The Inner Athlete

It’s been IPL’s worst week off the field. And things aren’t looking great on it either. Riyan Parag caught vaping an illegal substance in the dressing room — fined just 25% of his match fee. Dead pitches turning bowlers into sidekicks. Delhi Capitals scoring 264 then bowled out for 75. And Abhishek Porel — a 150 strike rate player — warming the bench while KL Rahul keeps wickets. Ronald Chettiar j...

What is the real secret behind IPL's greatest franchises? It's not the superstars. It's not the auction budget. It's the COACH-CAPTAIN COMBINATION. Ronald Chettiar joins us for one of the most research-backed IPL episodes we've done, a deep dive into the coach-captain combos that built CSK, Mumbai Indians and RCB into legacy teams. And what needs to change for each of them now.

Mumbai Indians have lost 5 of 7. Akash Ambani left the stadium halfway. Bumrah has 2 wickets in 7 matches. And Hardik Pandya's captaincy is going nowhere. But wait — was bringing Hardik in and removing Rohit actually the right call? Ronald Chettiar joins us for the most honest mid-season IPL breakdown yet — and the ideas he puts forward are genuinely radical. In this episode we cover: Mumbai I...

Two IPL teams sold for record billions. Media rights facing a $1.75 billion loss. And the bold suggestion that BCCI should broadcast cricket itself. Roland Landers — one of India's most respected sports business minds — is back on Inner Athlete for the most comprehensive Indian sports business conversation we've had.

Match fixing murmurs. Mumbai Indians in freefall. KKR almost out. And Lalit Modi making more sense than anyone in Indian cricket administration. Sameer Pai is back for another unfiltered IPL mid-season deep dive — and this one pulls absolutely no punches.

Behind every great Indian cricketer is a story that starts on the Mumbai Maidan. Today on Inner Athlete, we sit down with Toz Rizvi — sports journalist, cricketer, Mumbai cricket chronicler and the man who covered every great batting record from the Mumbai school circuit. 23 years in sports journalism. A passionate voice for grassroot cricket like no other.

Over two weeks of IPL 2026 action done. Time for the most honest mid-season breakdown you'll find anywhere. Sameer Pai joins us for a deep, unfiltered dive into everything that's happened — the stunning performances, the struggling franchises, the emerging stars and the big calls that coaches and franchises are getting wrong.

"I'm not asking you to sell me a McDonald's burger while I'm watching the game. Sell me a decent glass of water."K Shriniwas Rao is back on Inner Athlete and this time he holds absolutely nothing back. One of India's most respected cricket journalists and sports business minds delivers his most comprehensive assessment yet of where Indian cricket, IPL and the BCCI are get...

Sports journalism is undergoing a massive shift. Traditional media is losing control of the narrative. Social media creators and independent voices are filling the gap. The question is no longer who has access , but who tells the best story.

What is the real X factor behind IPL's explosive growth? Why are teams losing 650 crores a year, and still buying in? And is Mumbai Indians really as invincible as everyone thinks? In this episode, Sameer Pai joins us for the most comprehensive IPL business and analysis breakdown you'll find anywhere — going deep on the numbers, the history, the franchises and the future.

What does it take to interview Sachin Tendulkar as a trainee journalist? How do you get 90 seconds with Mike Tyson? And what happens when you cold-call Imran Khan at home? Today on Inner Athlete, we sit down with one of India's finest sports writers — Akshay Sawai. Former sports editor at Open Magazine, senior journalist at Midday and ET Panache, and a man who has covered sport across continen...

IPL 2026 is here — and this season is different. It comes on the heels of a T20 World Cup, with redemption arcs, new captains, superstar coaches and youngsters ready to take over. We break it ALL down — unfiltered. In this episode, Sameer Pai joins us for a complete IPL 2026 season analysis covering: 🏏 Dhoni's real role at CSK — mentor, not player🔥 Kohli & RCB — pressure-free or under pr...

He was in Canada in 1999. He played a sport he'd never heard of. And when he came back to India — he forgot about it. Until 2006, when a single coaching instruction brought it all back. Today, Sunil Vallabhalkar is the man who introduced Pickleball to India — and the sport is growing at 300% per year. In this episode, we talk about:🏓 How pickleball started & came to India🏢 Why corporate enti...

The Indian Premier League is one of the biggest sports leagues in the world today. But very few people know the real story behind its creation. This video reveals how three key figures:• Subhash Chandra (ICL founder)• Jagmohan Dalmiya (BCCI powerhouse)• Lalit Modi (IPL architect)shaped the future of Indian cricket. The rise of the Indian Cricket League forced the BCCI to rethink its strategy — lea...

Indian cricket history is filled with legendary personalities and incredible stories. From Sunil Gavaskar, who changed the mindset of Indian cricket, to Kapil Dev, who revolutionized fast bowling in India, and Sachin Tendulkar, who became the face of Indian cricket for an entire generation. This podcast explores fascinating stories including:• The inspiring journey of Yuvraj Singh• The determinati...

What really happened when the Board of Control for Cricket in India took over women’s cricket in 2006? Why were some officials against it? What was it like working closely with Mahendra Singh Dhoni during India’s most iconic era? In this episode:• BCCI internal resistance• Women’s cricket transformation• Managing cricket legends• Inside Wankhede Stadium museum tour • Mumbai cricket legacy This is...

The T20 World Cup enters the business end — where boys are separated from men. In this episode with Arya Khandelwal we break down:🏏 Associate nations revolution – Italy & Nepal🔥 India vs Pakistan: Match or mismatch?📊 Data vs natural talent in modern T20👑 The rise of Hardik Pandya as India’s premier all-rounder🎯 Why Jasprit Bumrah is India’s biggest match-winner💥 Australia’s tactical fail...

This episode is a masterclass in sports business. From IPL valuations to esports growth, from Dubai as a cricket frontier to the 2030 Commonwealth Games impact — we break it all down with veteran sports executive Roland Landers. Key Topics Covered: 🏏 IPL financial modeling & revenue correction📉 Why broadcast rights valuations may see correction🌍 Should BCCI expand operations to Dubai?🎮 Esp...

A billion-plus fans. A defending champion India. Geopolitics in the background. ICC structure controversy. And a T20 format that has evolved beyond recognition. In this T20 World Cup special episode, The Inner Athlete brings you differentiated content based on two O’s — Observation & Opinion . We break down: India’s dominance in white-ball cricket Pakistan & Bangladesh geopolitical tension...

Indian badminton didn’t rise overnight. From Prakash Nath’s heartbreaking All England final in 1947, to Saina Nehwal’s relentless mental discipline, to the historic Thomas Cup victory — this is the real story of Indian badminton. In this episode of The Inner Athlete, we sit down with Abhijit Kulkarni, sports journalist, mentor, and author of The Gopichand Factor, to decode:• How Saina Nehwal and P...

In this episode of The Inner Athlete , Samir Pai is joined by Isha for an honest, thought-provoking conversation on fitness, motivation, gyms, sports, and human behaviour . The discussion explores why gyms often fail to retain people, the role dopamine plays in motivation, how sports naturally encourage consistency, and why fitness is deeply psychological before it is physical. From resistance tra...