Gaming

Cricket Documentaries Every Fan Should Watch

Published

3 years ago

April 25, 2023

Cricket is one of the most exciting sports played today, primarily because of newer game formats like T20 that bring even more action to a match. As such, the sport attracts incredible players, is responsible for nail-biting games, and has a massive following worldwide.

With all of this, it is inevitable that the game also involves a degree of politics, drama on behalf of the athletes, and some scandals that fans can’t wait to learn the truth about. Thankfully, cricket documentaries usually delve into these things while also showcasing the sport itself.

If you’re a cricket fan, there are some films that you just can’t not watch. As such, we recommend you immediately carve out some time in your schedule to enjoy the following cricket documentaries.

The Man Who Bought Cricket

Released in 2022, The Man Who Bought Cricket follows the story of Allen Stanford and his massive fall from grace after being an incredibly generous benefactor of the sport.

Born in Texas, Allen became massively wealthy and decided to sponsor West Indian cricket. The crescendo of this sponsorship was a $20 million prize pool that he sponsored for a single game between England and a group of West Indians known as the Stanford Superstars.

However, while this generosity gained him much praise, the truth behind his fortune brought his house of cards tumbling down. Identified as the kingpin in a fraudulent investment scheme, Allen lost everything, including the respect of the cricketing community, before ultimately ending up in prison for his crimes.

Fire in Babylon

Released in 2010, Fire in Babylon showcases the incredible story of the West Indies national cricket team. Focusing specifically on their astonishing rise to fame between the 1970s and 1980s, the story highlights the change in behavior of the local team and how it brought about success.

With stock footage of real matches from the era and interviews with players who took part in the historical games, the documentary plays at the heart string of whoever watches it.

Aside from being factual, it portrays an inspiring story of how the new team decided to change how they play. Starting out as entertaining but not very proficient, the players worked hard to hone their skills and became a team at the forefront of cricketing popularity.

Death of a Gentleman

While many regard cricket as the sport of gentlemen, this 2015 documentary uncovers the truth that, sometimes, even gentlemen know how to manipulate things for their personal gain. Especially those that are trusted most.

The documentary follows two journalists who risk it all to venture deep into how the sport is structured and governed by three of the most prominent cricket associations in the world: Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The journalists uncover how these sporting giants have been amending the governance of this historic sport for their gain—both for money and power. Also highlighted is that these gains often came to other smaller nations’ detriment.

Out of the Ashes

Having nothing to do with the legendary Ashes tournament, this documentary follows the sad yet inspiring story of the national team of Afghanistan. It was released in 2010 and showed the struggles of a team from a war-torn country.

Highlighting the troubles they faced being from Afghanistan, the film focuses on how the national team desired to participate in the 2010 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Aside from their struggles in getting into the coveted tournaments, the film also brings into stark relief the passion this young team has for the sport, despite their less-than-ideal circumstances.

Roar of the Lion

MS Dhoni is one of the most loved cricketers to play for the country, and Roar of the Lion reveals his opinion and experiences in 2018 as the Chennai Super Kings returned to playing.

While sports wagers are a common way to bet on cricket games, things went too far for this team in 2013, leading to them being banned from playing due to spot-fixing allegations. However, the ban was only in place for two years.

The documentary goes behind the scenes and brings to life the effects of a few players’ actions on the whole team. However, it also shows the hope of a team eager to reclaim its place in the Indian Premier League.

The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team

This eight-part documentary series follows the return of the Australian national cricketing team to the world stage after an embarrassing season against South Africa in 2018. While the series may be long, it offers a unique, in-depth look into the team dynamics.

With a new captain and coach, the series looks at how the team focuses on its playing style and ways to regain its spot as one of the best cricketing teams. However, things aren’t always so easy or rosy.

With exclusive footage from places like inside the team’s dressing rooms, the series shows how coach Justin Langer handled the team and how the team tried endlessly to ensure they wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. The series, released in 2020, is a must-watch for Australian cricket fans.

The Edge

There is no denying that from 2009 until 2013, the English cricket team was one of the best and a clear favorite on the world cricket stage. However, as well as the team did on the field, things did not often gel off the field.

This documentary, released in 2019, follows the trials and tribulations of the team, including the scandals that followed captain Kevin Pietersen and his eventual resignation from the sport after an argument with coach Peter Moores.

Featuring scenes from within the team’s locker room, interviews, and opinions of fellow teammates, it highlights the strained relationships behind the scenes and the trials the team had to endure, even while performing brilliantly on the cricket field.

Gaming

Checkmate Goes Digital as Chess Joins Esports Nations Cup 2026

From boards to bytes, chess readies for a nation-first showdown in Riyadh.

Published

9 hours ago

February 9, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: When pawns meet power plays, the game changes. Chess, the world’s oldest mind sport, is officially stepping deeper into the digital arena after the Esports World Cup Foundation confirmed it as one of 16 titles at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, set to unfold in Riyadh from 2 to 29 November.

For a game synonymous with quiet halls and ticking clocks, this is a bold move. Chess at ENC 2026 promises scale, spectacle and serious competition, fielding an unprecedented 128 players and opening the board to fresh talent and underrepresented nations as the sport’s esports evolution gathers pace.

The chess competition will run from November 2 to November 8, culminating in a playoff final. The opening phase features 128 players split into 16 round-robin groups of eight, with the top four from each group advancing.

