Test Match Special - IPL 2026 Awards: Magic Moments and Big Surprises

Episode Date: May 30, 2026

Content creator and cricket fan Henry.vr joins Traitors finalist Faraaz Noor and Amber Sandhu in the Strategic Timeout studio to look back on this year’s IPL tournament as they pick their magic moments as well as the players who have delighted and surprised them.

You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Well, this is an emotional one. Hello and welcome back to the final episode of Strategic Time Out, the place where we have been debriefing all things, IPL 2026. Now, this seems like a good opportunity to look back at the tournament. Our highlights, the key moments, the drama, and looking ahead to next year as well. As always, we have got a wonderful lineup joining us for our final episode. All I'm saying is,

If these two guys were at a wedding, just keep your aunties away. Keep them well away. He's been there from the very start, traitors finalists and all-round cricket fan for us and making his debut on strategic timeout. Content creator, one of the funniest guys on the internet. It's Henry. Do you want to give your full name though? Henry DePeng won.

And why is it that? Sort of, it's quite obvious actually. A structural thing. Guys, it's a joy to have you. Henry, tell us a little bit about your journey because it wasn't the most pleasant, was it? No, no, no. Two-hour train from London, but there was no AC on. And for context, it's Tuesday afternoon and it's a scorcher. Yeah. 30 degrees? Yeah. 31.

Exactly. I know it's first world problems, but honestly, it was just, it was too much. We've helped you out, though, haven't you? No, yeah. Amber's giving me a fan, which I'll be keeping the whole time. But yeah, it was too much. The windows were all open, the sun's coming through, and I just couldn't deal with it, sweating everywhere. But I'm fine. before we get into the tournament and we start to look at that final tell us where did the love for cricket come from Henry? Whether it's love

it's more about my parents sort of forced me to sort of play cricket. So it sounds like the same thing, I'll be honest. Yeah, my dad and my uncle have a cricket team so they force me to start playing very early so I'd start off just fine leg doing all the running for them and that's just kind of never stopped. I kind of thought

if I start off playing adult cricket which is 11, which is quite good. I don't think any professional players playing adult cricket 11. No, there probably does a fair few. Maybe. I thought I was the only one. At that time, I was definitely the only one. And then, yeah, I haven't really improved since, but I'm still doing the running for my uncle and my dad. And your dad was the captain of the team?

Dad's captain, uncle's vice captain. And that's a lot of pressure of playing for them. Because every single time, you know, they're putting pressure. And the cricket normally, when you play cricket with your friends or your teammates, the cricket stays there. my cricket comes back home with me. So at the dinner table, if I don't do well, I know it's that with the portion size of my food,

a lot of the things, right? So I'm getting judged constantly. But how much pressure was on you if you're just doing fine leg to fine leg? No, but I also get to bat at 8, 9, 10. It's going to do it, it. It started off. Henry was there for the day out.

He was just there to field. I've said that you create kind of comedy content. You know you as a content creator. You are a household name within me, my sister, we quote you quite often, Henry, but for, you know, somebody watching at home, what are you known for on the internet? For basically, how would I describe it? It's relatable DESE British style comedy content.

Yes. A blend and a mixture of both is what I do. But most people just say I talk rubbish online for a living. Which is absolutely fun, which is what we're doing right now. Yeah, yeah, that's all I've managed to get myself on it, I think, to be fair. So I don't complain. How's your week been? because you had a day out to Wembley.

Oh, I hope the borough didn't last long to be fair, did it? I know, yeah, it was a mint weekend, to be fair. It was probably, apart from that 90 minutes, which was probably one of the worst 90 minutes of football I've ever seen. It was a bit boring, isn't it, the game? A bit is a bit of an understatement. I generally think that was probably one of the worst playoff finals I've seen for a long, long time.

I thought he was terrible. It was terrible, but let's not talk about that. The weekend was mint. It was absolutely scorching. Me and my mate's absolutely flying, and that. So, yeah, it was good cracking the big smoke, to be fair. First time at Wembley as well. Enjoyed it.

