Welcome back to another episode of Mid-Day Maidaan! Hosted by Mid-Day Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro alongside Ronan Carvalho, this week's episode previews the upcoming 3-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan in Delhi.While technically a "home series" for Afghanistan at their host venue in Delhi, India enters as heavy favorites. The hosts feature a mix of dynamic young talent, returning superstars, and fresh fast-bowling options. In This Episode:• The Vaibhav Suryavanshi Blueprint: How Rashid Khan and the Afghan think tank plan to counter India's teenage batting sensation using short balls and flighted spin.• Shreyas Iyer's Captaincy Challenge: The Mumbai batter seeks his first home series victory as India's T20I skipper.• Jasprit Bumrah's Return: Spearheading the pace attack after workload management and knee injury recovery.• Player Form & Squad News: Duleep Trophy performances from Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma, plus Yash Thakur replacing the injured Harshit Rana.• Match Predictions: Will India sweep 3-0, or can Afghanistan push it to a competitive 2-1 thriller? Join the Conversation:Who do you think will be the player of the series? Share your predictions with us by tagging @MidDayIndia on social media! Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full video on Mid-Day's YouTube channel.

Welcome to a brand-new video edition of Mid-Day Maidaan, hosted by Mid-Day Editor-in-Chief Sachin Kalbag and Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro! This week, we dive deep into the biggest talking points in global and domestic sports: Novak Djokovic's U.S. Open Shock: Was Djokovic's early loss just a hiccup, or is the 'R-word' (retirement) approaching? We discuss his on-court physical struggles, his mental fortitude, and why his new web series The Wolf and Winter has everyone talking. The Comeback Mindset: Drawing parallels between Djokovic's resilience, Gaël Monfils’s longevity, and Mongolian sumo legend Terunofuji's miraculous rise back to Yokozuna after hitting rock bottom. How Champions Are Made: Why creating a Grand Slam champion takes a 15-year sacrifice and a complete ecosystem—and how Indian sports infrastructure needs to step up, from school-level football gear to elite training. Lionel Messi Retires: Reflecting on Messi's retirement from Argentina, his extraordinary ability to absorb physical hits, and former India captain Sunil Chhetri's tribute to his career and humility. What are your thoughts on Djokovic's future and Messi's legacy? Drop your comments below or tag @MiddayIndia on social media!

In this episode of Mid-Day Maidaan, Mid-Day Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro and colleague Ronan Carvalho dissect the fallout from the drawn India vs. Sri Lanka Test series. Despite India enforcing the follow-on and reducing Sri Lanka to 6 for 6 on Day 4, a heroic defensive effort led by 25-year-old Sonal Dinusha forced a Day 5 draw. The hosts break down Dinusha's historical series performance, scoring three centuries and a fifty and examine whether Shubman Gill and the Indian management made the right call in enforcing the follow-on. Ashwin and Ronan also analyse how this unexpected draw dealt a heavy blow to India's World Test Championship (WTC) final qualification hopes, leaving the team with a steep uphill battle in upcoming Test series against New Zealand and Australia. To wrap up, the duo pivots to India's upcoming white-ball calendar, evaluating squad positives like Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, while looking ahead to the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

In this episode ofMid-Day Maidaan, Mid-Day Sports EditorAshwin FerroandRonan Carvalhobreak down all the major talking points ahead of India's milestone600th Test match: The spin challenge at Galle and how India's spin attack compares to Sri Lanka's contingent. Sarfaraz Khan'sreturn after a 19-month exile, his improved fitness, and his battle with Dhruv Jurel for a spot in the XI. How India will cope withoutJasprit Bumrahfollowing Angelo Mathews' claim that his absence gives Sri Lanka the edge. Their predicted Playing XI and key player focus, includingPrasidh Krishna.

