Cricket talk with memory and method.
The Last Wicket pairs cricket conversation with close attention to match situations, selections, formats, and fan feeling. Episodes move from IPL chaos and Test milestones to cricket writing, analytics, broadcasting technology, and the people building cricket media.
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The Last Wicket is built for cricket listeners who enjoy the long road to the point. Its conversations are warm, analytical, and comfortable with digression when the digression explains why a match or player matters. The show usually starts from current cricket. An IPL round, a Test series, a retirement story, a last-over finish, or an unusual scheduling choice becomes the entry point. From there, Benny and rotating co-hosts such as Mike and Mayank work through the cricket underneath the headline. They talk about team prospects, overseas player availability, selection balance, format pressure, and the emotional strangeness of following a season that never quite stops. The tone is not polished sports-radio certainty. It is more conversational than that, full of caveats, second thoughts, and the occasional fan confession. A CSK supporter trying to process a strange IPL table belongs in the same room as a discussion of DRS, umpire’s call, and how ball-tracking has changed LBW decisions against spinners. The show also has a strong memory bank. Ashwin’s 100 Tests and 500 wickets lead into Tamil Nadu cricket, India’s long line of spinners, overseas omissions, and the shrinking space for long Test careers. A 2023 review turns toward the rise of franchise cricket and the anxiety of replacing older players. The interview episodes add another layer. Guests discuss cricket writing, social media, YouTube production, freelancing, Hawkeye, Crickviz, broadcast analysis, and the way modern cricket is explained to viewers. Match episodes can get granular, especially when the show slows down a frantic IPL finish and studies twelve balls one by one. That patience is the point. The Last Wicket is not just reacting to cricket; it is trying to remember the context, name the tradeoffs, and keep the fan’s feeling attached to the analysis.
Made for: For cricket-literate fans who enjoy patient discussion of IPL, Indian cricket, Test milestones, analytics, and the media ecosystem around the sport. It best suits listeners who like tactics and nostalgia in the same conversation.
What sets it apart: The show stands apart by letting small cricket moments breathe until they reveal something larger about players, teams, formats, or fandom. Its interviews with writers, creators, and analysts also connect on-field cricket to how the game is produced, measured, and remembered.
Two US-based cricket fans are joined every episode by some of the most knowledgeable people in the game, for wide ranging conversations on everything from analytics to cricket history and everything in between.
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
The Last Wicket connects cricket's selection debates and tournament tactics to the coaching, money and governance shaping the game.
Benny and Mayank treat cricket as a game shaped by selection calls, coaching relationships and the institutions behind the scorecard. Their conversations move from Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid's contrasting tenures with India to the unresolved number-four problem at the 2019…
India's 2019 number-four problem still gets Benny going; you've got room for your own cricket grudges.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A Test cricket debate about how changing batting, bowling, and team depth reshape greatness.
The Last Wicket spends its time on a familiar but worthwhile question: how much have batting and bowling changed, and what does that do to the idea of greatness now?
A steady Champions Trophy preview that values squad balance over empty tournament talk.
Benny, Mayank, and Gaurav Tripathi keep this Champions Trophy preview focused on cricket rather than noise. India land as the favorites, and Australia get a serious look too, with their batting depth and bowling options treated as real factors instead of a lazy talking point.
A cricket-first look at India’s Champions Trophy win, with Shreyas Iyer making the strongest case for player of the tournament.
The Last Wicket gives a loose, conversational run through India’s Champions Trophy win, moving from Rohit Sharma’s title-winning side into the bigger tournament story and the players who mattered most.
A clear case for T20 as the most realistic path for cricket's American future.
Benny, Mayank, and Aman Patel use the rise of cricket in America as a way to ask a practical question about the game's future. The discussion moves from the T20 World Cup and Major League Cricket to Aman Patel's own path into the sport, and it works best when it treats growth as…
A thoughtful WPL conversation that finds its strength in the details rather than the trophy shot.
The episode gives the first Women's Premier League season real shape. It moves beyond the final scoreline and into how the tournament was put together, how the crowds turned up, and how access and ticketing affected the experience.
