The Inner Athlete

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...