On this episode of Mid-Day Maidaan, Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro and Ronan Carvalho break down India's performance at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Despite a truncated schedule, India secured a strong 4th-place finish with 39 overall medals, driven by stellar performances from the boxing and weightlifting contingents. The duo dives into the powerful stories behind the medals—from Sharmila Dhankar and Zhendu Kumar overcoming immense personal adversity to Tejaswin Shankar and Tejas Shirse fighting through injury on the track. Plus, a detailed look at the javelin throw dynamics featuring Neeraj Chopra and Yeshvir Singh, Sakshi Choudhary's boxing campaign, and what lies ahead as the contingent prepares for the Asian Games in Nagoya. READ ALSO: After Glasgow's Commonwealth Games lite, it's grande Gujarat Boxing boom, judo show power India to strong Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 campaign Commonwealth Games 2026: Sreeshankar's leap of faith has a silver lining

Highs, heartbreaks, and heroic comebacks at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow! In this episode of Mid-Day Maidaan, Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro and colleague Ronan Carvalho review India's performance at the Commonwealth Games and look ahead to the biggest events on the horizon: Inspiring Para-Athletes: The incredible, life-changing story of Sharmila Dhankar winning Shot Put Gold at 40, and Nashik's Dilip Gavit sprinting to a stunning 100m Gold. Track & Field Reality Check: Analyzing the weather challenges in Glasgow and what went wrong for sprinters Gurindervir Singh and Tejas Shirse. Boxing Powerhouse: India's boxers guarantee a flood of medals as they gear up for the upcoming Asian Games. The Big Javelin Final: Previewing Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, and Yashvir Singh going up against Sri Lanka's 23-year-old phenom Ramesh Pathirage and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. Mirabai Chanu's Dominance: Celebrating her 3rd consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold medal in weightlifting! Share your medal predictions and tag us on Instagram @middayindia

The ultimate prize has been claimed! In this episode of Mid-Day Maidaan, Ashwin Ferro and Ronan Carvalho dive deep into the grand finale of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Spain edge out Argentina 1-0 in an absolute extra-time thriller. The duo dissects the tactical chess match between Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni. We break down Spain's relentless dominance, Ferran Torres coming off the bench to score the historic 106th-minute winner, and their legendary defensive record of conceding just one goal all tournament. On the flip side, we analyze Argentina's dramatic disciplinary collapse, Enzo Fernández's costly red card, and a heartbreaking final World Cup chapter for Lionel Messi. Plus, a special look at Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez's jaw-dropping 12-save performance that kept La Albiceleste alive against all odds. READ ALSO: FIFA World Cup 2026 final: Mumbai's Spain fans react to the win; say it is the beginning of a new journey Sudarsan Pattnaik creates beautiful FIFA World Cup 2026 Final sand sculpture in Puri

Welcome back to Mid-Day Maidaan! This week, host Sachin Kalbag is joined by Mid-Day newsroom's football expert and sub-editor Ronan Carvalhoto unpack a truly chaotic World Cup semifinal clash. The duo dives straight into the wreckage of England's devastating semifinal loss to Argentina. After taking an early lead through an incredible piece of skill by Anthony Gordon, England shocked fans globally by completely abandoning their attacking flair. Under manager Thomas Tuchel, England resorted to an embarrassing 10-man defensive wall in their own penalty box, conceding a staggering 88% of ball possession to Argentina in the second half. Sachin and Ronan dissect why Tuchel's tactical cowardice suppressed superstars like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, and how a single fiery moment between Bellingham and Lionel Messi completely swung the game's psychological momentum. We also focus on Sunday night's dream World Cup final: Spain vs. Argentina. Can Spain's highly disciplined, technically superior midfield under Luis de la Fuente nullify the unpredictable, magical moments generated by Lionel Scaloni's relentless squad? Ronan breaks down the tactical match-ups, underrated Spanish players, and leaves us with an incredible piece of star-studded goalkeeper trivia that proves just how stacked the European champions truly are.

A historic cricket milestone and a "zombie week" of elite football are colliding. In this episode of Mid-Day Maidaan, we break down a massive week in global sports, from the hallowed turf of Lord's to the intense tactical battles shaping the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The Indian Women's cricket team has pulled off a historic victory at Lord's, proving that the women's game is currently setting the benchmark for Indian cricket. We dive deep into the strategic masterclass, standout performances from Yastika Bhatia and Kranti Gaur, and the hard truth about why the BCCI needs to prioritize strength training and fitness over just raw technique if India wants to dominate the T20 format globally. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup semi-finals are locked in with the ultimate heavyweight lineup: Spain, France, Argentina, and England. We analyze why this tournament is being won in the trenches of the midfield, the spatial awareness of Jude Bellingham, and why Michael Olise is the perfect "Watson to Mbappe's Sherlock." Plus, the tactical shift causing a surge in second-half goals and the legendary ghost of 1986 looming large over Lionel Messi's first-ever clash against England. READ ALSO: IND W vs ENG W Test: Team India secure historic win by 270 runs against England at Lord's Gianni Infantino says FIFA will discuss expanding World Cup to 64 teams after 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina are a hit as Swiss miss

