Mumbai Indians are OUT of IPL 2026 — but why has one of cricket's greatest franchises struggled so badly in recent years? In this week's episode of The Inside Edge, host Shachi Pai and cricket expert Sanjay Manjrekar break it all down.

From Surya Kumar Yadav's form slump to Rohit Sharma's early dismissals, the duo dig into what's gone wrong at MI — and whether Hardik Pandya should still be captain. They also discuss Jasprit Bumrah's untapped leadership potential and what a post-Hardik MI might look like.

Plus:

• Why Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood are rewriting the T20 bowling playbook
• Rishabh Pant's white ball struggles — is it technical, mental, or something deeper?
• Should IPL franchises have control over their home pitches?
• The growing concern around player conduct, inside information leaks, and the IPL's code of conduct
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi as an Impact Sub — are we seeing only half a cricketer?
• Virat Kohli, controlled aggression, and what makes him truly unique

This week's audience question: Should Hardik Pandya continue as Mumbai Indians captain? Drop your thoughts using #AskSanjay on X, Facebook, and Instagram @SportstarWeb.

#CricketPodcast #InsightEdge #SanjayManjrekar

In Episode 3 of The Insight Edge Podcast with Sanjay Manjrekar and Shachi Pai, we explore the controversies enveloping Rajasthan Royals, Suryakumar Yadav's frustrating lean patch, why Sanjay has temporarily stepped back from IPL commentary duties and much more.

#CricketPodcast #InsightEdge #SanjayManjrekar

On episode two of Sportstar presents The Insight Edge, Sanjay Manjrekar and Shachi Pai look at how the IPL has been reduced to a bowler graveyard, dissect some scintillating performances from KL Rahul and Sanju Samson and try to understand how Indian pace talent can be adequately nurtured for longevity.

You can also watch the full episode on Sportstar's YouTube Channel.

#SportstarPodcast #TheInsightEdge #SanjayManjrekar #IPL2026

Sportstar presents The Insight Edge, a brand new cricket show where host Shachi Pai sits down with veteran India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar to break down the biggest talking points in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League.

Known for his no-nonsense approach to punditry, Manjrekar broke down the troubles facing a blunt Mumbai Indians bowling attack, selection problems plaguing Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings’ inability to wean away from the MS Dhoni phenomenon and much more.

A new episode drops every Monday on Sportstar’s YouTube channel. You can also listen to the chat on all major podcasting platforms.

You can watch the full episode on Sportstar's YouTube channel here.

#IndianCricket #IPL #Sportstar #SportstarPodcast

The 2025–26 Ranji Trophy quarterfinals concluded with historic upsets and dominant performances, setting the stage for the semifinals starting February 15.

• Jammu & Kashmir made history by reaching its first-ever semifinal, defeating Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs. Pacer Auqib Nabi was the hero, taking a remarkable 12 wickets in the match.

• Bengal crushed Andhra by an innings and 90 runs, fueled by Sudip Kumar Gharami’s mammoth 299.

• Karnataka knocked out 42-time champion Mumbai in a thriller, winning by four wickets, thanks to a clutch century from KL Rahul.

• Uttarakhand advanced with a clinical innings-and-six-run victory over Jharkhand.

Semifinal Matchups:

• Bengal vs. Jammu & Kashmir

• Karnataka vs. Uttarakhand

The final round of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 group stages (Round 7) concluded on Sunday, delivering high-stakes drama and confirming the eight teams for the quarterfinals.

Decisive results, rank turners, and a massive upset by Chandigarh—Renji Trophy Round 6 had it all. We discuss why 40 wickets fell in less than two days in Rajkot, how Ricky Bhui found form with a "Steve Smith-style" backlift, and why Group B has turned into a four-way race for the knockouts.

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Shayan Acharya, Tarun Shastry, Aditya Padinjat, along with host Abhishek Saini, dive deep into the key performances and moments from the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy.

They discuss Mumbai's crushing innings victory over Pondicherry, the exceptional all-round performance of Jammu & Kashmir against Hyderabad (and the rise of Akhil Samad), and the heartbreaking near-win for Kerala against Madhya Pradesh. The episode also scrutinises the struggles of Tamil Nadu and features a discussion on the controversial mid-season break for white-ball tournaments and its impact on team momentum and player workload.

The defining narratives of Ranji Round 4:

- Historic Win: J&K registers first-ever Ranji win over Delhi, anchored by Qamran Iqbal's unbeaten 133.  

- Mumbai's New Anchor: Musheer Khan steps up with a century and 3 wickets (POTM), addressing top-order issues.  

- POTM Paradox: Shahbaz Ahmed (86 runs, 8 wickets) snubbed for Player of the Match in Bengal's victory.  

- Tamil Nadu Crisis: Senior batters fail captain Sai Kishore's call for accountability in the loss to Andhra.

Subscribe to Matchpoint Paradox, the cricket podcast brought to you by Sportstar, India's oldest sports magazine.Follow Sportstar on social media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/sportstarwebFB: https://www.facebook.com/sportstarwebInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportstarweb/Telegram: https://t.me/sportstarweb