Markets | Sport | Policy | Society | Satire | MUFC | Opinions Personal.
Mumbai, India
Joined October 2026
- Tweets1.5K
- Following1K
- Followers1.2K
- Likes370
Welcome to Common Man Files!
I intend to talk about a bit of everything here.
First and foremost, the everyday struggles of the common middle-class man. The bills, the responsibilities, the compromises and everything in between.
India’s economy and how our legislature, executive, judiciary and administration function - mostly through satire.
Cricket and football, of course. 🏏⚽
Stock markets, society, relationships and the things we don’t talk about enough.
On most Saturday mornings, I also plan to share a detailed analysis of an interesting company that I may come across during the week.
And sometimes, I may post some random absurd shit like anyone else.
We may agree on some things and disagree on others. That’s absolutely fine.
If any of this interests you, say hello. Let’s connect. 🤝
2
15
1,757
Who should be India’s third pacer against New Zealand in the upcoming test series ?
Ravi Shastri has backed Anshul Kamboj as a potential workhorse in New Zealand conditions.
It’s an interesting proposition, particularly considering Siraj’s ability to both bowl long, disciplined spells and attack when required.
One option is to play Akash Deep alongside Siraj, allowing Bumrah to operate primarily as the strike bowler.
Kamboj is an interesting alternative for Akash Deep. His speeds in the mid-120s during his England Test debut were disappointing, but his recent ODI performances suggest he has regained his pace and rhythm.
The other option is Prasidh Krishna, whose height and extra bounce offer another attacking dimension.
With Siraj providing control, India could deploy both Bumrah and Prasidh as strike bowlers. However, Prasidh’s fitness concerns and tendency to concede runs while searching for wickets make that approach risky.
If Akash Deep and Kamboj are equally fit and bowling well, their lower-order batting could become a tiebreaker.
For me, a fully fit Akash Deep offers the best balance as he has enough experience at this level, with Kamboj a close alternative.
Who do you think should be India’s third pacer in the upcoming Test series?
For the upcoming test series, I am just thinking whom India should pick as the third specialist seamer. Bumrah and Siraj are automatic selections.
I expect Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jadeja to make the XI as all-rounders, leaving just one spot for Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep or Anshul Kamboj.
Their recent India A performances:
- Prasidh Krishna: Impressive 2/12 in 5 overs in the third unofficial Test so far.
- Akash Deep: 3 wickets in two matches, but also contributed a valuable 68 with the bat.
- Anshul Kamboj: 4 wickets in his only match, including 3/52.
Based on recent performances, Kamboj has a strong case as he is performing in ODIs as well. But Prasidh’s pace and bounce and Akash Deep’s experience make this a difficult decision.
Who would you pick as India’s third seamer?
2
10
We are discussing the quality of delivery. Not quality of batter. I agree Shaun Marsh may bat like a no.11, but that doesn’t change the quality of delivery.
1
11
100% man. I feel he was betrayed by his teammates in the last two seasons. The entire MI team is Hamza Ali Mazari.
1
55
Navjot Singh Sidhu scored 73 off 79.
This match, is also remembered for a peculiar incident.
Batting first, Australia’s total was initially recorded as 268/6 after 50 overs. During their innings, Dean Jones lofted Maninder Singh towards long-on. The ball appeared to clear the boundary on the full, but when umpire Dickie Bird checked with boundary fielder Ravi Shastri, Shastri indicated four. Bird accepted his signal.
Jones was convinced it was six.
During the lunch break, Australian team manager Alan Crompton raised the issue with the umpires. They approached Indian captain Kapil Dev, who agreed to the correction.
The four became a six. Two runs were added, taking Australia’s total to 270/6 and India’s target to 271.
Ironically, India were bowled out for 269, losing the match by just one run.
One of the international cricket’s most memorable score corrections.
Chasing 271 in a World Cup thriller at Chepauk.
India’s top order got them to a commanding 207/2 (Gavaskar 37, Srikkanth 70, and this batter 73 off 79 with 5 sixes).
Then the remaining 8 wickets fell for just 62 runs and India all out for 269 in 49.5 overs.
Lost by 1 run.
Can you recall the batter who scored that 73?
What cost India the match? 🤔
Here is Bumrah’s legendary slower ball that trapped Shaun Marsh LBW.
Absolutely dead and buried. Poor batter 😂
All bowlers take wickets but Bumrah creates memories. Almost all true cricket fans can easily recall several Bumrah dismissals within few seconds.
Here are my top 3 Bumrah dismissals.
