Cricket Unplugged- A Podcast on Cricket

As we see the biggest T20 league in the world, Indian Premier League(IPL) unfold in the UAE currently, we decided to shed light on a rather grim and dark time in the league's history that led to two franchises especially one of the most loved in the IPL, CSK being banned for two years. 

We get our host Sooraj, who has been a CSK fan since the tournament's inception to provide his take on what that match fixing/betting scandal meant for ardent CSKians. How did it affect them? Did they dissociate themselves from the IPL those two years? And we round up on a hopeful note that the beautiful game must stay away from such scandals or controversies in future. 

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Cricket is a beautiful game and will continue to be so. But one can't deny that there have been certain incidents/ scandals that have presented the game in bad light. Apart from being a Cricket Analyst, I have been and continue to support the Australian cricket team. The teams under Steve Waugh's leadership and Ricky Ponting have played a defining role in my passion for the game. 

In this episode, I don the hat of an Australian fan and try to present how it must have been from the other side, especially when the cricketing fraternity and media were openly pouncing the Aussie side post the unfortunate incident that happened on 24th March, 2018.  Yes, those cricketers deserved to be punished, but was the treatment meted out to them fair and 'within the spirit of the game'? 

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What does it take to have such a loyal, close knit support base like the CSK franchise have enjoyed over the years?? Why are fans so connected with CSK despite all the trials and tribulations they went through which included their two year ban from the tournament. 

Every player who is a part of CSK feels like it's a family and we have  our host Sooraj pour his heart out about CSK and why he is so attached and connected with the franchise from the past twelve years!! This episode is a special tribute to all the 'Whistle Podu' fans who I am sure will be rooting for their franchise even this year! 

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The most coveted and the biggest T20 carnival in world cricket- IPL is back!! After some doubts owing to COVID-19, now the stage is set for the cash rich league to kick start off in the UAE from September 19th, 2020. And quiet naturally, like everyone else we at Cricket Unplugged are eagerly waiting for the action to start! 

In this episode we do a preview of our own, where we look at how this IPL could shape up sans the fans. Can the UAE and BCCI pull off such a high profile tournament blemish free? It certainly is a challenging task to keep so many players in a biosecure bubble for this long. 

Also, we discuss the possible advantages of players having played in the English summer and the CPL who could add a lot of value for their respective franchises as they have got a lot of play time already in the past couple of months. 

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Cricket might have received its razzmatazz in the truest form decades later, clear hints around the same were pretty much evident during the World Series Cricket played between 1977-1979.  The tournament might not have lived long but encapsulated all the contemporary facets of cricket especially that of the T20 leagues being played around the world.

Coloured kits, protective helmets, field restrictions and day-night cricket, all of which are pretty common things in modern-day cricket were all pioneered during the World Series Cricket. Fitness, which has become a must during these times of the sport being played throughout the year, also gained awareness during the World Series Cricket for the players were required to play a lot of matches during a limited window.

That being said, the biggest positive coming out from the tournament was the belief that the sport can be marketed successfully to gain affirmative results as far as the commerce was concerned.

In this episode, we take you back time to a series or competition in World Cricket that has truly shaped the sport: much of what we see in Cricket now was envisioned and delivered way back in 1977-1979 by one man's vision- Kerry Packer! 

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In the previous episode,  we at Cricket Unplugged took the listeners to what we felt are India's most iconic moments and memories in Test cricket over the years. The focus of this episode would be recollecting India's iconic performances over the years in Blues- ODIs and T20Is. 

India under MSD's leadership paved the way for World glory not once but thrice. We look at how MSD's captaincy has played such an integral role in India and World cricket's growth in T20 cricket in particular as the inaugural World T20 win in 2007 led to the formation of the IPL that has changed the face of cricket. 

We take the listeners down memory lane, by revisiting some iconic performances in the years gone by that featured the likes of MSD, Virat Kohli and a certain Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar!

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On the occasion of the 74th Independence Day, we decided to dedicate one episode to the cricketers who have defined India's rise in World cricket over the decades. It's a thrilling and exhilarating experience to witness these cricketers go about their work as every Indian feels connected at various levels with their favorite cricketers or the Indian team. 

This episode is all about presenting our thoughts and memories of India's finest wins and performances in Test Cricket over the decades. From Sunil Gavaskar's brilliance in 1971 vs West Indies to Gautam Gambhir's superlative performance in New Zealand and everything in between, we have it covered!

Special mentions are provided but the overall focus for this special episode is India's memorable performances overseas over the years, especially against the British or England team. 

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Many of you who have been following the game must have heard about the Kolpak Deal as a result of which many prominent and talented players from especially the African cricket countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe decided to forego the pride and honor to play for their country and instead chose to move to the United Kingdom and play for English counties. The main reason stated by players who took this deal was financial security. 

So then what really is the Kolpak Deal? Why has it affected cricketers from South Africa and Zimbabwe as much as it has in the past decade or so? Isn't playing for the country the biggest motivation and drive for a professional sportsman? Or do they also have to think about other factors that may not make too much sense for a common cricket fan.

We discuss about this grave and sensitive issue plaguing World cricket in this episode where we present our personal take and opinions on this issue and look at what we think this has done for the quality of cricket coming out of South Africa and Zimbabwe in the past 7-10 years.

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In the last and final segment with Sri Hari, we dig into one area or aspect of the game that he's really interested in- Lefties. I found out why he rates left-handers especially left arm pacers so well, along with getting him to name his favorite players who are lefties. One name strung a chord- Irfan Pathan! 

Apart from that, I also got him to give his opinion on the importance of T20Is and T20 leagues and how he spoke on our behalf when he said he hoped that Cricket doesn't become a sport ruled by T20 leagues post resumption of the sport worldwide. Nothing can beat watching International cricket.

We end this segment and our conversation by putting him on the back foot through a rapid-fire style Q&A!!

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In this fun filled segment with our special guest from the Bay Area in the USA, we discuss about various topics that matter a lot to the both of us. It was great getting to know and get an insight into his mind on a multitude of topics, the most important being his keen interest in Women's cricket!

We ended the first segment with us sharing our personal reasons for moving away from the IPL and not following the tournament as much as we used to earlier. In this episode, we get talking about the role Umpires play in the sport especially with the new rule introduced by the ICC to allow three DRS in a Test match. 

Also, it was interesting to know about what SriHari was watching during the lock down phase when there was no cricket. There was a clear indication as to whose shows he found to be the best! Something I really enjoyed listening to! We round up this fun conversation with his take on the controversial 'Mankading' rule and also how we feel R Ashwin could well be the fresh voice that India needs in the commentator's box in the future!

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In this special episode which happens to be the second episode where we get a guest on the show! It's always intriguing and interesting to know their side of the story when it comes to various topics and aspects about the game that is a common connection. 

This segment focuses on the guest- my childhood friend SriHari, who is a Bangalorean  at  heart and is someone working in USA now. Have always found his views on the game very interesting to listen to over the years. He brings in a pragmatic point of view while discussing various aspects of the game. 

Here we get talking about his inroads into the game, his personal story of how he started becoming a Cricket fan, the memories associated with that. Along with that we dwell into his current situation, being in USA- How has that shaped his love and fondness for the game. We also discuss about one thing we have in common- lost fondness for the IPL as a tournament. 

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India's version of the controversial and path-breaking Cricket World series that happened in 1984-1985 where Kerry Packer managed to bring in the best talent from across the globe and go against the norm in all aspects was the controversial laden Indian Cricket League(ICL).

This tournament was pioneered by Subash Chandra, the head of Zee Corporation who had his own personal score to settle with the BCCI. He made BCCI and world cricket believe in the business potential of a T20 tournament that includes the best and popular players from across the globe in the two years it was in existence. 

