In Focus by The Hindu

Author: The Hindu

A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.
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In Focus-Parley | Does football suffer because of cricket?
Thursday, 19 February, 2026

Last weekend, the Indian Super League (ISL), the highest league in Indian football, kicked off after months of uncertainty. The disruption, which compelled some clubs to halt their operations and consigned the players and coaches to a state of desperation, emanated from the absence of a commercial partner for the league once the Master Rights Agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expired in December. The Indian football team, which is 141st in the FIFA rankings, failed to even qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after a loss to Singapore last October. The contrast with cricket in India could not be starker. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest and most powerful cricket board in the world right now, and India’s cricketers enjoy demigod status across the length and breadth of the country. Does football suffer because of cricket? Guests: Abhik Chatterjee, CEO of ISL club Kerala Blasters; Yannick Colaco co-founder of FanCode (the media rights partner of the ISL) Host: Vivek Krishnan Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices