2023 has undoubtedly been the year for Indian Cricket across formats. Despite a resounding performance in Tests & ODIs, they were unable to get past a familiar foe in Australia who beat India enroute to becoming ICC World Test Champions and also ICC World Cup champions. This is a beginning of a new season of Cricket Unplugged where I am delighted to have my close friend Mayur: (A proud and sensible ICT & CSK fan) on the podcast to discuss the events that unfolded in the year gone by from the missed ICC trophies for India to relooking at IPL 2023 and the mini auctions that got lot of attention & eye balls rolling! Enjoy tuning in and heres wishing all the listeners a great end to 2023 and fabulous 2024 ahead! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

10 teams bought as many as 204 players after shelling out a total of ₹551.70 crore at the mega-auction in Bengaluru. Ishan Kishan was the most expensive buy at ₹15.25 crores when MI bought the wicketkeeper-batsman back to their franchise that has won a record five titles! It was a dramatic mega auction when the auctioneer, Hugh Edmeades had to be replaced by Charu Sharma due to health reasons. Charu took over the mantle within less than thirty minutes notice & did a fabulous job! As this event is touted as the 'biggest event in the cricketing calendar' & its never easy to take centre stage and come out with aplomb!  We at Cricket Unplugged take a deep look into each franchise and break down each team's best buys. Which are the franchises that have been really good at the player's auctions? Which are the teams that don't look that strong on paper heading into IPL 2022? Can a new champion be crowned this season with the inclusion of two teams; Lucknow Super Giants & Gujarat Titans? Soraj & myself present our IPL 2022 Auction Review in this super chilled, fun analysis of each squad and also share our personal opinion on some players who have got more than maybe they could have and how its going to be to see regular faces who were part of one franchises for over 5 years represent another team from this year onwards; For all of you who love IPL & especially who have followed the IPL Auctions this is going to be a really enthralling, insightful episode!  Enjoy listening!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has been a long while since we were able to put or stich together an episode for Cricket Unplugged. Looking at how the podcast is growing well despite lack of frequency in publishing the content was an extremely thrilling motivation to present to you all the 49th episode of this podcast & another episode of Cricket Unplugged, Snippets!  On this comeback of sorts for this podcast after a lull of 3-4 months, we get co-host Sooraj and special guest Mayur Shivakumar pour their hearts out on all the current developments in the game; right from getting their personal thoughts on how the ICC World T20, 2021 shaped up for them as viewers to getting to know their thoughts on the IPL retentions thats doing all the talking on Social Media!  For all the listeners of the podcast, hope you enjoy this return & definitely both me & Sooraj would certainly be more regular in sharing our love & passion for the game in the upcoming year! Do stay tuned for what's to come up really soon!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has been a while since me & Sooraj came together for a full-fledged episode on 'Cricket Unplugged' to discuss about Cricket! This reunion of sorts explores a broad variety of topics that has happened in the world of cricket in the past 3-4 months! From the apathy of seeing Sri Lankan cricket, to India fielding two separate teams due to COVID and also building up to the India-England Test series which is highly anticipated we have got everything covered in this very free flowing, open ended conversation between two cricket fanatics reconnecting! Our thoughts on ICC WTC Finals, Ind-SL series, and also some milestones in the world of cricket has been covered in vivid detail in this free flowing discussion! Enjoy this reunion as we look ahead to India's tour of Sri Lanka! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