A big chunk of Indian Premier League(IPL)'s inception and idea came into fruition thanks to the ICL.  In a big way, without the learning got through the ICL ensured IPL is as big a tournament as it is now. 

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There was a premier Indian domestic tournament called the Challenger series/ trophy that was played between 1999 up until 2013. This tournament was the base or platform for established Indian team players to face off against the upcoming talents.  More or less what IPL is nowadays. 

It was played after the culmination of the Ranji Trophy season and was mainly completed in a weeks time. It was possibly India's premier domestic 50 over tournament apart from the VIjay Hazare trophy which is an interstate competition. 

This episodes deals with hat happened to the Challenger trophy? What are some of the memorable moments from the tournament and we present our  favorite knocks and spells from the tournament that lost it's purpose post IPL emerging as such a big force that's shook up World cricket. 

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What transpired before the England- West Indies test series was a stirring and heartfelt talk about the 'Black Lives Matter' campaign that shook the world of cricket. We had the former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding break down on camera recollecting what it was like for his parents to face constant racism owing to their skin color. 

In this episode, we are going to focus on the issue of Discrimination and Bias in cricket. Discrimination happens on various levels- color of skin and religion to name a few factors. We look at this very grave and serious issue and analyze why this issue needs to be addressed now and how sportsmen  especially prominent cricketers can help in reducing this clearly visible discrimination and bias seen in the sport. 

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In this new episode of Cricket Unplugged, we focus on Indian Captains in particular. India have had three stalwarts who have led the team with aplomb since the 2000s.  Sourav Ganguly inherited the team when Indian cricket was at it's lowest ebb since I have started watching the game and his captaincy saw India rise as a force to reckon it. He didn't have the sliver-ware to prove his credentials as a skipper but the sort of impact he left on Indian cricket is unparalleled. 

We then look at a MS Dhoni who took India to #1 ranking in Test cricket for a period of eighteen months to him winning three major ICC trophies- ICC World T20, ICC World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy? Does this qualify and make him the best skipper India has ever had?

Also, discussed in this episode is the rise and rise of Indian cricket under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. India missed out in the ICC World Cup 2019 but created history by winning a Test series for the first time in Australia in 2019. 

So the question to be asked is who is your favorite skipper??

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In the latest episode of Cricket Unplugged, we  get talking about two significant eras in Cricket that shaped the sport for the better: Clive Llyod's West Indies that ruled and dominated World cricket in the 1970's & 1980's and Steve Waugh's Australia that trampled oppositions across the world in the 1990's. 

Can one team be better than the other? Both of us present our opinion on each side and why probably one team could rank higher than the other. We also look at an interesting proposition where we find out what a great like Sir Vivian Richards could have probably achieved if he had started playing from the early 1990's. 

Through this episode on Cricket Eras,  we would definitely take the listeners down memory lane and make them remember some of the greats of the game who we have had the privilege to see either live or on TV! 

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In the second part of this episode with my brother Varun,  I get his views on some very serious issues pertaining to Cricket such as:

1. The bias against players from South Indian states; how if given a prolonged opportunity could have helped them make an larger impact on the international game.

2.  Are we as Tamilians reading too much into this issue? Or are there any valid reasons to justify the treatment meted out to them? Also,  a little bit about his fondness for Dinesh Karthik and why he could have been far more of a figure to reckon with internationally if handled better.

3.  His thoughts on how the lock-down period has helped him in reigniting his fondness for the game, which was missing in the past few years. 

4.  His take on the mental issues and stress cricketers go through. On how players like Glen Maxwell and ABD have helped in many others coming up and talking about this very prevalent aspect of the game. 

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In this episode of Cricket Unplugged, I have a freewheeling chat about Cricket with someone who is instrumental in me becoming a Cricket fanatic and Analyst, my brother Varun Ravichandran. He is someone who was a Cricket freak but off late he has been following the game from a distance. 

