Stumps & Stories Podcast

Rudie van Vuuren is a true all-rounder. A dual World Cup player - having represented Namibia in cricket and rugby - van Vuuren's life has been an incredible journey. In 2003, he played both the cricket and rugby World Cups for his country. During the Cricket World Cup, he got the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, bagged a fifer against England and hit James Anderson for six. Post his competitive sporting career, he also went into conservation with his Naankuuse Foundation - which also attracted the interest of Angelina Jolie. van Vuuren is also a qualified medical doctor and has worked in the field on numerous causes. He is now the President of Cricket Namibia.

Raees Ahmadzai, the former Afghanistan cricket, reflects on his team's rise in international cricket. Ahmadzai was one of the early players for Afghanistan and represented them during their remarkable rise to the highest level in the 2000s. In this chat with Stumps and Stories, Ahmadzai looks back at how the team overcame difficulties in the early days, some landmark wins, the rise of Rashid Khan and Afghanistan cricket's road ahead.

Henry Olonga, the former Zimbabwe cricketer, is a popular figure in India. In the late 1990s, he delivered quite a few impactful performances against India which left their mark in the memories of the fans. He joins Nishad Pai Vaidya in this interesting conversation where he looks back at all his contests against India and also his duels with Sachin Tendulkar. Olonga now lives in Australia and gives us an insight into his current activities and days after cricket.

In the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup, Asif Karim played a significant role in Kenya's memorable journey to the semi-finals of the tournament. He was a veteran spinner and an all-rounder who contributed with both bat and ball. In this wide-ranging chat, Karim looks back at his family’s history in sports, his tennis career, and his days in cricket. Karim narrates interesting tales from the 1996 World Cup when Kenya entered the big stage and made waves by beating the mighty West Indies. Going down memory lane with the man himself in a passionate conversation is Cricket Commentator Nisha Pai Vaidya.

Join us for an exhilarating journey through the captivating world of cricket as former Australian cricketer Mike Whitney sits down with renowned cricket journalist Nishad Pai Vaidya in this exclusive podcast episode. Get ready to dive deep into the heart of the game as they share untold stories, insightful anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes moments that shaped Whitney's illustrious cricketing career.

The Duke of Dorchester once said, “What is human life but a game of cricket?” We believe that analogy has stood the test of time with cricket lovers all over the globe drawing parallels between their beloved sport and life in general. We also believe that life is a great journey – just like a Test match – there are sessions – each one different than the other. A lull may be followed by a fightback. And yes, if you ever fail, there is always a second innings to bounce back. Introducing Stumps & Stories, where we explore such journeys and bring to you a different side of cricket and cricketers – with great memories, a laugh or two and some inspiration to top it all.