The Lucknow Super Giants splashed a massive amount of cash on Rishabh Pant in the Indian Premier League 2025 mega-auction. But things went horribly wrong for both Pant and his franchise this season. LSG failed to make it to the playoffs, and Pant endured a historic low in the competition.

Questions were raised about Pant’s ability as a T20 batter and as a leader of the side. In the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari discuss what went wrong with the Lucknow-based franchise and their captain. They also delve into the fortunes of the Delhi Capitals — Pant’s former side — who failed to qualify for the playoffs despite starting the tournament in riveting fashion.

Delhi amassed a strong squad this season but suffered an incredible collapse in the second half. Constant changes in their batting order and the failure of their spinners in the final few matches overshadowed individual brilliance from the likes of KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs. Delhi were also hurt by the failure of their management, who were unable to provide the squad with the right replacements when needed.

Here’s a recap of the near misses from this season of the tournament, with a special focus on the future of LSG captain Rishabh Pant.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

Virat Kohli has announced his shock retirement from Test cricket, just 770 runs short of the coveted 10,000-run mark. Despite the BCCI's efforts to convince him to stay for the upcoming England tour, Kohli decided the time was right to step away. Known for his fiery passion and unrelenting drive, Kohli’s Test legacy remains unmatched. But with his departure, the big question looms: Who will captain India in the red-ball format? Jasprit Bumrah or Shubman Gill? In this episode, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Alan Jose break down Kohli’s decision, his legacy, and what lies ahead for Indian Test cricket. Don’t miss this crucial conversation. Tune in!

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

What were you doing at 14? Vaibhav Suryavanshi, at just 14, has become the toast of the cricketing world after smashing a 35-ball hundred — a knock far beyond his years as he pummelled 11 sixes, two of which travelled over 90 metres.

Vaibhav became the youngest player in Twenty20 history to score a century when he dismantled some of the best bowlers in the business against Gujarat Titans. The audacity and power of his strokes left the cricket world in awe. But is it really possible for a 14-year-old to generate such immense power? We asked his coach, Manish Ojha, about the teenager’s journey from the dusty fields of Bihar to international stardom in the IPL. Ojha revealed that Vaibhav was clearing 90-metre sixes as an 11-year-old.

While Vaibhav has captured the spotlight at an age when most are still dreaming of hitting a boundary in gully cricket, experts believe he must be nurtured with care to ensure his growth stays on track. In the latest episode of The Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Kingshuk Kusari delve into the rise of the IPL’s latest phenomenon.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

Just a week ago, everyone had written off the Mumbai Indians. But with four straight wins and a squad clicking in perfect rhythm, they've roared back into the spotlight. The five-time champions aren't just winning—they're dominating, playing with the swagger and confidence of a team that knows exactly how to conquer titles. In contrast, Rishabh Pant - acquired for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore to lead Lucknow Super Giants - has looked a shadow of his once-destructive self. After nine matches this season, he has mustered just 106 runs, with 63 of those coming in a single knock against CSK.

Pant has always thrived when brimming with confidence, but at LSG, he seems jaded and weighed down by expectations. His strike rate of 96.36 is alarmingly low for someone of his caliber. Part of the issue could be his constant shuffle in the batting order, never quite settling into one role. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja have retained their spots in the Grade A+ bracket of the BCCI central contracts despite stepping away from T20Is. We break down how the BCCI arrived at that decision.

In the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Saurabh Kumar, Kingshuk Kusari, and Alan Jose John dissect the central contracts, Pant's struggles, and Mumbai Indians' roaring comeback in IPL 2025.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

As IPL 2025 approaches its halfway stage, one trend is becoming increasingly clear: teams with strong captain-coach partnerships are thriving. Whether it’s Axar Patel and Hemang Badani, Ashish Nehra and Shubman Gill, or Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting — clear communication and mutual trust are driving success.

We saw a similar impact last year with Gautam Gambhir’s return.

This raises an important question: Is the IPL becoming more like football, where man-management takes centre stage? What exactly is the coach’s role — to offer technical input or to manage egos and personalities?

In the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Rishabh Beniwal dive into the evolving role of coaches and dissect the worst captain-coach combos of the season.

Tune in now!

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

Two of the biggest icons of the IPL, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, are under scrutiny in the 2025 season. The Dhoni mania in Chennai has turned into a cringefest, while concerns over Rohit's form continue to grow.

At 43, Dhoni remains sharp behind the stumps and still packs a punch with the bat. However, the idol-worship in Chennai has taken an uncomfortable turn, with some CSK fans even cheering for the dismissals of players batting ahead of him—sparking criticism from former cricketers.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is struggling to find form. Could Mumbai Indians be forced into a tough decision if his slump continues?

Also, why are some teams unhappy with home curators this season?

In the latest episode of the Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari break down these burning IPL 2025 topics.

Tune in now!

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

Well, RCB are on top of the IPL points table. Yes, after the first round of matches, the men from Bengaluru are sitting pretty. They delivered a stellar performance against defending champions KKR in the IPL 2025 opener. Early signs are promising for the perennial underachievers. Could 18 finally be their lucky number?

Meanwhile, CSK, DC, and SRH kicked off their campaigns with strong performances, but Rajasthan Royals have been dismal in their first two outings. They hardly resemble a side coached by Rahul Dravid.

KKR, on the other hand, bounced back emphatically with a dominant win in Guwahati after their opening-day defeat to RCB.

What’s with teams opting for secondary home venues? Does it truly work in their favour?

And no discussion would be complete without sparing a thought for the bowlers. The IPL is becoming an all-out run-fest, leaving bowlers with nowhere to hide. What does the future hold for bowling in T20 cricket?

In the latest episode of The Sledging Room, Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar, and Kingshuk Kusari break down the opening week of IPL 2025.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

Is Rohit's India the best in ODI history?

India clinched the Champions Trophy 2025 by beating New Zealand. Rohit Sharma's team played a dominant campaign, winning the title without losing a single game. Since taking over the team, Rohit has changed the culture in the Indian team, first under the stewardship of Rahul Dravid and then Gautam Gambhir.

This has resulted in India dominating the ICC white-ball competitions, where they reached the final in the 2023 ODI World Cup and won two trophies in 2024 (T20 World Cup) and 2025 (Champions Trophy).

So, where does that put Rohit on the list of incredible white-ball captains that India has had? And where does this Indian team rank in terms of the best white-ball sides in the world?

In this episode of the Sledging Room Podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Kingshuk Kusari, and Alan John review the Champions Trophy Final and shed light on all the talking points of the tournament.

Stick around till the end, where Akshay continues to ask his weekly trivia question.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Suraj Singh

The Champions Trophy 2025 has reached its final stage. India and New Zealand are set to take on each other in the summit clash at the Dubai International Stadium on March 9, Sunday. While ICC tournaments usually have an edge to them, the ongoing tournament has been kind of bland.

From washouts to security breaches in the stadiums and a lack of fans, this edition of the Champions Trophy has not had any zip about it. Is it the PCB, which is responsible for this mess, or is it the ICC, which has not been able to get the fans into the stadiums in the ODI format?

With the stadiums not filling to the brim in the majority of the ODI matches, it begs an important question. Is ODI cricket dying? Once considered the preferred format between the grit of Test and the flamboyance of T20Is, is ODI cricket going to die a sorry death?

Akshay Ramesh, Kingshuk Kusari, and Alan John discuss the Champions Trophy final and review the tournament in the latest episode of the Sledging Room Podcast.

Produced by Prateek Lidhoo

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti

How disappointed were you on Sunday? Whether you were a Pakistan fan or an Indian fan, and whether or not you enjoyed Virat Kohli's masterclass, you must have felt a tinge of sadness watching cricket's biggest rivalry turn into a one-sided affair. Once fierce competitors, Pakistan have now become India's punching bags.

The Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai was a prime example. At no point did Pakistan look threatening. With the bat, they were timid against an Indian attack that wasn't even at its best. Captain Mohammad Rizwan played an outdated brand of ODI cricket, and Pakistan paid the price. None of their batters showed urgency, appearing overawed by the occasion and the flamboyance of the Men in Blue.

What's hurting Pakistan cricket?

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli silenced his critics yet again. The batting great delivered a flawless knock of 100 from 111 balls, dismantling his favourite foes. However, Indian cricket fans should remain cautious-tougher tests await their batting superstar.

In the latest episode of The Sledging Room podcast, Akshay Ramesh, Kingshuk Kusari, and Alan John dissect the India vs Pakistan snoozefest and review the first week of the Champions Trophy 2025.

Tune in!

Produced by Garvit Srivastava

Sound mix by Rohan Bharti