#312: How Vimal Kumar Became a Cricket Writer, Built 600k+ on YouTube & Travelled the World

How do you go from being a cricket fan to travelling the world with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Adam Gilchrist?

Vimal Kumar did just that.

In this episode, we unpack his 25+ year journey from newsroom reporter to bestselling author, YouTuber, and one of India’s most trusted voices in cricket journalism. If you're curious about life behind the press box or dreaming of a media career in sport — this one's for you.

About the guest:

Vimal Kumar is one of India’s most experienced cricket journalists, with over 25 years covering the game across five continents. He’s worked with the BBC, India Today, and CNN-News18, and is the author of Sachin: Cricketer of the Century. Today, he runs a YouTube channel followed by thousands of cricket fans around the world.

We cover:

(04:27) - How Vimal managed to write a book on legendary Sachin Tendulkar

(10:17) - How Vimal landed his first dream job in Media & Journalism

(14:13) - Transition from producing documentaries for BBC to covering cricket on TV & around the world

(19:07) - What made Vimal stand out to get his first dream job for covering cricket & how to make yourself valuable

(24:17) - Skills needed to be the best in media & journalism and overcome challenges

(27:31) - How Vimal got an interview with Michael Clarke & Adam Gilchrist

(31:44) - Change from working with big TV channels to working as a Freelance Sports Journalist

(37:13) - How shift in mindset about social media helped Vimal become a successful Freelance Sports Journalist

(40:21) - How learning new skills constantly is important to thrive in today's digital world

(43:07) - Highlights from covering sports as a Freelance Journalist including co-hosting a podcast with Ravi Ashwin

(48:30) - Vimal's advice on how to create a compelling story that resonates with the audience

(53:35) - Things to avoid to build genuine relations with professional athletes like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

(01:01:04) - What the day to day life of a Freelance Sports Journalist looks like

(01:10:04) - Stories from travelling the world through sports

(01:17:30) - Why India is so obsessed with cricket (in Vimal's opinion)

(01:23:48) - What's next for Vimal

If you like this ep, give these a go next:

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#242: The Origins of The Grade Cricketer with Sam Perry

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Big thanks to Deakin University for making this episode possible. Check out their Master of Sport Management, ranked #1 in Australia.

Thanks for listening, much love!

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