Yes, the Sledging Room is back. As expected, we have asked a few tough questions as early as the first episode of Season 2. India lifted a T20I trophy after missing out on the World Cup. Yes, the scheduling of the series is questionable, but nothing can take away the efforts of the young Indian team, led by an impressive debutant captain Suryakumar Yadav. India will next embark on a major tour of South Africa where they will play 3 T20Is, as many ODIs and 2 Tests. The biggest talking point from the selection news was the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in white-ball squads. Are the two doyens of Indian cricket going to play the T20 World Cup? Do India need an anchor like Kohli in the USA and the West Indies? Well, the IPL retentions created a sensational buzz on November 26. Hardik Pandya's homecoming dominated the headlines. After leading Gujarat Titans in two successful editions, Hardik returned to Mumbai Indians. How will Gujarat benefit from the move? Why did RCB get involved in the trade? Akshay Ramesh, Saurabh Kumar and Rounaq Sehrawat come together for the curtain-raiser of Season 2 of Sledging Room, which is set to take a new avatar with a lot more than our much-loved discussions. Tune in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

India's journey through the ICC World Cup 2023 was a remarkable tale of skill, determination, and ultimately, heartbreak. The Men in Blue, led by the dynamic Rohit Sharma, embarked on a campaign that promised to end their ICC trophy drought. With every match, the Indian team built momentum, showcasing a brand of cricket that was both aggressive and captivating. Rohit Sharma, the captain, was at the forefront of this charge. His leadership style was characterized by an unyielding aggression, particularly in the powerplay overs. He redefined the role of an opener, blending power with exquisite timing, and setting a frenetic pace that often left the opposition reeling. His approach was not just about personal milestones; it was about laying a solid foundation for the middle order, exemplified by his impressive strike rate of 124.15 during the tournament. Throughout the World Cup, Rohit's batting was a spectacle of dominance. He amassed a total of 597 runs, second only to his compatriot Virat Kohli, who topped the charts with 765 runs. Together, they formed a formidable duo that propelled India to the final, held in Ahmedabad. Rohit's scores of 131, 86, 48, 46, 87, 4, 40, 61, and 47 were instrumental in India's ability to set challenging targets and chase down scores with confidence. However, despite the heroics of their captain and the team's overall performance, India's dream run came to a halt in the final against Australia. The Australian team, known for their prowess in World Cups, secured their sixth title, winning by six wickets with seven overs to spare. It was a moment of collective heartbreak for a billion Indians, as the national team fell short of clinching the coveted trophy. Yes, India were the most ruthless side until the final. On the big day, nerves took over? The approach in the middle overs after Rohit Sharma had given India another solid start came under the scanner. 240 was never going to be enough, kwowing there would be dew later in the evening. Travis Head's sensational knock helped Australia lift another World Cup trophy, this time after silencing the biggest crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini

India is set to face off against Australia in what promises to be a riveting contest in Ahmedabad. India are gunning revenge for the 2003 heartbreak as it seems the tables have turned with India looking invincible like how Ricky Ponting's side was 20 years ago. India's journey to the final has been nothing short of formidable. With an unbeaten streak that includes a sensational victory over New Zealand in the semi-finals, the host nation has showcased a blend of aggressive batting and clinical bowling. Australia, on the other hand, has scripted a narrative of resurgence after a shaky start to the tournament, losing their first two matches. However, the five-time champions have bounced back with a vengeance, epitomised by their nail-biting three-wicket win over South Africa in the semi-final. As expected, there was controversy surrounding the pitch preparations with the BCCI being the target of a section of western media. Allegations surfaced against the Indian team management for influencing the pitch conditions to suit their strengths. But do these allegations hold weight? Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the controversy, downplaying the significance of the pitch swap. Gavaskar emphasised that the pitch is the same for all teams and dismissed concerns over any undue advantage, lashing out at media reports. Listen in!

India have the opportunity to play New Zealand in another World Cup semifinal. Four years after the heartbreak of 2019, India will take on the Black Caps, this time at the Wankhede Stadium for a place in the final of the 2023 World Cup. India have been the best team of the tournament by a mile. Unbeaten in the league stage, Rohit Sharma's men have been in sublime form. New Zealand, who played and lost the last two World Cup finals, will fancy their chances too. They haven't been the best team of the tournament but they did enough to reach the last-four of yet another world event. With Kane Williamson fit and raring to go, expect typical guts and glory from the Kiwis, who have a lot of batting depth and some serious assets in the pace department. India have not won an ICC trophy in 10 years and they are in the best possible position to end that jinx. But it won't be easy despite their trailblazing campaign. South Africa are playing Australia in the second semifinal and neither of those two teams will be easy to deal with. Australia, five-time champions, started on a sluggish note, but they found their mojo soon after and have been formidable. South Africa slipped twice but their batters are perhaps the most dangerous in ODIs now. They can pack a punch in vital moments even as chasing might still be an issue, especially in crunch games. Produced and Sound Mix By Sachin Dwivedi

