Richa & MV sit down to discuss the 5 teams in the WPL, the absurdity of Indian selectors which is the reason that we discuss so many redemption arcs, Jon Lewis’ luck (finally?), why are MI so good, can DC finally win the WPL, why spinners might not rule the roost, 4 venues means new fans and why RCB women are the toast of Bengaluru town & last year’s win matters so much more.

We reviewed the teams in the following order -

1. Gujarat Giants

2. Mumbai Indians

3. UP Warriorz

4. Delhi Capitals

5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

This is one of those painfully researched episodes because we really want to make the WPL interesting for us to watch.

In this episode we discuss the new guidelines for pupils of the BCCI Residential Hostel under the aegis of Principal Shri Gautam Gambhir.

We did a snake-style draft between the 3 of us (MV, Nishant & friend of the pod – Saurabh) to find out the Top 15 Most Memorable (largely painful) ODI knocks played against India.

Order of Picks –

Nishant (N)

Saurabh (S)

MV (M)

Here are the 15 –

1.

Douglas Marillier’s 56* at Faridabad (N)

2.

Chris Cairns’ 102* in the ICC Knockout final 2000 at Nairobi (S)

3.

Aravinda De Silva’s 66 off 47 in 1996 WC Semi final in Calcutta (M)

4.

Travis Head’s 137(120) in the Khada Hoon Aaj Bhi Wahin 2023 Finals at Modium (M)

5.

Fakhar Zaman’s 117 in the Champions Trophy final in 2017 (S)

6.

Shakib Al-Hasan’s 49 off 31 in Sachin’s 100th 100 game (N)

7.

Shahid Afridi’s 102 (46) at Green Park. Casual. (N)

8.

17 Y.O Tamim Iqbal’s 51 off 53 at Port of Spain to change ODI WC’s forever (S)

9.

Sanath Jayasuriya’s 79 off 76 at Delhi in the 1996 WC to signify ‘dehshat’ & ‘khauff’ for a generation (M)

10.

Ricardo Powell’s 124(93) in the Coca Cola Singapore Challenge Finals (M)

11.

Marlon Samuels 108* (75) in the series decider in 2002 of a 7 match ODI series (S)

12.

Saeed Anwar’s 194. ‘Nuff Said.(N)

13.

Mark Waugh’s 126(135) at Wankhede in the 1996 WC (N)

14.

Gibbs’ 116 (retd hurt) in the Champions Trophy Semi Finals (S)

15.

Ijaz Ahmed’s 139* (84) at Lahore in 1997 (M)

Honourable Mentions

-

Ponting’s 140 in 2003 WC final

-

Strauss’ 158 in 2011 WC

-

Sanath’s 189

-

Smith’s hundred in the 2015 WC semi

-

Dilshan’s 160 in the 415 chase at Rajkot

-

Mahela’s 103 in the 2011 WC final

-

Inzi’s 122(102) at Karachi in the Pundits of Pakistan series

Stuff you can go back to –

OG Pace is Pace Yaar gang (Ahmer, Osman, Hasan Cheema, Shoaib Naveed, Imran, Assad etc) celebrating the 2017 CT finals win - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WJ2zKwuvgA

Our rant, as usual.

We review the Gabba test and the sudden Ash Anna retirement.

We review the Adelaide test, the noise around it and also some Mahatma Cote analysis.

We review the teams after the mega-auction and the food that they are analogous to.

We review the first test of the India-Australia series. Also, who is Anil Sir?

We talk of the buzz around the BGT and the chest-thumping and bullying around the CT.