As we see crowds return to Cricket especially Test cricket in the recently concluded England vs New Zealand Test series where the hosts England were completely outplayed & outclassed by the Kiwis.  Its a perfect way for them to head into the historic ICC WTC Finals that kicks off from June 18th.  This episode is mainly focused on looking back on what has been a truly inspiring period for Indian Cricket since 2018 where they have dominated pretty much every series barring the ICC Cricket World, 2019. Virat Kohli's men have earned their right to play in the first ever ICC WTC Finals.  And owing to COVID, India had to send a separate set of players to take on Sri Lanka from July 13th onwards. Led by Shikhar Dhawan, it features six uncapped players and despite that the people you will hear in this episode, our very own co-host of Cricket Unplugged Sooraj and my mate and respected TM member Mayur Shivakumar echo my thoughts that this Indian team can beat Sri Lanka!  Talk about an abundance of top quality resources, and India is reaping in the aftermath of having so many top quality players who could walk into a full strength Indian team too! The future of Indian Cricket is certainly bright and many experts feel this team could be as dominating and imposing as the Windies were under Clive Lloyd were or the Aussies under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting's leadership!  Well, only time will tell how true or right those comparisons are but one thing is certain; Indian Cricket is going through a golden phase under Virat Kohli's captaincy and we three are reflecting on what has been and also looking forward to ICC WTC Finals, Indias tour of SL and a lot more!  Enjoy!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has a pretty tough time, in the past weeks to see how the second wave of COVID-19 has impacted so many people, many of whom who are part of our friends or family circles. At this time, with not much live Cricket going on & with me ramping up and intensifying content for my other podcast, 'Movies, Music & Memories' I was away for a bit.  A conversation with my close friend Mayur Shivakumar who you will hear in this episode led me to publishing one episode covering all recent developments in the world of Cricket. From IPL 2021's rescheduling, to the NZ-England Test series to the exciting prospect of seeing the first ever ICC World Test Champion crowned; there's certainly a lot to look forward to in the coming days for all Cricket lovers!  Mayur Shivakumar and Abhinav Kumar joined me in giving their thoughts on whether we should have an IPL replacing a maquee Test series to whether IPL franchises should consider playing three overseas players looking at the outstanding talent pool witnessed in Indian cricket in recent times, lots to look forward in this episode!! Enjoy listening!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has been truly traumatic to witness the nature of this second wave, especially in the past month or so in India. At a time when common citizens o the nation are struggling to get even something as basic as oxygen, questions were raised and rightly so whether IPL 2021 should carry on.  As IPL 2021 has been indefinitely suspended after the bio-secure bubble burst with 4 players across franchises getting COVID positive, the question on everyone's minds is simple: Is it too little too late from BCCI to postpone such a tournament only after some players got infected? In Cricket Unplugged's IPL 2021 Wrap Up Special, I present my take as a common citizen of this country along with presenting my opinion as a Cricket Analyst and fan who after 13 months got an opportunity to write in a prominent portal again during the course of IPL 2021.  Joining me giving an emotional appeal of sorts to this topic is my uncle Vasanth Krishnan, to get a frontline worker's perspective on whether IPL should have been conducted in these grave times and lot more we have Dr Manjunath shed light on what we can do to help these warriors who stake their lives so that we can stay safe. And finally, to get a Cricket & IPL fan's perspective my friend Chandrakanth Sharma rounds off this episode.  Hope through this episode, people can get some diversion from the daily dose of grief that's surrounding us. Through Cricket Unpliugged, we will try our best to  put out more content that can help people just forget the present and get some pleasant & insightful distraction.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It's that time of the year when most parts of India celebrate the beginning of a new year! And ever since the IPL has started, it adds a lot more fun & enjoyment to the festivities! So we at Cricket Unplugged decided to merge both: Festivals, albeit in times of a worrying second wave of the Coronavirus & IPL 2021!  We have Sooraj, Dr Manjunath & a debutant on this podcast: Chandrakanth Sharma talk about what it means for a tournament like the IPL to take place amidst such tight, secure bio-secure bubbles. The kind of sacrifices the cricketers to bring joy to so many people's faces is priceless! As the 3-4 hours when an IPL game goes on live, no one thinks about the impact of the second wave of this deadly virus, as everyone is glued to their TV screens to watch some scintillating, nail-biting cricketing action!  All the voices you hear will evoke one common sentiment: Gratitude to the BCCI & all the cricketers involved in making IPL 2021 happen without so much fuss or troubles as yet! The cricket action will speak louder than the virus! Enjoy listening to this festival special episode!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