We dwell into various aspects of the game such as; How did he become a Cricket fanatic? When did Cricket mean more than just another sport for him? His thoughts on the iconic 2001 Test series between India and Australia, recollecting and going down memory lane back to our childhood. 

Also, we have Varun providing his take on the relevance of Test Cricket over T2OIs and IPL and also players that have attracted or inspired him in his formative years especially when he was actively playing the sport. 

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In this episode of Cricket Unplugged, the topics of discussion are the truly Unsung heroes of Cricket. How many people remember Amol Mazumdar, Wasim Jaffer, Brad Hodge, Stuart Mcgilll or a Jalaj Saxena? Is proven match-winning talent in the First Class circuit not considered as enough accomplishment to play for their countries?

In India, is playing for the IPL the only parameter for selection into the national team? Do Indian selectors really care too much about performances of players in the Ranji Trophy? Why is one fantastic IPL mean national selection and recognition? 

We also dwell into the Mumbai Lobby in Indian cricket that may have ended the careers of many talented players coming in from the Southern part of India. And also, we bring up certain players whose contribution has gone unnoticed over the years. 

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In this episode of Cricket Unplugged, we get more personal and interactive. Everyone has their favorite memories, moments and performances from ICC World Cups. 

Not all memories are fond, not all would evoke the same reaction from everyone who follows the game but that's the beauty of the sport and World Cups!

I present my admiration for the Minnows and how watching and looking forward to ICC Cricket World Cups to see teams from less recognized teams play on the big stage.  There's also lot of interactive fun, a quiz as well to round off our discussion on ICC Cricket World Cups. 

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In this Podcast, we dwell into a topic that is close to every Cricket fan and is of extreme pride and importance for people who dont follow the sport- ICC Cricket World Cups. Everyone's patriotism peaks at a different level when their team plays in Cricket World Cups. 

We present the most memorable spells and batting performances from ICC World Cups from the time we have been following the game. This would take the listeners down memory lane as we kindle the happiness, sadness and try to relive the drama associated to such performances that stick in people's minds even now!

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This is a Cricket Podcast that is hosted by Sooraj, a Cricket enthusiast and freak and me, Raghav a Cricket Analyst and fan. We discuss and get deep into topics that interest, intrigue us about the beautiful game of Cricket! 

In this podcast, we let the listeners know who are our favorite Test cricketers are over the years and what makes them special and also we end this fascinating episode with a fun, interesting and tough quiz that left me pleasantly surprised!!

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In this episode, we have a special guest, Dr V. Manjunath who goes by the twitter handle @thefallingsweep. A plastic surgeon by profession, hes a huge cricket lover and describes himself as an eternal optimist! It was great having him come onboard our podcast to do a Mid-Season review of Dream11 IPL 2020! 

We get to discussing on various aspects of this IPL such as the price tag and how that affects the performances of players, the biggest hits & misses so far in this tournament, the importance of a stabilized core to succeed in a tournament like this. 

And we also end up bringing up the manner in which Chennai Super Kings(CSK) has fared this year so far and also we present the four teams who  would make it to the playoffs. And we stress upon the importance of not falling prey to the toxicity that's dished at us on Twitter and other social media platforms. 

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Everyone knows that the IPL is the best possible platform where talent meets opportunity. The best players in the world converge in a two month T20 carnival which allows youngsters and upcoming stars to rub shoulders and share the dressing room with their idols. 

One breakthrough season for their respective franchises could propel them to national glory for their countries. 

In this episode, we at 'Cricket Unplugged' go in-depth into each franchise and present who are the player/players who we were keenly looking forward  to perform in this IPL and who have impressed us and hopefully can continue to have a good season for their franchises.  Some choices have fascinating stories, one people must know about! 

Also considering the times we are in currently, as many are saying: Is the IPL 2020 the best thing to have happened this year??

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