1. Bowled Ollie Pope- Yorker
2. LBW Shaun Marsh- Slower ball
3. LBW Robinson- slower ball
1
7
528
On this day in 2021, Hasan Ali dropped Matthew Wade with Australia needing 20 off 10 balls against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup semi-final.
Wade then hit Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi, for three consecutive sixes to finish the chase with an over to spare.
Let’s take a moment to laugh. 😂😂😂
Common Man Files retweeted
Yashasvi Jaiswal to LSG: A move that could benefit both the player and the franchise.
The rumours of Yashasvi Jaiswal moving to LSG have been around for what feels like an eternity, but there is still no concrete indication that the move is happening.
Nevertheless, it’s an interesting possibility.
At RR, Jaiswal was until recently arguably the biggest young batting star. But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary rise has shifted much of the spotlight away from him.
He isn’t the regular captain either.
While we don’t know how he feels, a young Indian superstar might understandably want to become the face of a franchise rather than gradually being overshadowed.
And LSG could offer him exactly that.
Jaiswal could form a credible opening partnership with Mitchell Marsh.
LSG also have a strong Indian bowling core in Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav and Digvesh Rathi.
This gives them the flexibility to use overseas slots to strengthen their batting at Lucknow, while accommodating a foreign fast bowler in away matches.
Their biggest weakness, however, remains the lower middle order. Badoni and Samad are talented but haven’t established themselves as consistent finishers. Mukul Choudhary has shown promise, but still has plenty to prove.
Jaiswal alone won’t solve all their problems.
LSG still has some work to do in the transfer market and auction. Finding a reliable Indian middle-order batter who can finish games should be a priority. That would give them much greater flexibility in balancing their overseas players.
And with Rishabh Pant gone, I would seriously consider making Jaiswal captain.
He already has limited IPL captaincy experience and, at 24, could become the long-term face of LSG.
Of course, everything depends on what RR would demand in return.
But a move like this could give Jaiswal greater prominence while providing LSG with an Indian superstar to build around.
Could this be a win-win move for Jaiswal and LSG? Share your thoughts.
Yes. That part is true.
When I looked at the whole squad they currently have, they have a Hardik-sized hole really weakening the flexibility they had in earlier seasons. Anyway, lets see how they go about in auction about the backups
13
Hardik Pandya for Arshdeep Singh: Who wins this blockbuster IPL trade?
At first glance, Mumbai Indians appeared to have won this trade.
Bumrah and Arshdeep bowling together is a great prospect. Two very good Indian fast bowlers capable of handling both the powerplay and death overs.
But losing an Indian pace-bowling all-rounder like Hardik isn’t an easy fix.
Let’s look at Mumbai first.
Corbin Bosch could take over greater seam-bowling responsibilities, Will Jacks could contribute with bat and off-spin, while Sherfane Rutherford could get consistent opportunities as a middle-order power hitter.
With Rohit, Rickelton, SKY, Tilak and Naman Dhir already in the batting lineup, MI could still have batting depth until No. 8.
Their bowling combination could be Bumrah, Arshdeep, Bosch and an Indian spinner, with Jacks and Naman Dhir sharing the remaining overs.
When pacer is required, Shardul Thakur could replace the spinner, giving them four seam-bowling options.
But Hardik’s flexibility will still be missed.
Despite Arshdeep’s arrival, MI could actually end up with a weaker overall bowling combination, because they would be relying more heavily on Bosch and part-time options to complete their overs.
Hardik’s value wasn’t simply his bowling or batting individually. It was his ability to contribute meaningfully in both departments without occupying an overseas slot. Mumbai needs to find some blowing and fixes during the auction which is not an easy thing to do.
Now look at Punjab Kings.
Hardik joins an already strong Indian batting core featuring Shreyas Iyer, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh. With top 6 almost settled, they could field all of Stoonis, Jansen, Bartlett and Lockie along with Chahal in the playing 11.
That’s batting depth until No. 8 and six bowling options.
Jansen and Bartlett could handle the new ball, Ferguson provides pace, Chahal takes care of spin, while Hardik and Stoinis offer additional bowling options.
Replacing Arshdeep’s death bowling remains a challenge, and playing just one specialist spinner could be a limitation on slower pitches. But Punjab have Harpreet Brar and other Indian options to adjust their combination.
So who has actually benefited?
MI have acquired an outstanding Indian pace partnership, but Hardik’s departure could leave their overall team balance weaker despite the addition of Arshdeep.
