Pitchside: Anecdotes from the Front Lines of Indian Cricket - Amrit Mathur

‘Amrit Mathur is a real all-rounder as an administrator. He brings that flair to his writing about his experiences in this must-read book.’ — Sunil Gavaskar

Step past the boundary ropes and pull back the curtain on three decades of Indian cricket history. Written by one of the sport's most experienced and respected insiders, Pitchside offers an unprecedented, backstage pass into the high-stakes world of international cricket administration, dressing-room secrets, and corporate sports execution.

In 1992, BCCI President Madhavrao Scindia handpicked a young Amrit Mathur to manage the Indian cricket team on their historic, post-apartheid tour of South Africa, making him one of the youngest team managers in history. In the thirty years that followed, Mathur became a foundational pillar of Indian cricket governance, working hand-in-hand with BCCI presidents, state associations, and international boards. Crucially, he was part of the elite core team that conceptualized and birthed the Indian Premier League (IPL), later serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Delhi Daredevils.

Throughout his incredible journey across international tours and intense domestic seasons, Mathur kept meticulous diaries, capturing the raw emotion of the day’s play alongside the fascinating conversations that took place far away from the flashing cameras. Pitchside builds on these private archives to bring you right into the inner sanctum:

• Behind-the-Scenes Dramas: Uncover the real stories behind selector meetings, contract disputes, and historic board decisions.

• The Dressing-Room Culture: Experience the true atmosphere of team meetings, tactical discussions, and candid moments with legends of the game.

• The Birth of the IPL: Get an insider's breakdown of how a radical Twenty20 concept completely revolutionized the global sports economy

  Replete with delightful trivia, nostalgic reflections, and compelling storytelling, this authentic chronicle will make you laugh, spark your curiosity, and completely change how you view the game. It is a definitive addition to the library of every true cricket fan.

  Why This Sports Memoir is an Absolute Must-Read:

  • Unmatched Insider Access: Moves past the speculative gossip to deliver a factual, reliable account of Indian cricket’s most transformative era from a man who was actually in the room.

  • A Masterclass in Sports Management: Essential reading for sports enthusiasts, management professionals, and anyone curious about the immense commercial machinery behind the IPL.

  • Luminous Endorsements: Celebrated by cricket legends, including Sunil Gavaskar, as a vital and highly entertaining archive of Indian sports histo