- The show, which will be hosted on YouTube from September 9, will go behind the scenes of competitive cricket
- It will feature insiders as well as superfans in insightful, relatable and entertaining panels
For far too long, sports commentary has been relegated to the sidelines – to bland, jargon-laden expert speak that’s often skipped over by viewers in favour of the acting on-ground action. A brand new show from the stable of Kiara Powar, an upcoming sportscaster and the voice of Gen Z sports-lovers, is attempting to bridge the divide with its cracking insights, superfan moments, and exclusive behind-the-scenes exposes.
Titled Bat, Ball aur Baatein, the show aims to completely transform how cricket is understood and consumed by younger audiences. By featuring experts who are industry veterans, subject matter experts who decode the dynamics of cricket in its modern-day formats, and super-fans who live, breathe and dream the sport, the show will not only help viewers to decode the inner workings of cricket, but to also better understand the various factors influencing their favourite teams and players, and could also potentially impact the outcomes of crucial matches.
“As a former professional sportsperson who has transitioned into a commentator role, I have observed first-hand the gaps in how cricket is communicated to lovers of the game. There are so many factors that come together to make world-class players, teams and tournaments – by breaking down these components in simple and relatable language, and peppering them with delightful anecdotes that help audiences understand the mindset of their favourite sportspeople, my goal is to not only ignite their curiosity about upcoming matches, but rekindle their love for the game. At its core, cricket is a sport that’s by the people and of the people. In India, it is our lifeblood that transcends boundaries of geography, age and language. My own love for the sport has inspired my team and I to ideate this series, and I hope audiences love it as much as we loved creating it,” says Kiara.
The first season of Bat, Ball aur Baatein is focused on the highly anticipated 2025 Asia Cup, with special attention to India’s pivotal matches. It will feature incisive commentary from both experts and superfans, which includes illustrious names such as India’s top pitch curator – Nadeem Memon, Muder Basrai, an inspiring entrepreneur who has also played cricket at the grassroots level, acclaimed psychologist Namrata Jain, and Rohit Wagh, the strength and conditioning coach for the National Cricket Academy and the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. Also participating are superfans such as is Shreyas Tatkare, one of the city’s most well-known paparazzi photographers and Santosh Gaurishankar Kanojia, chairman of Dhobi Kalyan & Audhyogik Vikas Co-operative Society Limited. Acclaimed sports journalist Harit Joshi – who has been associated with leading publications including Hindustan Times, Mid-day and Aaj Tak, and was awarded the distinction of the best ‘cricket writer’ for his piece on a leading UK sports portal – will be helping to guide the narrative of the conversations. He will also appear as on certain highly anticipated panels to offer his invaluable perspective. The first episode will go live on September 9, the eve of the Indian team’s face-off with the UAE team.
V-Rich, a food brand dedicated to crafting wholesome, additive-free foods, has pledged their support to the effort, coming on board as a gifting partner. “Our brand began as a revolution, as our way of redefining nutrition and wellness, without compromise. We completely support Kiara’s efforts to make sports, which should be an integral part of every youngster’s life, more accessible and relatable. We are thus proud to be associated with this endeavour and wish the team the very best,” said Yogitha Jahnavi, founder & CEO of V-Rich.
Speaking about his association with Bat, Ball aur Baatein, Muder shared, “Through the years, cricket has evolved tremendously and become very high stakes compared to what the game was like when I was a youngster. I believe that the fans of the sport are as crucial to it as the players, and I am delighted to see young talent such as Kiara Powar focusing on making cricket more accessible and even more engaging for the masses. I am proud to be associated with this endeavour and look forward to how fans receive it.”
“Cricket today has evolved tremendously from when India made its debut on the international arena. It is a high-stakes and high-rewards sport, and what viewers see on their screens is only a glimpse of everything that comes together to make these matches possible. I am so proud of Kiara for making this effort to go beyond, and to ask the right questions. I’m sure that fans of the game will appreciate this fresh perspective,” said Nadeem.
“It is often said that sports offer viewers an observable environment to study psychological principles, such as emotional range, motivation, stress, identity, and the development of skills such as leadership and resilience. And these factors all come into play on the field, affecting players’ performances and mindsets long before the ball makes contact with the bat. I am so excited that Kiara is using her platform to dive deeper into the mental aspect of the game, and to allow her audiences a behind-the-scenes sneak peek into what drives players,” Namrata added.