Yeah, good. Shout out McBurney. Legend. Let's talk, IPL. Punjab have been one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, but we're down to four teams. We're recording on a Tuesday afternoon. So theoretically, when this goes out, we'll have our two finalists. But at the moment, RCB, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and of course Sunrises,

three of those teams who have essentially just won the same amount of games and lost the amount of games, is looking quite tight at the top. of the table. How has it shaped up? Have those teams that you thought would make it? Have they made it? Well, I, the first episode of this, said Mumbai Indians. You've had an absolute shocker, by the way. I was well off the mark, well off the mark with that one.

To be fair, good draft. I've been classed, I think, like they're sort of coming up towards the back end, really. So they've been, they've sort of surprised me a bit. I know they've got a good side. Like, the bowling attack's ridiculous. When you've got, obviously, KG opening up, it can't really go wrong. but yeah, they've surprised me for how good they've been. I feel like they've approached the game differently as well.

They've put more emphasis on their bowling. They haven't really chased after the big numbers as such. And I think that's kind of why they've been so successful. And that's why they find themselves in playoffs. Their batting is well, it isn't like all gung-ho at the start in the power play, like everyone else is. Like they can get off to a slow start and then still put a big score on because they're not sort of just throwing the wickets away.

So, yeah, I think it's been good to see for that as opposed to like everyone just sort of try to smash everything out of the path. Has it gone how you expected it, Henry? I didn't think RCP would actually... Really? I knew their team was super strong and I knew obviously after winning. I just always think that after team wins,

I just think there would be a bit of a winner's fatigue. I just felt like that would happen. And then they've just been so, so good. And obviously, I did think Punjab Kings would actually win it. I really did. I had a soft spot for them. I think that was my prediction of the start, didn't I? I thought I wanted them to.

But no, I think obviously the top three teams they deserve to be there. Rostan Royals there also. I would love for them to win out with the four teams left, to be honest. I'd love an RCB and Rajasthan final. That would be good. I feel like it's going to be an RCB-Gradracht final though. I think that's going to be that.

I hope not. I hope there's something, because I think that would be a really interesting final. There's so many storylines in an RCB and Rajasthan. While we are talking about Rajasthan, somebody we've spoken about a lot on the show, Henry. We may as well just named the show after him is 15-year-old Vibor, sorry, aren't you? What have you made of him? Because you were an 11-year-old playing adult. cricket. So you could have been. Sorry, eventually.

No, I could have been. Saw close. But also, like, I was, I've been in conversation with my, because I watched any IPLs, IPL games I do get to watch, are with my family. And I watch it with my cousins. And a lot of my cousins, there's two of them, they're both 14 and 15. And, like, we were sat there watching,

sometimes you're not watching cricket all the time. And we're playing, you know, stick cricket? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I actually, for, like, one of their presents, I literally bought them, like, the full extended game so they could play all the missions and stuff, right? Or not the missions, the games. And then my cousins,

who's 14 is playing stick cricket. I'm looking at TV and I'm seeing him back. And I looked at him. I said, get your phone out. Look at this guy. He's 14 years old doing that. I just couldn't believe it. Honestly, like, especially that six against Bumura.

I mean, it's still left me shot. But he is just, it's weird to see because you're almost seeing greatness unfold where you think this is the start. You know, I wasn't at the start of Souchin' Toduq's career. Wasn't the start at a lot of it. But you get to literally watch a 14-15-year-old start as career in that manner. It's incredible to see. We've said that his future in Disney all over.

They need to be snapping him up. Well, I've been saying that if he's not in the T20 set up for their next tours and things like that, I don't know what they're doing to be honest, because he has to be there. I think he has to be there. So last night, I went through all 14 of his innings. So I have a question for you. No big prizes here, but if you can guess how many runs he scored in his 14 matches, this is before, by the way, before the qualifiers.

So I'm not going to give you any clues, but how many runs do you think he scored in this year's tournament? In his 14 innings. 14 matches. Yeah. 14. 14. I reckon he scored about 5.40?

Is that your... Yeah. You're locking him? Yeah. 540. No, because every time I've seen him play, he scored a lot of runs. So I think I'm going to go with... I'm going to go high.