A clear look at Indian cricket's shifting power centers and the coaching changes around them.
Indian cricket's recent power shifts sit at the center of this discussion, as it moves from the steadier Kohli years into a more unsettled picture around the BCCI and the women's game. It works best when it lets that history breathe instead of rushing to a verdict.
A coaching debate that reads Indian cricket through selection, format, and philosophy.
The episode turns on a steady cricket argument: Ravi Shastri against Rahul Dravid, with Benny, Mayank, and guest Nikhil Popat keeping it grounded in selection calls and match-day habits.
A relaxed cricket-doc discussion that values honesty over gloss.
This episode stays on cricket documentaries and the gap between polished public image and the version that shows up off camera. Benny, Mayank, and Prashant use Fire in Babylon and The Test to make that contrast easy to follow, and the best stretch comes when cricket, player…
Local cricket, score by score.
Cricket analysis with the lid off.
Loose talk, sharp turns, real feeling.
Cricket reaction with memory and nerve.
The hosts and guest discuss their social media interactions and introduce a pulse check on the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup's progress and team performances.
This episode segment discusses Major League Cricket in the USA, featuring insights from journalist Cameron Ponsonby about the Washington Freedoms and the host's personal experience attending a Texas Super Kings game in Morrisville.
This episode features a guest appearance discussing India's performance in the World Test Championship Final and other cricket topics.
This episode segment reviews the book 'The Miracle Makers' about India's 2020-21 test series in Australia, discussing anecdotes, insights, and the series' significance in cricket history.
This episode segment introduces Duncan Stone's book 'Different Class: The Untold Story of English Cricket', discussing its exploration of cricket's working-class roots and class structures in England.
The podcast discusses Zimbabwe cricket's performance in the World Cup 2023 qualifiers with journalist Adam Theo, focusing on their recent elimination and preparations.
This episode features a conversation with cricket journalist Karthik Krishnaswamy about the historic 2001 India vs Australia Test match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
This episode segment introduces a discussion on how climate change intersects with cricket, featuring guest Chris Britt-Searle from The Next Test, a non-profit focused on climate education and solutions in cricket.
The hosts and guest Sarthak Dev discuss the emotional impact and significance of the Indian women's cricket team winning the World Cup, reflecting on personal experiences and the event's aftermath.
This episode segment introduces a podcast discussion on cricket legends Kapil and Dhoni, featuring guest Ayaz Memon, after a sponsor message.
The podcast introduces a discussion on the ongoing Women's ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, highlighting key aspects like thrilling games, rain delays, and media coverage.
This segment introduces a podcast episode discussing the ongoing cricket test series between England and India, highlighting the competitive nature and key players involved.
The hosts discuss the current state of IPL 2025, including unusual scheduling and fan engagement at the stadium.
The host introduces a discussion on IPL 2025 with guest Abhay from Nordic Crick pundits, focusing on Abhay's cricket journey and background.
The segment discusses the intersection of cricket, media, and politics, focusing on the BCCI's influence and the role of podcasts in covering forgotten legends and political aspects of the sport.
This segment discusses Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement from cricket, his legacy in Indian test cricket, and his personal announcement on Instagram.
The hosts discuss their immediate reactions to the conclusion of the England vs India test series, focusing on the final day's play and their perspectives as Indian cricket fans.
The hosts discuss the unusual pause in cricket after the IPL, its effects on team prospects, and broader events like retirements impacting the sport.
The hosts introduce guest Ben Brettel and his cricket-focused sub-stack before transitioning to discuss the IPL.
The podcast discusses the state of ODI cricket, including its relevance, challenges, and future, with guest Yash Jha from ESPN Crick Info.
This episode segment features a discussion with Asad Hasnain about Wasim Akram's memoir, focusing on his legacy as a Pakistan cricket legend.
The hosts and guest Ben Brettell discuss the build-up to The Ashes, focusing on England and Australia's recent limited-overs performances and the lack of traditional tour games.
The hosts discuss England's disappointing performance in a cricket test series, focusing on their failure to meet potential under Stokes' leadership.
