Author: Boria Majumdar

Lakshya Sen has been an enigma of sorts. Some incredible wins coupled with some poor losses – it’s fair to say that Sen, despite all the talent, hasn’t really done justice to the potential he has. Just like in the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he played some fantastic badminton before giving it away in the semi-finals, he did the same at the All England Open 2025. Take the match against Jonatan Christie, for example. Pitted against the defending champion, Sen wasn’t overawed. In fact, from the start, he seemed in control. May I say, it was one of his finest…

Brand WPL is a success. Fan engagement surrounding the tournament is evidence of how it has now struck a chord with the masses. Corporates have come forward, and in that sense, serious strides have been made. The WPL, may I say, has made sure that no young girl will be stopped from playing cricket while growing up in India. And no neighbour will have the audacity to abuse aspiring women cricketers. For girls in the West, playing cricket or any sport for that matter is a very natural progression. If they wish to pursue a career in sport, they do…

March 16, 2012 – Sher-e-Bangla Sadium, Mirpur: Sachin Tendulkar had just scored his hundredth 100 and only just finished the post-match media interaction. There was chaos all around, with everyone from the media, ground security, production crew and Bangladeshi administrators jostling to speak to the man. I knew it would be impossible to speak to him in that frenzy. Shortly after 11 PM, there were still thousands waiting on the road to catch a glimpse of the players leaving for the hotel. The Indian team was not able to leave the stadium for another hour or so and I wondered…

Even the best of captains make mistakes. That’s what pressure does to you. At the time Harmanpreet Kaur got out, Mumbai Indians (MI) were 118-6. With two and a bit overs to go, few expected them to go past 140 with all the recognised batters back in the hut. With Meg Lanning in charge, Delhi Capitals (DC) were expected to take control. That’s when the mistake was made. For whatever reason, Lanning, one of the greatest leaders in the game, decided not to bowl Jess Jonassen, one of the best and most consistent spinners of the last decade. Jonassen had…

India had never won the hockey World Cup till then, and were down a goal with Mohammed Saeed having scored for Pakistan in the 18th minute. Thereafter, as Balbir Singh, the manager, recounted, “It was one of the best displays of hockey by the Indian team and they came from behind to beat Pakistan 2-1.” It was India’s first World Cup win, and till date, the only one. It was also the first time the tournament was staged in Asia, and the final was witnessed by a crowd of over 50,000 at the Merdeka stadium. While it would have great…

Ajinkya Rahane as captain is a gamble. And Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), one has to argue, are used to taking calculated risks. As captain, there is no doubting his nous. Australia 2021 was evidence of how good he is. To lead an Indian side without six or seven key players and beat Australia in Australia was no less than a miracle. Rahane had successfully crafted a fairytale. But when it comes to T20 cricket, things are quite different. The truth is, he isn’t a T20 natural and, despite being a senior pro, has not really had an IPL career to…

I have interviewed Rohit Sharma several times over the course of his career. And yet, the best interview that we did together wasn’t aired. It was recorded in February 2020, a month before the Covid virus took over our lives and all sport came to a standstill. At the time, the interview was deemed not relevant and we decided not to air it. It was an hour-long podcast, and may I say, a deep dive into Rohit’s mind as player and leader. He wasn’t captain then, and yet it was evident why he was indeed a leader in the change…

He was key to two of India’s greatest wins. First in March 1971 against the West Indies and then against England in England five months later. Abid Ali had spoken to Boria Majumdar and Gautam Bhattacharyya about these wins for their book, 1971: The Beginning of India’s Cricketing Greatness. Q: You were at the centre of two of Indian cricket’s greatest moments: first, in March 1971, in the second Test against the West Indies in Port of Spain, and five months later, in the series decider against England at The Oval. Fifty years on, how do you look back on…

When you organise something, you are understandably tense. And when it is something on as grand a scale as the Tata Steel Trailblazers conclave, the tension is very natural. One small mistake, and things can go south. You have athletes and sponsors to look after, your viewers and listeners are following your every move, and you can’t slip up. It does take a toll on you. The truth is, I could barely sleep the three days of the conclave. In a period of high stress, you do need your moments. You need to unwind and find ways of doing so.…

When I first launched Backstage With Boria, Ageas Federal Life Insurance was the brand that supported the show. It was December 2021, and the first episode that we recorded in Kolkata was with Sourav Ganguly. It was only fitting that we celebrated three successful years of Backstage With Boria at the Trailblazers Conclave by doing an hour-long session with Ganguly. With the auditorium packed to capacity, it was indeed a highlight of the conclave. Ganguly was witty and candid. He was straightforward and opinionated. The audience lapped up every bit of it, and the session was a roaring success. Sample…