I'm going to go 7. 780. 780? Yeah. Okay, whoever gets the closest gets to end today's episode with their own little outro. 583.

583 for us takes it. A chance to redeem yourself here, Henry. How many sixes has Surrey Vanchi scored across the tournament? And by the way, he is top of the table in terms of most sixes scored by a player. So he scored 583 runs and the majority of them be sixes.

So I'm saying sixes. 60. 60? Final answer? Okay. What about for you, Henry? I'm going to go slightly higher, just on some maths, and I'm going to go 71. 53 sixes.

But by the time this goes out, he probably will have scored another... That's what I'm thinking about. Predicting. In the final, when he scores five sixes, yeah? He probably will have doubled that. Yeah, but he tops the table in terms of how many sixes, which is just insane in itself. Ridiculous. Is any more questions?

No, sorry. They might be later. You won't be ending these days episode. I'm really sorry. Really sad. That just shows the talent he is. Again, just dominated the headlines. Do anyone see the video of him with Kevin Peterson?

I haven't watched it yet, but I've seen a clip of it, and it's about, like, sort of his mentality and stuff, and I thought it's class, like, it's so good. He's so fearless. Like, he backs himself so much, and it's so, so good. Imagine his ego at 14 there, like going into school. He doesn't go back into school, surely. I'm sure he needs to get an education.

I don't know about that. He needs to fallbacks. Like Max Dowman. missed Arsenal training because it was GCSE. Did you see him though? They gave him like a guard of honour as he went into school.

Yeah, yeah. The Kevin Peterson thing though, really interesting conversation. KP basically asked him do you celebrate your 50s? And he was basically like, nah. I did see that, yeah.

And he also asked him, what's kind of your next ambition? He basically wants to score a double century in T20, which essentially hasn't been done by a professional. The closest was Chris Gale getting on 175.

That's his next aim. But the thing is, as much as he is good, I just think 200 is very high. But I do think he will get close to it. But you have to understand, getting 20 in one game, I don't know if you're able to do that. But I think he'll achieve a lot in cricket.

I just think that 200 is a very tough thing to do it. I think so. If there's anyone to do it, he probably could. But it's just like you have to face basically all, like the all of the innings, you know what I mean? Out of them 20 overs, you're probably going to have to face like 16 overs. Do you know what I mean? 15, 16 overs to be able to score 200, I think.

So it's like, you're going to be able to score 200, I think. So it's like, you're going to be. yourself. So he's not rotating this tricot all. Obviously, if you're getting 200, you're not going to just smashing boundaries. But you're right. Then again, the bowling is well. Like, who's going to be bowling? Where he's going to smash 200?

Yeah. Mumbai Indians. But if there is anyone to do it, it would be. Yeah, yeah. Out of everyone, he would be the person, I would say, would do it. And he's got the most amount of years. Hopefully, no injuries to do it. He'll have enough years.

He's definitely been up there in terms of orange cap. So he's in the top six. Still a lot to play for still a lot of runs to get in the qualifies. Any other batters that have stood out to you? For me, I'm just going to throw out there, Shubman Gill. I think he's been fantastic as well. Anyone's for you. His partner, Sy, Sardras.

Yeah, Sardars. Those two, that's a dangerous, dangerous duo. The way they've batted. And I was surprised, I didn't realize how good he was until this season. When I was watching him play, I was like, he should be in all the set-ups. He is good. He is good. Yeah, very good.

I think Abashik's had a decent, yeah, to be fair. Abashik Sharma, yeah, he's being decent for the sunrise. But again, like, for the Titans as well, is Nick Washington and Sundar. I think sometimes some of the innings he's played have been quite decent, to be fair. So you always have people nipping in here and there and stuff. So there's been a fair few. This feels like a tournament, though, that you kind of slip under the radar unless you're not getting those big scores. If that makes sense, if you were not scoring them, you could be having a great innings.

But if you're not... Like Jay Swahle as well, he's played well. He's played really well, but because obviously he's opening up with the Starboy, he's... But also, because like the IPL, the... the amount of numbers we're seeing, it's so crazy that sometimes we see, like, good scores and we're just like, no, that's not that good. Like, we're seeing crazy school.

