Hit Wicket & No Balls

Hit Wicket & No Balls offers a sharp, satirical look at Indian politics, media, and democracy, questioning power, public concerns, and the shrinking space for independent journalism
on Aug 26, 2026

Politicians have long been prone to foot-in-mouth moments. Today, many go further, scoring political self-goals and even hitting their own wickets.

Hit Wicket & No Balls takes a sharp, satirical look at the political games played by India’s ruling establishment and its often ineffective opposition. Policies are announced, diluted, withdrawn or repackaged; promises remain unfulfilled; and pressing public concerns are frequently buried beneath distractions and political noise. The opposition, meanwhile, struggles with inconsistency, disunity and the inability to sustain its challenge.

The book also examines the shrinking space for independent journalism. When the media stops asking uncomfortable questions and truth is drowned by partisan noise, accountability suffers and democracy is weakened.

A sequel to POLITRICKS – A Third Umpire View Of Games Our Leaders Play!, this collection of selected columns argues that a stable government needs a strong opposition-and both need a fearless, questioning media.

In the end, the taxpayer is the spectator—and the scoreboard belongs to the people.