Praatibh Surana discusses his background in cricket and content creation, including his journey with the Cricket by JB YouTube channel and partnership with Aswin.
Shubh Agarwal discusses his journey as a cricket writer, starting in 2017 during the India-Australia test series, and shares insights on cricket in the digital and social media era.
This episode introduces a conversation with cricket strategist Edward Fitzgibbon, discussing his career and insights on expanding cricket globally.
The hosts discuss the upcoming 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, noting its controversies and the blur of frequent T20 matches leading up to it.
The hosts and guest Ben Brettell briefly discuss the unexpected IPL victory of Royal Challengers Bangalore after 18 years, highlighting the final match and Virat Kohli's role.
The hosts discuss Rohit Sharma's retirement and the current state of the IPL playoffs, focusing on team performances and predictions.
The hosts analyze two thrilling IPL games with last-ball finishes, breaking down the final 12 balls to explore the excitement and key moments in cricket's close matches.
Hosts Benny and Mayank interview cricket commentator Aaman Patel about the recent T20 World Cup success of the USA team and the future of American cricket.
Host Benny interviews freelance journalist Radha Ladgupta about the historic inaugural Women's Premier League cricket tournament, covering team performances, standout players, scheduling challenges, and fan experience improvements needed for future editions.
The hosts of The Last Wicket podcast review the major cricket events of 2023, discussing the growing dominance of franchise leagues like the IPL and SA20, key series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Ashes, and reflecting on the year's standout performances and personal fan experiences.
Hosts Benny and Mayank analyze India's dominant victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, discussing the team's clinical performance, incredible player depth, and standout individuals like Varun Chakravarthy.
The hosts and a returning guest discuss Ravi Ashwin's autobiography 'I Have the Streets', analyzing the cricketer's unique mindset, technical genius, personal insecurities, and the book's strengths and weaknesses.
Cricket analytics blogger Arnab Jain joins The Last Wicket to analyze how batting and bowling have evolved over the last two decades.
The hosts and guest Aryan Surana analyze the structural challenges facing international cricket, including the crowded calendar, the dominance of franchise leagues like the IPL, and the struggle to grow the game in associate nations.
The hosts and a guest critic analyze the state of cricket documentaries, comparing them to acclaimed sports docs like 'The Last Dance'.
Host Benny and guest Karthik Kannan discuss R.
The hosts and guest analyst Nikhil Popat conduct a detailed comparative analysis of the tenures of Indian cricket coaches Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid.
Cricket expert Gaurav Tripathi joins The Last Wicket to analyze the upcoming Champions Trophy, discussing its relevance in today's cricket landscape, team strategies, key players, and tournament predictions.
Sports biomechanist Stuart McErlain-Naylor discusses his research on cricket batting techniques, specifically how biomechanics affects power hitting and ball carry distance.
The Last Wicket's Benny, Mike and guest Shayan Ahmed Khan review R.
Aditya Iyer, a former Indian Express trainee who covered the 2010 Zimbabwe tour as the only Indian print reporter, discusses his book "Gully Gully", written while following India across the 2023 World Cup.
Benny, Mayank, Nish and Karthik recorded this episode of The Last Wicket about 12 hours after Australia beat India in the 2023 Men's World Cup final, and they say it leans toward an Indian perspective.
Himanish, an astrophysicist, worked 23 months as a consultant analyst for the Indian men's team after Rahul Dravid emailed him following a January 2022 Substack article on Akshar Patel.
Soham Sarkhel uses Jasprit Bumrah's zero wickets and expected average of 20.5 in the 2021 World Test Championship final to show how scorecards can obscure bowling quality.
The Last Wicket hosts Benny and Mayank review IPL 2025's first round, including an Ishan Kishan century and Sunrisers Hyderabad's 287.
Asad, a Pakistani fan who has followed the team since age five, tells Benny and Mayank that Pakistan cricket is "a very depressing state of affairs," citing a loss to the USA and a home Test series loss to Bangladesh.
Karthik Jayaraman suggests England's dependence on opponent data helped India's unfamiliar debutants succeed during the five-Test series.