A batsman, because we were like 17 or, oh, that's all right. Yeah. How have you found that, Henry, because we spoke about having too much of a good thing, kind of these big scores have become normalized this year in terms of getting 220 plus is just normal. Yeah. Do you think it's just made it a bit predictable? That's kind of been our argument this year.

I don't know if you watch the, when the, because that was one of the games I didn't get to watch when the Kings chased down 264. or something like that. Yeah, 264. And I think it was off to six overs. They were on 116. And it's almost like you were convinced

they were going to go and chase down 264 without a couple of votes within like the first five or six overs. And you sit there and you're thinking this is really enjoyable, this is crazy batting. And you have to think, like players in past who are great players, I don't know if they could compete

in this sort of current format because it's just crazy. But also what can we get excited about? Because we're literally seeing how many more runs can you chase? How many more runs can you do? It's too much, almost. at a time.

Do you know what I've wanted more of though? The close finishes. Yeah. I think I've watched two games where it's gone down to the final ball. That's what I want more of. I think we just need to get that balance. I think it's been,

Joffra's done amazing. I just think, and Rashid Khan as well, actually in terms of spinners. But I think they need to get that balance right next year to make sure it's a bowler's game as well. Yeah, definitely, yeah.

I think obviously some, like there's been talk about lot of the flat decks and the flat pitch and think that hasn't helped as well. But it always is, I always enjoy the games that has that bit of needle and stuff. Like,

one of my favorite games and probably a lot of people's favorite games is when RCB beat Mumbai Indians in the chase down. Kumar come in with nine off three and it's a six. Like you just don't expect it to happen and it makes it so. But then you see the celebrations of RCB in the dugout as well. Like I feel as if winning games like that, it just means so much more and gives you so much more of a boost as well as opposed to like, obviously you're not going to complain if you're chasing 220 with like an over to spare,

five balls to spare. But games like that like proper. proper really wind on there. Well, I mentioned a few bowlers there because we've done orange cap, purple cap. In terms of bowlers that have stood out to you who have had an incredibly tough job on those pitches as well.

You don't want to be a bowler. We've had so many players on the podcast, Henry, we've just basically said, would it want to bowl out there? Chris Green was like, definitely don't want to bowl just because the pitches are so flat and you're not really getting much movement. Any bowlers that have stuck out for you?

For me, it's Joffre Archer. I saw that, I think it's against Mumbai Indians, was it? And I was like, this is crazy. But I've always rated Joffar Archer so highly. But it's good to see an English person go into the IPO and smashing it. Like, because I think for me, that bowling, the spell that I saw, I was like, I haven't, because of the cricket I've seen, that one was the one that stood out for me.

Do you want another question? Yeah, go on. How many wickets has Joffa got? Watch him say like 75. Okay, let's go with 15. It's a sensible, yes, 21. See, I actually would have actually gone like 28, 29. He's in the running for Purple Cap.

Your boy, Bovey's done well. Yeah, he's done very, you love him, don't you? Yeah, he's class, like, he just is world-classing it, you know what I mean? And he's been at the top of his game for years as well, like years. You just can't go wrong. But I like KG as well, KG is being class rabada. But I've, I've, like, you know when you have, like, you sort of your guys in sport, and you're like, he's, like, one of my guys.

truth. I remember him like breaking through first at South Africa at the national level and I was like, he's a boy with him. Like he's a pro boy with him. I've always loved him regardless of how he plays but he's had a good tournament I feel. So Bovey's up for it, 24 wickets, Jop for 21 and then Rashid Khan holding it together for the spinners, 19

wickets. So all in the running for a purple cap as well. It's not a surprising top three that really is it? No, it's not. This is the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Let's talk about those who have had a bit of a disappointing

season and perhaps it's not gone the way they wanted. We've already mentioned Punjab but there is such thing as

peaking too soon isn't there. Yeah, that was disappointing because I think they started off so well and then you look at the

table and you're thinking if they've gone far last year, I think they'll go far in. I just don't, maybe it is the thing of peaking too soon

I don't believe in that too much because I think, you know, teams should just be able to like, you know, be consistent.