That leaves 64 players battling it out in a single-elimination playoff bracket. Early rounds will be best-of-two, while the quarterfinals onward step up to best-of-four encounters. Deadlocks will be settled via Armageddon tie-breakers, and all matches will be played in a Rapid 10+0 format, designed for speed, tension and drama.

National pride is front and centre. Of the 128 slots, 64 players will receive direct invitations based on Champions Chess Tour rankings, limited to one per nation. Another 56 players will qualify through regional online qualifiers, while eight wildcard spots round out the field.

Qualifiers will be hosted by Chess.com across seven regions, including Middle East + India + Central Asia, with two qualifier windows in June 2026. Each country can field a maximum of two players, ensuring both depth and diversity across the draw.

Chess already tasted esports stardom at the 2025 Esports World Cup, where 20 nations were represented and the intensity surprised even purists. The event ended with Magnus Carlsen lifting the title for Team Liquid, sealing chess’s credentials as a natural fit for high-stakes digital competition.

India’s top-ranked player Arjun Erigaisi called the experience “unlike any chess tournament I’ve played before”, adding that the energy of the esports stage is drawing new audiences into the game.

For commentators and fans alike, the shift to a nation-based format raises the stakes. Chessbase India co-founder Sagar Shah likened the moment to the excitement of the Chess Olympiad, while grandmaster and broadcaster Tania Sachdev said the national format adds “pride, pressure and passion” that pulls viewers in deeper.

From silent calculation to roaring crowds, chess at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 is less about moving pieces and more about moving perceptions. Checkmate, it seems, has gone fully digital.

Gaming

Road to EWC unites 230 tournaments worldwide ahead of Esports World Cup 2026

Published

4 days ago

February 5, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation has launched Road to EWC, a worldwide qualification programme for the Esports World Cup 2026, stitching together more than 230 tournaments across major esports regions into a single global competitive season.

Running from grassroots qualifiers to elite international leagues, the initiative creates a unified pathway for players and clubs to reach the Esports World Cup finals in Riyadh from 6 July to 23 August, 2026. The season integrates publisher-led ecosystems and major circuits into one calendar, offering year-round visibility for fans and structured progression for competitors.

“Road to EWC brings together the journeys that shape competitive esports,” said Esports World Cup Foundation chief product officer Faisal Bin Homran. “It gives players, clubs, publishers and fans a defined season to plan around, building a sustainable and global competitive ecosystem.”

The qualification network spans leading events including the Apex Legends Global Series, Capcom Cup, Chess.com Global Championship, EVO, Free Fire World Series, EA Sports FC Pro, Pubg Global Series, Rocket League Championship Series, Overwatch Champions Series, Tekken World Tour Finals, and official circuits for Call of Duty, League of Legends, Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, Trackmania and Valorant.

Open online qualifiers will also run for titles such as Dota 2, Teamfight Tactics, Call of Duty: Warzone and Chess, widening access for emerging talent.

In 2025, more than 2,500 players from over 100 countries qualified through the Road to EWC programme. Highlights included 15-year-old Free Fire player Rasyah Rasyid becoming the youngest champion in event history, EA FC star Manuel Bachoore claiming gold, and Street Fighter icon Zeng “Xiao Hai” Zhuojun securing another major title. Team Falcons captured their second club championship following a dramatic Overwatch 2 victory.

A dedicated Road to EWC hub will track qualification events, schedules and viewing options throughout the season. Ticket sales for the Esports World Cup 2026 are now live, with international partners across the US, Europe, Middle East, India and China.

The Esports World Cup returns to Riyadh next summer, bringing together the world’s top clubs across multiple game titles to compete for the largest prize pool in esports history.

Gaming

Nintendo shares slide 10 per cent despite profit jump, hit by chip shortages

Published

5 days ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KYOTO: Nintendo shares slid more than 10 per cent on Wednesday, a day after the gaming giant missed market forecasts for quarterly revenue and warned of mounting pressure from a global memory chip shortage, as per media reports.

The company beat profit expectations, posting a 24 per cent year-on-year rise, driven by strong sales of the Nintendo Switch franchise. Revenue surged 86 per cent, with the original Switch now the firm’s best-selling console since its launch in 2017.

Yet rising component costs are weighing on investor sentiment. Nintendo relies heavily on dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a segment grappling with acute shortages as artificial intelligence and data centre demand soak up supply.

Ortus Advisors head of Japanese equity strategy Andrew Jackson, said markets remain uneasy about the impact of higher memory prices on Nintendo’s margins.

President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that while soaring memory costs have not yet dented results for the current financial year, prolonged price pressures could squeeze profitability.

TrendForce estimates that contract prices for conventional Dram chips in the first quarter could jump between 90 and 95 per cent from the previous quarter. A senior semiconductor industry executive recently told CNBC the shortage may last until 2027.

Kantan Games chief executive of consultancy Serkan Toto, said sustained cost inflation could force Nintendo to raise console prices: a risky move for its largely casual user base.

The company’s newest device, Switch 2, launched in June last year and already dominates its console sales mix. But analysts warn that momentum in the first year is critical for any new platform.

Concerns persist over whether Switch 2 can match the runaway success of its predecessor, despite Nintendo holding firm on its full-year sales forecast.

The outlook hinges on upcoming blockbuster releases, including Mario Tennis Fever in February and Pokémon Pokopia in March. Nintendo is also banking on The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, due in April, to replicate the sales boost sparked by its 2023 hit film.

Omdia senior analyst James McWhirter, said 2026 would be a “make-or-break” year as Nintendo seeks broader mass-market appeal for Switch 2.

Nintendo shares are down more than 15 per cent so far this year.