Punjab have gained a quality Indian all-rounder who gives them considerable batting and bowling flexibility, while having enough pace options to cover much of Arshdeep’s role.
Initially, I thought Mumbai had clearly won this trade. After looking at both squads in detail, I’m now leaning towards Punjab, at least on paper.
The real difference could come down to how effectively Bosch fills Hardik’s role for MI and how well Punjab replace Arshdeep’s death overs.
Who do you think has got the better deal?
The trade is now complete.
Hope both @hardikpandya7 and @arshdeepsingh rediscover their best IPL form and give us some great memories. 🏏
Wishing them all the best!
It’s really funny to see when people who are actually getting screwed flex about these free bus ticket kind of theatrics.
11
Absolutely shameful.
Our lawmakers and judiciary need to move beyond this mindset of treating women as oppressed and helpless in one situation and empowered and independent in another, depending on what benefits women.
1
59
The trade is now complete.
Hope both @hardikpandya7 and @arshdeepsingh rediscover their best IPL form and give us some great memories. 🏏
Wishing them all the best!
If the Hardik–Arshdeep trade goes through, I like it more for Mumbai.
Arshdeep gives MI a left-arm quick who can take the new ball and bowl at the death alongside Bumrah.
Punjab would get an Indian all-rounder who can change the balance of their XI, provided Hardik is fit to bowl regularly.
But how do they replace Arshdeep’s overs?
Jansen and Dwarshuis give them the left-arm angle, but either takes an overseas slot. Vyshak and Yash Thakur are Indian pace options. The question is who Shreyas trusts with the 18th and 20th.
Mumbai can already picture how they’d use Arshdeep. Punjab still has to work out who takes the ball when the opposition needs 20 off 12.
A few interesting US and related global developments this week could have implications for India.
US inflation has come in higher than expected, increasing the possibility of another interest rate hike. That could mean more expensive capital and pressure on foreign investments into India.
Meanwhile, Nvidia has suffered a sharp fall amid fresh controversies, adding to concerns over whether massive AI investments will deliver the expected returns.
On the positive side, crude oil prices have eased a little following developments involving Iran. That is welcome news for an oil-importing country like India.
And while the world is discussing clean energy, battery storage and climate financing at COP31, the US is staying away from the negotiations.
For India, it is a mixed picture. Expensive global capital and AI uncertainty on one side, cheaper oil and opportunities in the energy transition on the other.
Let’s wait and watch how this plays out.
2
34
The bowler is still running in when the batter starts walking towards him.
A couple of steps down the pitch, and suddenly the bowler’s good length is a half-volley. There’s a particular joy in seeing him take that first step. For a split second, before the bat comes through, you know what he has in mind.
Happy birthday, Robin Uthappa. Thank you for making a walk down the pitch feel like an adventure. 🏏🇮🇳
The bowler lands it on a good length. Sanju Samson plants his front foot and lofts it over the boundary.
You watch the replay to see if the ball was fuller than you thought. It wasn’t. The bat comes through in one clean but gentle swing, and for a moment, from the sofa, batting looks like the easiest thing in the world.
Happy birthday, Sanju Samson. Here’s to the sixes we replay just to watch you hit them again. 🏏🇮🇳
Common Man Files retweeted
I’ve been watching street dogs since my childhood.
Back then, they spent much of their time roaming around looking for food. Many stayed around the outskirts of colonies, near places where waste was dumped and food was easier to find.
Even the dogs that lived inside our colony seemed more domesticated. Being comfortable around people was probably part of what helped them survive there.
From what I remember, they weren’t as aggressive as many of the street dogs I see today.
So what changed?
I think regular feeding by street dog sympathisers has taken away their hardest daily job - finding enough food to survive.
Their food requirements are now met with relatively little effort, often inside residential societies themselves. Dogs therefore have less reason to roam elsewhere looking for food and can establish themselves around these reliable feeding spots.
In a way, dogs became jobless, only for them to find another job: guarding their patch aggressively and chasing vehicles and even people they perceive as threats.
Could this abundance of easily available food, combined with territorial behaviour, be one reason we see these conflicts more often?
Would stopping regular feeding, alongside sterilisation, reduce such conflicts?
I think so, quite strongly.
When their primary job becomes finding food for survival, they probably have much less time and energy to aggressively guard a patch where food arrives every day. They may also move away from residential societies towards locations where finding food becomes easier.
Of course, I’m not touching upon the ideal solution of moving them to dog shelters because I don’t expect our governments to do this.
Open to arguments and hear other thoughts as well.