Yeah, exactly. But I guess I've got proven wrong. I disagree to that point. I think it's something like sort of subconscious and it's inevitable that you don't obviously want to peak too soon,

but it can just happen. And I feel as if in tournament settings in sport, especially in tournament cricket, you want to save that last run of form towards the end of a tournament because if things click too early, you might get a bit complacent. Do you know what I mean? I feel as if Punjab possibly might have happened to them. But yeah, I think it has been a bit of a shock, to be fair.

The momentum they generate at the start of the tournament, they haven't managed to carry through. But a team like KKR had a slow and steady start. I know they haven't qualified for the playoffs. But I felt like they deserved it in the sense. They were doing so well towards the end as well. Sunrises have been a surprise, haven't they? Yeah.

Sunrises, I don't think anyone predicted, well, from the start of the show, I don't think anyone predicted for them to be in the top four as well. It's a long-old tournament as well. So Punjab have been quite disappointing towards the end. They did finish on a win. Mumbai. Yeah, it's crazy. Who have been not performing.

very well for the last. I'd say six years, not since 2021. Crazy. And they had that, they had that miss-up in the field, I think. Was it yesterday or the day before as well, where there was a catch on the boundary and both of them just looked at each other. And I was like, that's just summed up their whole tournament. Like, they've just not been at it whatsoever.

But with the players they have, it's just like, you start to think, you know. Well, Bumra's had a tough season. Yeah. Hardick's out with a back spasm. So just, just losing two pivotal players, you know, two that are having a tough season as well. I was watching something really interesting with Josh Butler

he said after the 2019 World Cup when they won on home soil it was kind of that when you win a big tournament everyone expects such big things and it just doesn't happen the same's happened with India when they win the World Cup that they've got all this kind of pressure on them that they're used to by the way they are used to but then having to perform it's such a big ask do we think that's played into it? See I don't know because especially with some of the previous guests

that we've had before it's like the pressure that they have anyway just like representing India playing in the IPL, it's insurmountable regardless. So I feel as if they're sort of able to deal with them pressures. Obviously it's a bit easier from the outside looking in. But from what we've heard over the series as well, with like they can't even walk down the road or go to the shop, you know what I mean?

So I feel as if that's things that they probably are used to and if not should be in a sense. If they played for India, that is the biggest pressure. So this should be kind of not nothing. Of course the IPL is huge. but playing for India, the amount of pressure there is for that, come down to the IPR, it should be able to handle that sort of pressure. Where do we think it's gone wrong then?

Because a team like Chennai, we haven't really spoken about Chennai either, have we? I know. I think, again, when we've talked about captains a lot this year, I feel as if they've probably not recovered from like, just having found someone who could fill Dorney's shoes because realistically who can, you know what I mean? They're big shoes. They're ridiculously big shoes to fill.

you know what I mean? So it's one of them where just finding that leader because he was like Mr. Reliable. And he handled everything. So I feel as if it's sort of looking to them key pivotal players who can handle things. So hopefully you might see someone in the coming years take that role, but you never know.

And in terms of looking ahead then, I guess, we've spoken about the fact that has this tournament being a bit too predictable. We've kind of lacked the really close finishes. What do you think the tournament needs to do next year to make sure that it keeps evolving and it keeps bringing in a new audience. I think it was you said before

the tighter finishes. Hopefully, you know, the bowlers have more of a say in the game because when it comes to just how those big scores and stuff, you can have too much of a good thing as you said before. I think you keep on having these big scores,

the game will just get boring. And you want a six to mean something. You want those big shots to mean, you want those big scores to mean something. When it's too much of it, it feels like nothing. So I think also you want you want a bit more of those tighter closer games

but it's nothing that I don't know if the league can what can the officials do to that they can't make the batsmen stop scoring rather than the bowlers taking more wickets it's in the pitch so isn't it yeah that's true so just balance out those pitches a little bit give the bowlers something there are talks of making the tournament

longer so increasing it from 74 to 84 to 84 even 94 games to kind of counter that both sides then get a home and away fixture I see I see where they're coming from purely from a monetary aspect, financial aspect, because you see these games all the way through the tournament, they are absolutely packed.

They're sold out each time. Yeah, packed to the rafters. And even though we say people watch the games, especially there, you know what I mean? They'll watch every single game. So I feel as if sort of money makes them well go around on it. So it's one of them where, but I feel as if, obviously for us watching here,

massive fans that in India, it's completely different is it, You know what I mean? Like that's sort of, I feel as if that's what they live and breathe at times. So I think they'll probably love it. They might love it. But for me, making the tournament longer might create a larger disconnect. And the thing is growing up, like, I used to remember it's IPL season and it's not meant to last for too long because you want to enjoy it.

I think if you make that season longer, you add more games to it. It ruins the sort of the effect of each game. And of course, you know, they'll be home and away and you used to do the playoffs and things like that. But I think the idea of it being a shorter season is more impactful than making it big. Especially for the players themselves as well. When you sort of increase their schedule, they've got maybe less time to recover, more pressures, things like that. So that might decrease their performance in a sense.

Well, there's been loads of criticism, hasn't there? Particularly of Jacob Bethel about missing some of the county championship to play IPL, play to franchise cricket. So if you increase that tournament, the cricket calendar is already congested enough as it is. So you're asking more of the players. And that's what I mean. So you're at risk of injuries. So then the biggest players in the world

might be missing out on international cricket, on World Cops, on things like that, for a few more games when it's probably not really needed. It's really interesting because you look at the likes, when I think of IPL, and I think I said this on the first episode, I think of Virat Koli, I think of Roichama, I think of Emma Stoney, even though they didn't play this season. They're eventually going to retire.

So what does that fandom look like? those players going to be in the future that people will be watching the IPL? Because it's going to change. The players that we look up to, the players that are the stars of IPL is really going to change. So who are those names going to be? I think obviously, Surrey Vanchi is the easy one. He's a star in the making, isn't he? He's an easy one. I feel as if Ishan Kishan was sort of established a few years ago and now he'll be coming into his own. Well, I say coming into his own, he's already a massive star as it is. You've got Shreysai there as well. So I feel as if it is in good hands, do you know what I mean? You got Jai Swai.

who'll come into it. I think he's, what, 19 or 21 or something? It's just sort of how old the Sri Vanshi is. It just makes it look silly, doesn't it? But these still are young lads, and I feel as if them names there, Abashik Sharma as well, them names there will carry through. Because the talent in India is ridiculous.

Yeah. But I don't think it's a talent issue. I think also, even though we're not part of the marketing teams and stuff, but, like, Coley is such a big personality. So he's a brand. He's a brand himself. And like, obviously, I know Doni hasn't played this season, but Doni is a brand.

These type of players, we've been blessed to have them in this generation of watching them. And maybe we've taken them for granted as well. And maybe when they're gone, we'll miss them even more. Because it's not about just having amazing players. It's about they brought so much more to the game. Like when Coli's playing, people are coming to watch them. I think Surivanchi, he has that. But I think it's, I don't know about the other players.

Like, they're great plays, fantastic players. You come, but you come and watch a Koli game. You don't really care what teams he's playing for. You come and watch Okoli. Yeah, great. That's a great. point in that to be fair. I didn't really think of that because obviously as you said the talent is rife but yeah

you hit the nail on the head. Yeah so you have really got Surrey Vanchi there that is a household name and then yeah you're right it might take a couple more seasons yeah 100% maybe Shudman like Shubman's got that thing about him but you need a few more I don't know they need to I feel as if Mohammed Saraj is a good one as well

he's a great character he's a great character I know he's not like extremely young but he's a great character as well so I feel as if people would come up for him especially he's a good tournament as well. It takes time though because when Sachin was playing, it wasn't about Coley. Coley was kind of in the background doing things. Once your Sachin goes

your Coley steps up. It's a case of when these players move on. It's a chance for these players like you Shubman's, like your Sarajas to move up, I guess. So we are fan of it increasing or? No, no, no, no. Yeah, I think I already, the players have already got a lot in terms of if they're balancing their franchises

and the county and the hundred and things like that, that is a lot. We haven't given the fielders much attention, have we? So best catch because this tournament is known for its spectacular boundary catches, the one-handed catches. So is there a particular match that has stood out? Well, we've seen some great catches, but you know what? I'm going to go for something else. I'm going to go for a stumping.

