Never on the Backfoot: A Podcast

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 350 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. At the Home of Cricket, the women's Test between India and England is far more than just another fixture. For decades, women were excluded from playing at Lord's, making every red-ball match at this iconic venue a reminder of how far the game has come and how much further it still has to go. This episode asks a question tha...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 349 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Mid-season transfers in the Indian Premier League sound like a game-changing idea but in reality, they’re barely used. So why does this rule even exist, and more importantly, why do teams ignore it? In this episode, Naman Samtani joins us as we break down the logic behind mid-season transfers, the rules that govern them, and the gl...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 348 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been nothing short of extraordinary, but is Indian cricket moving too fast? In this episode, we look at the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi, who has taken the Indian Premier League by storm, showcasing fearless batting, composure beyond his years, and the kind of impact that has everyone talking about...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 347 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we dive into one of the most defining debates in the modern Indian Premier League: the relevance of star culture in a league that may be rapidly evolving beyond it. From the towering influence of icons like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the shifting identities of franchises, this episode explores whethe...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 346 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, Aryan Surana joins us as we dive into a debate that’s been quietly simmering in cricket media and recently found its way into the spotlight.  In the past few days, a thought-provoking debate sparked by Joy Bhattacharjya has got the cricket and media world talking. At the centre of it is Ian Bishop, widely respected...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 345 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode,  we dive deep into the Senior Women’s Inter Zonal Multi-Day Trophy, breaking down every stage of the tournament — from the closely contested quarter-finals to a gripping final that was ultimately decided on a first-innings lead. Joining us on the show is Prajin, as we unpack key moments, standout performances, and...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 344 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. At the end of every IPL season, alongside the glittering trophies and title celebrations, there’s another award, one that honours ‘fair play’. But what does fairness really mean in a league built on intensity, competition, and spectacle? In this episode, Sarthak Dev joins in as we dive deep into the IPL Fair Play Award—its history,...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 343 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we’re diving into the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy [Elite and Plate] and the Senior Women’s Inter Zonal One Day Trophy 2026. Joining us is Prajin, as we unpack the structure of the Elite and Plate divisions and what this segregation means for competitiveness and player development across the circuit. From tightly...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 342 of the Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we sit down with Tarutr Malhotra, the mind behind Best of Cricket, a daily curated newsletter dedicated to showcasing the finest cricket writing from across the internet. From sharp match analysis and long-form features to hidden gems from independent blogs and local publications, the newsletter has quietly bec...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 341 of the Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026 gave us far more than just four qualification spots. Across conditions in Nepal, teams from five regions pushed, adapted, stumbled, and surprised — revealing just how much the global women’s game is evolving. In this episode, Sudeshna Bhattarai joins us to break down the tournament b...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 340 of the Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we sit down with senior sports journalist Vijay Lokapally and co-author Akshay to unpack We Are the Champions, a book that revisits 40 defining moments in Indian sport. The conversation goes beyond medals and scorecards—diving into how sporting history is chosen, remembered, and sometimes overlooked. We talk ab...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 339 of the Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we break down the WPL 2026 Mega Auction with Janani — not just the biggest stories and boldest bids, but how each team actually stacks up heading into the new season. From Deepti Sharma’s record signing to the shock of unsold internationals and the surge of new sponsorship money reshaping the league, we unpack...

Hi folks, welcome back to Part 2 of Episode 338 where we comprehensively review the World Cup.  In Part 2– we look at the journeys of England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.  Janani also joins me to dive deep into major tournament-wide talking points, ranging from weather, marketing, prize money, associate nations, and the future of ODI cricket, among many interesting discourses....

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 338 [Part 1] of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. We dive into a complete, team-by-team review of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.  From India’s historic title-winning run to South Africa’s rise, Australia’s rare struggles, England’s inconsistency, New Zealand’s missed moments, and the spirited campaigns of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan – we leave no storylin...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 337 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In Notebook 5 of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, we bring you a thrilling wrap-up of an unforgettable knockout phase! Janani of Sportsy Mathsy Tales joins us as we break down South Africa’s commanding semi-final win over England, headlined by Laura Wolvaardt’s majestic 169 and Marizanne Kapp’s five-for that sealed their fir...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 336 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. It’s been a week of contrasts at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 — from Sri Lanka’s commanding batting displays at home to South Africa’s ruthless precision, and from Australia’s clinical dominance to Pakistan’s heartbreak under grey Colombo skies. Across these matches, weather interruptions, tactical battles, and individual brillia...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 335 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. We unpack a dramatic stretch of World Cup action — from India’s nail-biting loss to South Africa to Australia’s record-breaking chase in Visakhapatnam. We start with that rollercoaster in Vizag — Richa Ghosh’s lone stand, Nadine de Klerk’s composure under fire, and where exactly India let it slip. Then, we head to Guwahati, where N...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 334 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. From India’s composed dominance over Pakistan to South Africa’s statement chase in Indore, England’s tricky pursuit against Bangladesh and Australia’s heist versus Pakistan— this episode breaks down a week full of defining moments at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.  We revisit Kranti Goud’s game-changing spell, Tazmin Brits’ elegan...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 333 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is off to a flying start, and we’re breaking down all the action from the first four games!  From India’s lower-order rescue act against Sri Lanka to Ashleigh Gardner and Sophie Devine lighting up the Australia–New Zealand clash, from Bangladesh’s statement win over Pakistan to England’s ruthless demo...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 332 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The 2022 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup was more than just a tournament — it was a showcase of skill, resilience, and the evolving power of women’s cricket on the global stage.  In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of the World Cup, starting from the qualifying journey, pre-tournament build-up, and intense warm-up matches, to...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 331 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The 2017 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup was more than just a cricket tournament — it was a watershed moment for the women’s game.  Hosted in England, it brought together eight of the world’s best teams, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable performances that changed the way women’s cricket was seen globally. In this episode, we revisit th...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 330 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Pakistan have named a youthful yet ambitious squad for the Women’s World Cup 2025, with Fatima Sana leading the side for the first time in the tournament. Uncapped batter Eyman Fatima headlines the selections, while experienced names like Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, and Diana Baig strengthen the core.  In this episode, Janani of Sports...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 329 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. New Zealand have named their 15 for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025—a blend of experience and fresh faces.  With Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates stepping into their fifth World Cup, Lea Tahuhu anchoring the pace attack, and Amelia Kerr in her prime, the White Ferns are banking on their senior core while also handing opportunit...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 328 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Sri Lanka’s squad for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 presents a fascinating balance of experience and youth.  In this episode, we take a closer look at their overall composition — from Chamari Athapaththu’s pivotal role as captain and leading run-scorer to the stability offered by Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, an...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 327 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. South Africa have named their 15 for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, and the Proteas are chasing history. Semi-finalists in the last ODI World Cup, back-to-back finalists in T20Is — can this be the year they finally lift their maiden ICC trophy? In this episode, Janani of Sportsy Mathsy Tales joins us as we break down the squad...