As we are well & truly in the midst of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, IPL 2021 is going to be the common factor that unites everyone & takes them away from their gloom & worry! Cricket will speak loud & clear!!  This special Fan's special episode of Cricket Unplugged-Snippets brings together many voices; some known voices & two debutants. It gives me immense pleasure to have my role model & guru in the broadcasting space: RJ Amit who hosts FullToss: The Voice of Cricket in America on MasalaRadio 98.7 FM where I am a Special Correspondent since the past 8-9 months on my podcast!  Also, it gives me immense satisfaction to get my best friend & someone I really look upto, Pratik Chandak on the podcast to talk about a team he supports: RCB! We also get me express my backing for Delhi Capitals, Mayur Shivakumar speaks about CSK & this being MSD's last season & to round it off we have Abhinav Kumar talk about five time champions, Mumbai Indians! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It just feels like the other day that IPL 2020 finished successfully in rather unique circumstances in the UAE! Cricketers have spread so much joy & happiness by playing such memorable cricket in very unusual circumstances in the past year or so. This episode of Cricket Unplugged, Snippets focusses on IPL 2021 and what Cricket fans, analysts have to say about the tournament!  We have to acknowledge the exemplary amount of sacrifices the players make in order to be move from one 'bio secure bubble' to another & not let the quality of Cricket dig whatsoever. Virat Kohli made a valid point that players must be consulted when it comes to scheduling of games especially as we see a surge in COVID-19 cases engulf the country.  In this episode, we get one of the co-hosts of a very popular & engaging Cricket podcast, 'The HawkEye Podcast': Rahul Kumar & one of my close mates, a fellow fan of singer KK and an IIT Delhi alumni: Pratik Verma make their debut on Cricket Unplugged! We also have one of the biggest supporters of the podcast, a special guest Dr Manjunath present his views on IPL 2021 and his expectations from the tournament!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has been truly phenomenal to see that despite not being able to publish content on a regular basis in the past month or so, the popularity & eagerness to listen to the latest episode hasn't come down! In that endeavor, it's the time to make a format change & bring in more voices on the podcast!  Presenting you 'Cricket Unplugged Snippets', where we get different voices talk about one common theme or topic & to spice things up there will be some music infused too! To kick off this feature of this podcast, we have Mayur Venkatesh, someone who I hold in high regard as hes a respected name in the Toastmaster's circuit in the past few years making his first appearance on Cricket Unplugged! And whats starting off something new on 'Cricket Unplugged' without having the co-host Sooraj engage the audience in his own style!  Looking forward to get more voices coming onto my podcast, and with this new tighter, crisper format, the intention would be to keep our audiences engaged & also bring in new listeners, as we get deeper into this new exciting concept!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

A big part of my love & passion for the game has got to do with players who shaped my fondness for the game. One such iconic greats who will go down as someone who has shaped many people's childhood & someone we look upto is Sourav 'Dada' Ganguly! It's a pleasure to have my cousin S Badrinathan or 'Badri' recollect & talk about someone who has been instrumental in our love for the game: Sourav Ganguly. We take the listeners down memory lane by looking at the rise of India as a cricketing nation under 'Dada's' captaincy! From the iconic India-Australia series in 2001, to India's epic series in Pakistan in 2005-2006 where MS Dhoni's hairstyle caught everyone's attention we have got everything covered! The stories, emotions and struggle certain Indian players had to go through back when 'Dada' was captain to the team which scripted history in Australia had the legacy of Sourav Ganguly beautifully carried on! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

