Never on the Backfoot: A Podcast

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 326 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we revisit the 2013 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup — a tournament that was as dramatic off the field as it was on it.  Hosted in India under the shadow of administrative decisions, last-minute venue shifts, and limited visibility, the event nonetheless produced unforgettable cricketing moments.  From Sri Lanka’s stunnin...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 325 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Australia have unveiled a powerhouse squad for their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 title defence in India and Sri Lanka.  With Alyssa Healy leading a mix of proven champions and exciting young talent, the defending champions are chasing history as they look to become the first team since 1988 to win back-to-back titles.  In th...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 324 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast.  Bangladesh have unveiled their 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, blending experience with exciting new talent. Skipper Nigar Sultana Joty leads the side once again, with seasoned names like Nahida Akter and Fargana Hoque forming the core, while teenagers Nishita Akter Nishi and Sumaiya Akter add fresh ene...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 323 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. England have unveiled their 15-member squad for the 2025 Women’s World Cup, a blend of experience and fresh faces, but not without major talking points. Heather Knight returns from injury, Nat Sciver-Brunt takes charge as captain, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge is back to bolster the batting.  Yet, the omission of veteran seamer Kate Cross...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 322 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this episode, we journey back to the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup—an edition that reshaped the women’s game.  Hosted in Australia, it was the first World Cup fully under ICC’s administration and featured eight teams battling across Sydney, Bowral, Canberra, and Newcastle. From India’s faltering Super Six campaign to New Ze...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 321 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The Gautam Gambhir era has begun, but so has the debate—is it time for Indian men’s cricket to embrace the split-coaching model?  In this episode, Abhinav joins me as we dive deep into the philosophy of having separate coaches for red-ball and white-ball formats. We explore the benefits, the risks, and what it could mean for player...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 320 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Cheteshwar Pujara has called time on his international career, closing the chapter on one of Indian cricket’s most resolute and defining journeys.  In this episode, Srijan joins us as we trace his path from being tagged the “next Dravid” to becoming the backbone of India’s Test side, reliving iconic knocks — from his Adelaide centu...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 319 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this special retrospective, Ankit joins us yet again as we revisit the 2005 Women’s Cricket World Cup — a tournament that marked new beginnings and unforgettable milestones.  From South Africa hosting for the first time, to India’s historic run to their maiden final, and Australia cementing their dominance with Karen Rolton’s ic...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 318 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. India have unveiled their 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 at home — a blend of experience, fresh talent, and the unmistakable stamp of the WPL.  In this episode, Janani of Sportsy Mathsy Tales fame joins us as we break down the squad led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as deputy, examining the ba...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 317 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Loyalty in cricket — is it a fading virtue or still a defining part of the game?  In this episode, Bharat joins in as we explore the tension between players who stay rooted to one franchise, like Virat Kohli with RCB, and those who chase new opportunities, like the recent buzz around Sanju Samson’s possible move from Rajasthan Roya...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 316 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In yet another retrospective episode, we journey back to the 2000 Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand — a tournament that reshaped the landscape of women’s cricket.  From the anticipation around defending champions Australia to New Zealand’s historic triumph on home soil, we revisit the defining moments, team performances, and ind...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 315 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. From the MCC’s lofty ideals to the raw heat of the middle, the “Spirit of Cricket” is never far from controversy — but what does it really mean in the modern game?  In this episode, we dive into two recent flashpoints that lit up cricket’s moral debate: Wiaan Mulder’s self-declaration at 367, stopping short of Brian Lara’s record o...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 314 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast.  The inaugural Maharani Trophy 2025 brought flair, fight, and fresh faces to the stage of Karnataka women’s cricket. In this episode, we break down every twist and turn—from Hubli Tigers’ title-winning charge to Mysore Warriors’ spirited  run, the heartbreak of the semi-finals, and the hidden gems who lit up the tournament.  Sachit...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 313 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In December 1997, India hosted the biggest Women’s Cricket World Cup the sport had ever seen—11 teams, 32 matches, and a record-breaking number of fans at Eden Gardens for the final.  From Belinda Clark’s historic double century to India’s semi-final surge and nail-biting knockout clashes, the tournament was a spectacle of skill, g...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 312 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this special retrospective, we travel back to the summer of 1993—a tournament that almost didn’t happen, but went on to change the course of women’s cricket.  From England lifting the trophy at Lord’s to India’s quietly significant campaign, from the emergence of Associate nations like Denmark to the heartbreak of defending cham...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 311 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. The Hundred is back — and so are we! In this special preview episode, Rosa joins us as we dive deep into the Women's Hundred 2025 season.  From blockbuster overseas signings to rising domestic stars, we break down each of the eight squads with SWOT-style insights, key players to watch, and our predictions for where they’ll fini...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 310 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast.  The stage is set, the squads are locked in, and history is about to be made as the inaugural KSCA T20 Maharani Trophy 2025 kicks off on August 4. In this episode, we preview the much-anticipated tournament that’s set to redefine women’s domestic cricket in Karnataka. From auction takeaways to team strategies, X-factors to breakout...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 309 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In this special episode, Janani of Sportsy Mathsy Tales fame joins us to unpack India's emphatic tour of England where they clinched both the T20I and ODI series, creating history in the process. We begin with the T20I series that the Women in Blue sealed 3-2, where India stunned the hosts with commanding wins in the opening two ga...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 308 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast.  In another retrospective episode, we journey back to the 1988 Women’s ODI World Cup—a tournament rich with stories but often missing from mainstream cricket memory. Hosted in Australia as part of the Bicentenary celebrations, the edition featured just five teams, notable absences, and remarkable performances that laid crucial grou...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 307 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast.  In this special retrospective, we journey back to the 1982 Women’s Cricket World Cup—an edition marked by resilience, groundbreaking performances, and quiet revolutions. Hosted in New Zealand after a dramatic relocation, the tournament featured a demanding double round-robin format, the first-ever Women’s World Cup final, and a lo...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 306 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast.  In this special episode, we journey back to the 1978 Women’s ODI World Cup—an edition steeped in history yet often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Hosted in India and featuring just four teams, this tournament was a landmark moment for women’s cricket in more ways than one. Joining me is a leading expert on women’s cricket hi...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 305 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. 17 years. 118 Tests. 8,214 runs. 16 centuries. 45 half-centuries. 33 wickets. The numbers speak volumes, but they only tell part of the story. In this special episode, we pay tribute to one of Sri Lanka’s finest cricketers — Angelo Mathews — as he calls time on an illustrious Test career. The 37-year-old bows out as the third-highe...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 304 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In a cricket-obsessed nation, how does another sport find its voice—and who tells that story? In this special crossover episode, we speak to Akshay and Vijay Lokapally, co-authors of Net Flicks: India’s Smashing Affair with the Shuttle . From Prakash Padukone’s legacy to PV Sindhu’s stardom, we explore the rise of Indian badminton...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 303 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. Before the glitz, the sponsors, and the sold-out stadiums, there was 1973 — the year women’s cricket quietly made history. In this episode, we dive into the remarkable story of the first-ever Cricket World Cup — hosted and played by women, two years before the men’s edition. Discover how England’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint and philanthr...

Hi there! Welcome to Episode 302 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. In a landmark moment for South African cricket, the Proteas lifted their first-ever ICC World Test Championship title with a stunning fourth-innings chase at Lord’s.  In this episode, Hariprasad joins us as we take you through the drama of each day—from Pat Cummins’ fiery spell on Day 1 to Aiden Markram’s epic 136 under pressure. W...