Jarrell's stumping. Oh, yeah. It was ridiculous. One-handed down-leg side diving away. It's crazy. The balance, the agility. I had to re-watch it because I was like, how has he done that? I've never seen anything like that, and I don't think I will.

It's unbelievable. Might have been one of the greatest stompings ever. I know a lot of people go over show. various eyes the catch on the boundary. Yes. But I, because someone, I field at point. And obviously I played Division 12, but Fielding at point is the hardest thing.

And like, I feel like, we have a union. Everyone who fills at point. It doesn't matter you pay the IPL division. We have to stick together. So I think Safraos Khan, I think his catch at point. I think there's another one, Mandip Pandey, I think. At point again. Yeah, at point. Oh, they're both at point.

Yeah. I only do catchers at point. Point union. Yeah, exactly. It's a union. Can we shout out your question. cricket club while we're at it as well. Yeah, it's Brentford Cricket Club Division 12 and we're the second side.

Our first team's in Division 11. Fantastic. Not much better. And Dad and Uncle still going strong in that team? Yeah. They haven't, they're useless. They're useless. It's one of those ones where it's this.

They talk the most, but they run the least and that bothers me. And then it's their attitude as well. You know, my own dad gave me LBW and it like it hit my stomach. I couldn't believe it. You can't go against an umpire decision. No, but you can't remunit your dad. And then... I can't.

My dad's an umpire and he comes home with his umpire's head on. I'm like, oh, why have you given a level one for this? Or why? He's done this, he's done that. Can't go against you. Your dad's probably a decent umpire. My dad's got no idea. Your dad's holding the club together by...

You know, he wants to be star the show. That's what? He just wants to say, everyone's, oh, why's that? Yeah, out. That's what he makes. He wants that bit of like five minute attention. You must have been fuming at him when he was. Oh, no, 100%.

100%. All right, then I'm going to get your predictions. I'm going to get your predictions. I'd like to know, though, we're going to do our own orange and purple caps. It doesn't have to be the most that they've scored. Just your own bowler and batter that has stood out for you this season. That has really made an impact on you and think has been the best player for you. So start with you, Faraz.

Who's been your bowler? My baller. Of the tournament. My baller. I know, I know boovie's top, but you know what? I'm going to give it a joff. I thought you were going to give it to Boovie? Yeah, I'm not.

I know boovie's top. But I'm going to. I'm going to give it a joff. I just feel as if some of the games like that won by Indians game, that was his game, do you know what I mean? And I feel as if at times as well, some people might underestimate him because he doesn't always perform,

especially in Englandshire at times, but this tournament he's being spot on. I'm going for a Rajashton and Rose Double for both of them. Oh, are you? Okay. I think Suravanchi and for batsman and then Archer for bowler. Okay, fine. Why?

I think there, obviously, Sir Vanchi speaks for himself. And then, as I said before, about Archer, with a couple of the spells he's bowled. and those pitches are so hard. And to make, most of the time, these games are decided by the batsmen

and for a bowler to go and decide that game, decide a few of the games he's played in. I think he stands out for me. Of course you have the other bowlers, but I think Geoff Rarcher for me. Considering he had quite a slow start as well, he's really picked up. And that's the whole thing about peeking,

you're peaking in the right zone. So you've done your batter and your bowler. Give us your batter. Bateman has to be Saddarsen, I think. Oh. Has to be Saddarsen, yeah, because he's just like the way he's batted as well, the way he's attacked the game,

he's not being just gung-hoed, you know what I mean? He's been playing really well, sort of adapting it at different situations, and he's just class at the end of the day, and he saw, yeah, I think he's there for me. I'm going to throw another one in there, but someone who's really surprised you, so somebody who you weren't expecting.

Anyone, no one was expecting than a 15-year-old. Someone who's been a bit underrated, under the radar, but has kind of stepped up. I was good what you said about Washington Sundyce I saw one of those innings where he played and I thought that is impressive and I thought you have a few of those players

where I don't think they scored many runs across the season or it's just a few of the games they showed up but like yeah that's what I'd say okay well about for you Faz what is it Prague Prat Prat Prab Simran

Yeah Prab Simmer Yeah Prub Simmer really surprised me because to be fair I hadn't heard much of him beforehand But yeah, he's been really good to be fair. That ending against the Delhi Capitals was... He got like 76 of 26 or something. Yours would be Prabsimran.

Amazing. I'm going to just throw... Just because I don't think we've given a lot of credit to spinners, but Rashid Khan, I think it's so hard to bowl on those pitches and I just think he's been brilliant. And he's very consistent as well. He's not an underrated player in the cricket world, but I think he's not been given enough credit.

Yeah, absolutely. All right, then, it's the big one. Who's going to win it? And bearing him, mind this episode goes out, wants the eliminators and wants the qualifiers are done. So there is a chance of us getting it completely wrong, but I guess that's the fun of it.

Can I go for a want and what I think as well? Oh no. No, you can't. You've got to give us one name. RCP will go back to back, but I want Rodgistan to win. You want Rodgistan to win? Okay, fine. I think it's going to be a RECB good drop final and I think Goodra might take it. Oh, really?

Yeah, I think Goodrum might take it. Oh, yeah, big time. Absolutely fuming. I want it to be RCB and Rajasthan. I want it to be that, but I think it will be RCB and Gujarat and I think

RCB will win. I think they'll go for the double. But I'd love like a passing of a torch in a Rajasthan. Sir Vanchi was to be... You imagine? No, you're going back to school. You just won the IPL?

Yeah, that would be sick that like. Could you imagine a 15 years old? Collie in the back pocket. Yeah. I'm quite excited. See you late, mate. I'm quite excited to see what he'll do next year. How do you...

How do you get past this. Yeah, and that's the thing and I feel as if I hope he's got like a good but you know what his mindset seems like wanting to score 200 in the T20? How many 15 year olds would you ask?

Even like who at that level? Like that, obviously no one's that level but 18, 2021, how many people would you ask and they're scoring at the rate he's scoring at and the one interscore double that? Do you know what I mean? I feel as if there's not many so that speaks volumes about him.

So I feel as if people are sort of scared that he might fall off. I don't think he will So I think as I say It will sort of be scary As long as you've got the right people around them Yeah Because you see a lot of these young prodigies coming Obviously nothing like this

But you see a lot of any type of sport You see a 17 year old, a 16 year old A lot of them They fall off attitude problems or people around them So hopefully he has the right people around them But on your point Putting himself in the same category as Chris Gale As well I know Chris Gail's got 175

But I want to beat that And I want to go above and get 200 That in itself speaks volumes Well, that's exactly the same mentality Chris Gale would have that sort of universe boss, do you know what I mean? Like, he might take that torch. And imagine we see him boss in all three formats of the game, which is something I feel as if he can do.

He's got a lot of time to do it. So, yeah, I feel as if he will be in good hands. He'll have a good, I think he will have good people around him. But even sometimes if he doesn't, I feel as if he's got that mindset where he won't fall off anyway. No, absolutely. Henry, it's been a pleasure to have you on. Have you enjoyed it?

Yes, very much. You're looking forward to your train home? No. Have you shown people your little what's next to you? Oh yeah, I've got a fan here that Amber's given to me, which I'll be keeping... He's been forced to turn off. Yeah, I've been forced to turn off even though I really do want to put on. So as soon as it finishes, I'll be back on there.

So he'll be nicking that, taking to London. For as it's been an absolute joy, if I was to ask you, what's been your highlight of the series so far? We've had so many people come in, which has been fantastic guests. What has been your highlights? You know what? think my highlight has just been looking into Chris Green's eyes. Oh, beautiful eyes, Henry. Beautiful eyes.

Go and watch that episode back. What about my eyes or no? No. I shared you then. Guys, it's been an absolute pleasure. Enjoy the final. Well, that's all we've got time for. Enjoy the IPL final and enjoy the summer of cricket ahead.

It's been an absolute pleasure. We'll see you soon. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.