About
The State of Play is a weekly, subscription-only newsletter that provides in-depth, original insight into the business of sport — with sharp reporting, analysis, and a distinct editorial voice grounded in India.
This newsletter arrives at a time when sport is no longer just what happens on the field. It is a high-stakes, capital-intensive, and profoundly global business with fast-evolving dynamics. In India, however, most coverage still gravitates to match results or off-field drama. As social media accelerates that cycle, a gap has opened for sustained, intelligent reporting on how sport actually works.
The State of Play aims to fill that gap.
Each week, you’ll receive a carefully reported edition that cuts through noise to explain how money, power, and strategy are reshaping Indian sport — and how these shifts connect to the wider sporting economy. When a major story breaks, from sponsorships to media rights, The State of Play offers timely, informed perspective.
As this project took shape, I outlined the core topics the newsletter will consistently cover.
Who’s behind it?
Venkat Ananth is a Bengaluru-based journalist and writer who focuses on deeply reported stories about the business of sport and technology. Over 18 years, he has worked with and written for leading Indian print and digital publications, including Hindustan Times, Yahoo! Cricket, Mint, The Ken, The Economic Times, The Times of India, and, until recently, The Indian Express.
If you’d like the weekly edition delivered to your inbox, consider becoming a member. Your support funds original reporting and analysis.