohanarangan, and Mihir Vasavda discuss Neeraj Chopra’s eighth place finish at the Athletics World Championships, examining the possible reasons behind his struggles this season and how he might bounce back. They also look at Sachin Yadav’s fourth place finish, a result that came as a pleasant surprise.(This episode was record on the 19th of September)Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawas

This week, hosts Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavada are joined by Sandip G, The Indian Express' man on ground in Dubai, covering the Asia Cup. They talk about the India vs Pakistan tie and the calls to cut off the sporting ties. In Dubai, Sandip says there's very little buzz on the eve of the match in which India start as favourites.Produced by Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This week, hosts Amit Kamath and Mihir Vasavda turn their attention to the World Athletics Championships, scheduled for September 13–21. Neeraj Chopra will lead a 12-member Indian team and, notably, return to the site where he transformed from just another athlete into a javelin legend. They look back on the Pandemic Games, the challenges Neeraj overcame before winning gold, and how that moment sparked a javelin revolution in India—with four throwers qualifying for the Worlds, the most from any country.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh

This week, hosts Vinayakk Mohanarangan, Shivani Naik and Mihir Vasavda look back at the Badminton World Championships. Satwik and Chirag won their second medal, a re-energised Sindhu continued her dominance over China, Dhruv-Tanisha had a decent run in mixed doubles but Lakshya Sen had another frustrating outing.Produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar 

This week, The Indian Express' badminton correspondent Shivani Naik joins hosts Mihir Vasavda and Amit Kamath to talk about why a change in taste palette in China is making badminton academy owners in India sweat. Come for Shivani's insights and stay for Mihir's impassioned plea to Indians to eat more duck meat in "national interest".Further reading: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/badminton/shuttlecock-prices-increase-spiral-india-stocks-china-pork-duck-10180007/Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar