Stumped

The IPL returns for its 19th edition and Royal Challengers Bengaluru start as the defending champions for the first time in their history.

Former IPL player and now commentator Abhinav Mukund joins Eleanor Oldroyd, Jim Maxwell and Charu Sharma to discuss the big IPL talking points ahead of the start of the season.

Can RCB win back-to-back titles and should teams expect “a scary version” of Virat Kohli now he goes in as a T20 specialist?

Will this be MS Dhoni’s last dance in the IPL? Mukund gives his view as his former team-mate and how he expects Chennai Super Kings to utilise both Dhoni and new signing Sanju Samson.

There’s also talk around Cameron Green and whether being the most expensive overseas player in IPL history will add extra pressure on the Australian? Plus, what to expect from teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi and has Ben Duckett made the right decision to focus on England over the IPL?

The Stumped team also reflect on the news England coach Brendon McCullum, Test captain Ben Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key are all remaining in their posts, despite the 4-1 Ashes series defeat. Is it the right decision and how can England “evolve”?

Image: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy following the trophy presentation in the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Gary Kirsten has been officially appointed head coach of Sri Lanka's men's national side. He aims to build a winning culture in the build up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kirsten famously led India to the 2011 World Cup title and also helped South Africa reach the top of the Test rankings. Kirsten reflects on his short spell coaching Pakistan, gives us his thoughts on whether India can dominate red ball cricket and explains to Alison Mitchell how he previously came close to becoming England head coach.

Plus, Alison, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma all discuss a new chapter for Australia's women's team as life after Alyssa Healy begins with their tour to the Caribbean to face West Indies.

Photo Credit: Dallas, Texas - JUNE 05: Head coach Gary Kirsten of Pakistan looks on during a net session as part of the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on June 05, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

On this week's Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Sunil Gupta; after India's men's side banished the ghosts of 2023 and defended their T20 World Cup title on home soil, we look back at a one-sided final and ask whether anyone can match them in white ball cricket?

Plus, we hear from Afghanistan cricketer Tooba Khan Sarwari on how life has been over the last 12 months - including that visit to the Women's World Cup in India - and her hopes for the future.

Photo: Suryakumar Yadav Captain of India along with the teammates lifts the trophy after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Final between India and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Credit: MB Media/Getty Images)

The list of players for the Hundred auction, the England and Wales' franchise cricket competition has been confirmed. It features 16 players from Pakistan, 14 men and two women. We hear from Dr Gregory Ioanndis, professor of sports law at Sheffield Hallam University.

Alison Mitchell, Aaron Bryans and Charu Sharma all react to New Zealand's stunning performance against South Africa to progress to the T20 World Cup final and we ask what would it mean for the Black Caps if they were to be crowned champions.

Plus, the former England fast bowler Saj Mahmood tells us about his new platform in the UK which is aiming to make the game more affordable to youngsters.

Photo Credit: Pakistan's Haris Rauf celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis during the second one-day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on November 14, 2025. (Photo by Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia great Alyssa Healy is playing in her final series before retirement as the blockbuster multi format series between Australia and India continues. One player who is tipped to follow in her footsteps is Australia's Georgia Voll, not only did the 22 year old guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the Women's Premier League title but she also made her highest T20 international score of 88 in the second T20 against India. Georgia joins us on the programme.

Plus, as the men's T20 World Cup enters the super eight's phase, we discuss South Africa’s statement win over co-hosts and defending champions India and we ask, if that victory could boost The Proteas credentials as one of the title contenders.

Photo Credit: Georgia Voll of Australia bats during game two of the Women's T20 International series between Australia and India at Manuka Oval on February 19, 2026 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images).

On this week’s Stumped with Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Charu Shara, we assess the opening stages of the T20 World Cup, as the competition heads towards the Super 8's stage. The team discuss the aftermath of the on-off-on India Pakistan game and whether former England captain Michael Atherton’s assessment that the game is now ‘a miserable spectacle’ is a fair comment, plus we discuss the biggest shocks and celebrate the successes of the 'smaller' nations competing.

With the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in full swing, could cricket join the party? The Tallinn Hippos have defended their 'cricket on ice trophy' title in Switzerland's St Mortiz. We speak with their captain Stuart Hook about playing the game on the most unlikely of surfaces, and the cricket scene in Estonia.

Plus, could the Big Bash be heading to India? The team discuss the possibility of the competition's opening match heading to the sub-continent.

Photo: Players walk out during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 match between India and Pakistan at R. Premadasa Stadium on February 15, 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Credit: ICC via Getty Images)

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta all build up to the biggest and most lucrative match in cricket. Pakistan against India at the T20 World Cup will go ahead after the Pakistan government ended its order for a boycott.

We'll also reflect on one of the most memorable matches in T20 World Cup history. South Africa edged past Afghanistan after not one but two dramatic super overs in Ahmedabad. South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj joins us on the programme to talk us through the drama which saw Keshav take two wickets in the super over.

We also hear from bowler Sayali Satghare who went unsold at the Women’s Premier League auction but ended up winning the WPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Picture: India v Pakistan - Asia Cup Final

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - September 28: Tilak Varma of India bats during the Asia Cup Final match between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images).

With the T20 World Cup starting on Saturday 7th February, Pakistan will take part but have refused to play against tournament co-hosts India. We hear from Pakistan cricket journalist Shahid Hashmi on what this means for the global game.

And 2025 was a record breaking year for New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy who received his maiden senior World Cup call up and was selected for the upcoming Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Jacob joins us on the programme.

Image - LAHORE, PAKISTAN - JANUARY 31: Players of Pakistan celebrates wicket of Cooper Connolly of Australia during the T20 International match between Pakistan and Australia at Gaddafi Stadium on January 31, 2026 in Lahore, Pakistan. (Photo by Sameer Ali/Getty Images).

Alison Mitchell, Jim Maxwell and Sunil Gupta are joined by Bangladesh cricket journalist Tawhid Qureshi who reflects on The Tigers decision to withdraw from the tournament after the ICC rejected a request to move their games from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka. Bangladesh had cited safety concerns amid growing tensions between the countries. The ICC refused, saying there was an "absence of any credible security threat".

Scotland have replaced Bangladesh so we hear about their preparations from Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade.

A baggy green cap worn by Don Bradman has been sold for 460,000 Australian dollars. It is the highest price for a cap worn by Bradman. So the team discuss if they have any cricket memorabilia.

Photo: Players of Bangladesh cut dejected figures following the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between South Africa and Bangladesh at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 10, 2024 in New York, New York. (Credit: Getty Images)

A new European T20 League has been launched which will be owned by some of the sport's biggest stars. Alison Mitchell, Clint Wheeldon and Charu Sharma are joined by one of the owners, former Australia captain Steve Waugh who tells us why he has decided to get involved in franchise cricket. Plus, the co-founder of the league, Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan says he hopes it will become 'the largest T20 league in the world".

The men’s T20 World Cup begins on the 7th of February in Sri Lanka and India with the build up being marred by political tensions and injuries. We assess how the tournament is shaping up and debate if India could defend their title with a very different squad to 2024.

Photo: Steve Smith of Australia and Steve Waugh, Former Australian Test Captain and current Australian Team Mentor, pose at stumps after Smith scored his second century for the test during day four of the 1st Specsavers Ashes Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston on August 04, 2019 in Birmingham, England. Steve Smith is the first Australian to score two centuries in the same test in England since Steve Waugh in 1997. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)