Two heartbreaking losses in 24 hours have exposed massive tactical gaps in Indian cricket. In Episode 5 of Mid-Day Maidaan, Editor-in-Chief Sachin Kalbag and Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro come together to unpack a highly disappointing weekend for the men's and women's national sides. First, they tackle the absolute shocker in Dublin: India's devastating 2-0 T20I series loss to Ireland. It was Shreyas Iyer's debut tour as white-ball captain, but the headlines were stolen by Ireland's new weapon, Jay Mundra, who pulled off a mind-boggling feat by dismissing Sanju Samson on the very first ball of both consecutive matches. The duo also debate a massive missed opportunity—why did the management bench 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi against a lower-ranked side, only to now potentially test him against world-class swing in England? Next, the conversation shifts to the Women's T20 World Cup, where India suffered a premature group-stage exit. Analyzing the losses to South Africa and Australia, Ashwin explains why putting up below-par scores of 158 and 170 while batting first simply won’t cut it in modern T20 cricket. Citing expert insights from former India cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy, they break down the structural flaws in squad selection—like forcing state-level openers to bat at numbers 6 and 7—and call for a revolutionary, nationwide grassroots talent hunt for raw power-hitters and natural swing bowlers.

Welcome back to another high-energy episode of Mid-Day Maidaan, your ultimate stadium pass to the biggest sporting event on the planet! This week, Mid-day's Editor-in-Chief Sachin Kalbag staging a late-night intervention for our resident, sleep-deprived football fanatic and our Sports Editor Ashwin, who has been burning the midnight oil watching back-to-back 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM kickoffs. The verdict? The 48-team expansion is delivering one of the most unpredictable, thrilling tournaments in football history. The so-called "minnows" didn't get the memo that they were supposed to lose. We dive straight into the biggest sensation of the tournament: Cabo Verde (Cape Verde). We map their legendary 0-0 lock against powerhouse Spain to their chaotic 2-2 draw, spearheaded by their extraordinary 40-year-old veteran goalkeeper, Vozinha (Josimar Dias). Breaking records and defying modern athletic limitations, he went from 40,000 Instagram followers to over 15 million overnight—evoking core nostalgia of Roger Milla's iconic Italia '90 corner-flag jig. Also read: Iran hold Belgium to a draw with oldest starting XI in the FIFA World Cup since 1966 FIFA World Cup 2026 | 'I've always dreamed about being at a World Cup': Spain's rising star Lamine Yamal after win over Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2026: France's captain Kylian Mbappe backs Ballon d'Or winner Dembele ahead of Iraq clash

Welcome back to Mid-Day Maidaan, your ultimate stadium pass to everything happening in the world of sports. The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially commenced, bringing an unprecedented level of scale, drama, and expansion to the beautiful game. For the first time in football history, 48 teams are battling it out across three host nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—meaning a mammoth 104 matches packed into a grueling 39-day summer schedule. In this episode, our sports desk dives deep into the tournament openers and analyzes the brand-new structural layout. With 12 groups of four, the race to progress is more chaotic than ever, as even the best third-placed teams get a lifeline into a brand-new Round of 32. We look at the absolute must-watch group phase blockbuster fixtures, including France vs. Erling Haaland's Norway and England's high-stakes reunion with Croatia. In this episode, we discuss- The Senegal team's not-so-warm welcome How Geopolitics affects global sports Biggest highlights of the season.

Coming soon...

Welcome to the premier episode of The Mid-Day Maidaan sports podcast, your ultimate arena for deep-dive sports analysis! In this inaugural episode, Mid-day's Editor-in-Chief Sachin Kalbag and Sports Editor Ashwin Ferro pull up their chairs to dissect the massive, high-stakes drama of the IPL 2026 Grand Finale. It was a season for the history books, but the conversation goes far beyond just who lifted the championship trophy.The duo dives deep into the tournament's absolute biggest talking points: 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Sooryavanshi's jaw-dropping run, shattering Chris Gayle's legendary 14-year-old record Breaking down the chances of his entry into the national team Links: 'Phenomenal!': Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle react to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive IPL 2026 innings Connect With Us: Read Mid-day Sports @ mid-day.com/sports Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/middayindia Get latest updates on Instagram: @middayindia Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@middayindia