India are set to face New Zealand in the semifinal of the 2023 World Cup with Pakistan facing an improbable task against England in their final fixture of the tournament. In 2019, New Zealand had defeated India in a thriller which was truncated by rain. MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja were involved in a sensational partnership but Dhoni's run-out meant curtains for India in their run-chase. New Zealand went on to lose the final to England, a game considered by many to be one of the greatest ever played.  India have been clinical in the ongoing World Cup, having won everything and against everyone. New Zealand have been scratchy. They needed to win by a certain margin against Sri Lanka to make it nearly impossible for Pakistan. Back in 2019, it was the same situation with New Zealand edging past Pakistan whose net run rate was lower than the Black Caps. Like in 2019, Pakistan did little to deserve a spot in the final-four. One could feel for Afghanistan who had done so much to leave themselves with a realistic chance of making it to the semifinals until Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 201 to script a come-from-behind win. There's plenty at stake for all the four teams here. India have not won an ICC event in 10 years. South Africa and New Zealand have never won the World Cup. And Australia would be desperate to win their sixth ODI World Cup after a middling start to the tournament. Listen in!

The Cricket World Cup 2023 is entering the business end of the league stage and there have been some sensational matches. For those who questioned the absence of close matches, the World Cup is serving some thrillers and magical moments over the last few days. On November 7, 2023, the cricket world witnessed an extraordinary spectacle in Mumbai during a World Cup match between Australia and Afghanistan. The Australian team, led by Glenn Maxwell's phenomenal performance, clinched an improbable victory, sealing their spot in the semi-finals. Maxwell, battling through pain and exhaustion, single-handedly turned the tide of the game with a staggering score of 201 runs off just 128 balls. This feat not only marked his highest-ever One Day International (ODI) score but also set a new record for the highest individual score by an Australian batter in an ODI match. His innings, which included 21 fours and 10 sixes, was hailed as arguably the greatest knock in the history of limited-overs cricket. Produced and Sound Mix By Kapil Dev Singh

India have become the first side to storm into the semi-finals of World Cup 2023 with a record-breaking 302-run win over Sri Lanka. With seven successive wins, India have been in a league of their own, and with just two more league matches to play, it is starting to feel like a dream.   India are not short of match-winners with the likes of Mohammed Shami, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Kuldeep Yadav stepping up on different occasion.   Despite being two-time World Champions, India's performance in ICC tournaments has rarely been as relentless and precise as it is now. Judging from the evidence at hand, even the most fearless wouldn't hesitate to place their bet on the Men in Blue.   While India have locked in a semi-final berth, the other three spots that will secure a place in the knockout stage are still up for grabs.   Rajarshi Gupta is joined by Akshay Ramesh and Saurabh Kumar as they recap and dissect World Cup 2023.   Tune In!

India have looked a cut above the rest so far in World Cup 2023. With 6 wins in as many matches, India are 2 points away from sealing a semi-finals berth. The synergy between the batsmen and bowlers has been the cornerstone of India's success in the World Cup 2023. With their current form, the Indian cricket team is a strong contender for the championship, and fans are eagerly awaiting the end of their ICC title drought. On the other hand, Afghanistan have exceeded expectations with a terrific show. They outclassed Sri Lanka a week after comfortably hammering Pakistan. Their batters have come to the party in a matured showing to back up their world-class bowling unit. Can they sneak through to the semi-finals? The Jonathan Trott-coached side looks dangerous at the moment! In the latest episode of Sledging Room, Rajarshi Gupta is joined by Akshay Ramesh and Diya Kakkar as they discuss India’s sensational run and how the race to the semi-finals is heating up. Tune In! Listen in! Produced and Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

What is going wrong with England? The defending champions have looked a shadow of their former self in the World Cup in India. Having lost 4 out of their first 5 matches, England have been rocked. They look a bit clueless with captain Jos Buttler not exuding the confidence and the charisma that Eoin Morgan did. This string of defeats marked the worst start for any defending champion since the 1999 World Cup. Criticism was rife, with many pointing fingers at the lack of attention given to domestic 50-over cricket in England. Former cricketer Nasser Hussain was particularly vocal, slamming the criticism and arguing that it provided an easy escape for the players from their underwhelming performance in India. To compound England’s woes, they will next face high-flying India on Sunday in Lucknow in what looks like a mismatch based on current form. India have not beaten England in World Cups since 2003 and Rohit Sharma’s men might just break that streak in style to potentially knock the holders out of the semi-final race. In the latest episode of Sledging Room, Rajarshi Gupta is joined by Akshay Ramesh and Saurabh Kumar as they decode England’s shocking run in India. Listen in! Produced and Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Pakistan have lost three successive matches to India, Australia and Afghanistan in the ongoing 2023 World Cup and their semifinal hopes are as good as over. Pakistan have only themselves to blame for their timid performances so far in the tournament. Have Pakistan lost focus? Instead on focusing on making a strong cricket team, Pakistan Cricket Board has continued to do petty politics. Some of Pakistan's former cricketers have even slammed the establishment for packing the side with players that they like. The team's captain, Babar Azam, is facing significant criticism and his position as captain is under threat.  On the other hand, Afghanistan have punched above their weight with wins over former champions England and Pakistan. Can they sneak into the semi-finals? The World Cup is heading toward an exciting business stage and Rajarshi Gupta leads another lively discussion on the latest episode of Sledging Room with Akshay Ramesh and Diya Kakkar. Tune in! Produced and Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi