Prakash, is it fair to say that what he is doing in the IPL right now just isn't normal? And is there a way to put into context just how astonishing his performances are at the moment?

The fact that he's doing ridiculous things is now evident to everybody.

And as you just heard last season, that 100 was sort of announcing him, if you will, on the international stage, if you want to call the IPL that.

And yet when you compare it to anything that's come before, with the bat, I mean, There has never really been anything like that.

And I think in part, it has to do with the fact that the pace at which new talent is being unearthed has itself assumed unbelievable proportions, both batters and bowlers coming through the IPL like a machine.

It's almost like a factory.

And yet the impact he's had, the nature of his batting, His performances, already the scrutiny and analysis that's happening on his game.

I wonder, Prakash, at that age, how does he compare to some of the other great players that you've seen at that age?

Do you agree?

I, I completely agree.

Uh, look, I, I think it's time, I've said this before as well, Henry, I think it's time that the ICC got whatever their, their method is, got together and simply passed a, a, if it's unanimous, even better, but a resolution which says, "Look, tournaments will be awarded to hosts or co-hosts, whatever that story may be.

And once it's announced, there will be a q- uh, a qualification based on whatever criteria.

Teams will be asked.

Teams have to sign up unequivocally and say, 'These are the hosts.

We know.

Uh, what about the flattest pitch, Prakash?

Uh, tell us, tell us what, uh, what Holi's about, first and foremost.

Well, you know, this, this festival's actually, as you said, it marks a change of season primarily, but there are two very interesting and different legends associated with it.

One is on the previous night, that's last night, in the north of India and the north, uh, north central, uh, part of India, you would have had, um, a fire being burned, uh, with old things, wood, but all the old stuff that you want to throw away.

So it's about, about reju- rejuvenation.

It's about burning all the evil, getting rid of all negativity, all of that stuff.

And in that part of the country, that, uh, fire then, uh, settles, and in the morning some of the ash is taken, uh, as, as sort of a offering, if you will, mixed along with all the other color and things that are used for the play, and then, uh, people play with it.

And now, of course, because of Bollywood, uh, even in parts of southern India where Holi was never really that big, it's become a festival.

I mean, what, what's the feeling about the, this game on Thursday?

Uh, and, and so Prakash, back in those days, it really was fast and furious.

It was.

It was short, sharp, uh, and even though the, the group phase was meant to let the top teams go through, I think there was a lot more riding on every game because you knew if you, if you sort of slipped up, you could, especially if you were in a group like the, the one that had Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.

I mean, that, that was the group of death in, in that tournament.

But yes, uh, like Finny said, uh, I, I, I remember in Sri Lanka the, uh, the whole mood, particularly around Colombo was about the West Indies team hotel, uh, all the stuff that was going on there because there were breaks in the, in the tournament.

Uh, the restaurants they were visiting, the, the music that was playing and of course Sri Lankans given their absolute, uh-

But in Sri Lanka, Prakash, these guys were just the absolute, you know, they were the kings of the world.

Oh, without question.

Uh, w- what will it be like for, you know, the major cities, the small villages all across India? I mean, how will people consume this event?

Well, I think it, it will be followed.

Whether or not, uh, uh, and being a Sunday, I guess for a lot of people, it will be obviously a holiday.

Most people will, will watch it at home.

Maybe some big screens in, in clubs and pubs and hotels and so on and so forth.

Uh, communities, it's, it's not unheard to have, uh, a big screen put up in a, in a big housing complex and for everyone to get together and watch it.

I do suspect that, uh, uh, this time the following in the rural part of India will be even greater because that's what's happening over the last few years given the mix and the formation of the Indian team.

Can that happen?

And a key point that Fidos made there about the fact that they know they can now get over the line, particularly with that win in the Test Championship last year.

No question, because I think whatever people may say and whatever tags are put on teams from time to time, you know, events like the 1983-50 over Prudential World Cup win for India, or the 2007 inaugural T20 World Cup win for India, just as the World Test Championship, like Firdos said, has done to South Africa.

I think it just tells you that not only do you belong, you are absolutely entitled if you play well enough.

to be able to be right on top.

And I think that changes the mindset.

It allows the younger players like the Bravest of the World to come out there and just express themselves without a care in the world.

It just seems like everything that we sort of held near and dear almost like religion in terms of how you bat is out of the window.

I suppose, Prakash, it's where names can become legends, isn't it? Have you picked out a couple of potential players in the tournament as a whole that may do well?

[crowd cheering]

It certainly does, and that, that moment where Harmanpreet put the ball into her trouser pocket reminds me of an in- of the reality of the 25th of June 1983.

Remember, it was Michael Holding who was out leg before to Mohinder Amarnath.

The ball squirted away to Sunil Gavaskar.

He put the ball in his pocket and has kept it with him ever since.

I suspect it's gonna be impossible to get that ball out of Harmanpreet's hands.

But just think about this.

Prakash, tell, can you tell us what will the reaction be like over the next few days?

views her as a country and whether expectations have raised or intrusions into her private life? And how has she coped with becoming that point of focus, of course, as the captain, but also as a driving force through women's cricket in India?

Well, you know, to be honest, I think what has helped Harmanpreet, if that's the right phrase, to come through the way she has, as is always the case, have been some of the ladies who've come through ahead of her.

whether it was Mithali Raad, whether it was Julian Goswami, even earlier, Shantar Rangaswamy, Shubhangi Kulkarni, Diana Edelji.

All of these folks really struggled in their early years.

Remember that they did not even have formal BCCI recognition until not so long back.

From there to reach where women's cricket in India has now, and for Harman Street, along with a few others, to be carrying that mantle and displaying that leadership.

I mean, look, there used to be a time when women's games had no attendance.

And it was huge in the context of India versus Australia as well.