For any Cricket fan, nothing can beat the experience of watching a game in a stadium! After an especially tough year in 2020 where fans in India were starved of too much live Cricket owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing Cricketing action now in Indian shores with the ongoing India vs England series! Among the lucky 15,000 spectators who got the opportunity to witness India take on England on Day One of the second Test was the co-host of Cricket Unplugged & my dear mate Sooraj! I get him to share his feelings of watching the game, how was it considering this is a a game held in pandemic times. We also elaborate on a variety of experiences we both have had the privilege to witness in Chepauk & Chinnaswamy stadiums over the years respectively! How every instance, memory is so closely etched in our hearts! Was a truly exhilarating journey doing this episode! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It was a pleasure to look back on probably the best Test series in a long time!! The recently concluded India-Australia series has managed to evoke varied emotions across the globe where Test Cricket ended up as the biggest winner. In this special episode, where we look back on India's monumental achievement of winning the series 2-1 against all odds, we discuss in detail on the following points: 1. The significance of India's achievement: Winning back to back Test series in Australia. 2. Going from 36 All Out to the heroics at the MCG, Sydney & Gabba. And the manner in which the media blew the Adelaide performance. 3. Reminiscing fond memories of analyzing the series through Ashiwn's show 'Kangaroo Bhoomi' and also a few interviews of Ajinkya Rahane. 4. How the Indian team rallied on & showed tremendous grit & resilience under Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy 5. Major takeaways from this iconic & unforgettable series of Test Cricket! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It's probably the biggest achievement for me as a Cricket Analyst to have the honor and luck to have had a freewheeling chat with a former cricketer for India, Minoti Desai! Not everyone has had that opportunity to have interviewed someone who has played for the country and is still as passionate about the game!  In the first episode of the new year, I had the opportunity to have an amazing conversation with Minoti on a variety of topics; The rise of Women's cricket in India in the past decade, how certain aspects of Sonia's journey resembles her own journey as she went on to represent the country!  This is a tale of the never say die attitude of someone who has the passion & determination to pursue her dreams and it also details the journey with all it's ups & downs! This book would surely add lot of value for all aspiring cricketers and for every cricket fan out there, in Minoti Desai's own words," It's a book once you pick it up, you can't put it down"!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has been a truly unique year, 2020 where due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the way we perceive life has changed. What matters and should matter has dramatically changed! It's a year where I was able to start this podcast with a dear mate Sooraj and it has been truly an honor to have completed 35 episodes on the podcast!  So we decided to present a wrap-up special episode of 'Cricket Unplugged' wherein we give the listeners a sneak peek into how our journey has been in the year gone by both personally & professionally along with providing a detailed look at the Cricket post the COVID-19 era.  And we can't be thankful enough for the love, reception and acceptance from passionate cricket followers who have helped this podcast grow to attain a respectable name. A special mention and tribute to becoming a big part of 'Cricket Twitter' is also included in this episode!! Enjoy listening and continue to shower love your love for the podcast in 2021 as well!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

A significant reason for the increase in visibility & reach for 'Cricket Unplugged' is the traction and acceptance from 'Cricket Twitter'!  So keeping that in mind, we decided to take lot of statements, opinions & discussions we saw on Twitter and decided to give our take in this unique episode conceptually.  A great to welcome back our co-host Sooraj on the show as he was 'missing' getting my take on certain topics/statements.  We discuss a list of statements/opinions that has been discussed a lot on Social Media and present our respective take on the same. Enjoy listening! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

In Part Two of the preview to the Border Gavaskar Trophy, we continue where we left off in the first part. The major highlights of what was discussed in this episode are: 1. Sledging, Banter & Controversies; an integral aspect of the India-Australia rivalry over the years. 2. A little bit on 'The Test' documentary on Amazon Prime. And my personal takeaways as an Aussie fan from the show. 3. Analyzing India's chances in the Test Series considering Australia has a full strength squad vs India sans Virat Kohli for most part of the series. 4. Picking a combined X11 of Indian & Australian players from the 2000s. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

As we build up to the Border Gavaskar series, we at 'Cricket Unplugged' have something unique to present as a preview, with Sri Hari taking on the mantle of the host with me coming on as an Australian fan! Here are some of the key highlights discussed in the first part of the preview series: 1. How come I am such a big Aussie fan despite being in India and following cricket. 2. Most earliest memories of watching cricket in Australia, especially India-Australia Tests. 3. Three most memorable performances(batting & bowling) from India-Australia Tests in Australia over the years. 4. Virat Kohli's emergence as a Test cricketer and how his batting & captaincy reminds me of Ricky Ponting(batting & captaincy). --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support

It has been a thrilling ODI series with the likes of Steven Smith, Aaron Finch, Glen Maxwell shine for Australia to help them seal the series 2-1. India did have their own stars as well like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.  In this episode, we get different perspectives on this ODI series, one which saw someone like T Natarajan make his ODI debut, an inspiring story to Virat Kohli becoming the fastest player ever to cross the 12,000 run mark in ODIs!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raghav-ravichandran/support