Who is Boria Majumdar?: Early Life, Education, Books, Family & Controversy

Boria Majumdar is one of India’s most prominent sports journalists, authors, and historians who has shaped the narrative of Indian cricket for over two decades. Known for his deep insights, academic achievements, and close association with several top cricketers, he continues to be a notable voice in the sports media landscape. However, his career has not been without controversy; from his two-year ban by the BCCI to his eventual comeback through his sports-tech venture, RevSportz.

 

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Early Life and Family Background

Born on 8 March 1976 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Boria Majumdar was raised in an academically rich environment. He is the son of Dr. Prodosh Majumdar and Roopa Majumdar. From a young age, his fascination with sports and history intertwined, shaping his later career as both a journalist and historian.

 

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Majumdar is married to Sharmistha Gooptu, a noted academic and co-editor of several scholarly works with him. The couple shares a strong intellectual bond, often collaborating on projects exploring the cultural and historical aspects of Indian sports.

Education and Academic Achievements

Boria Majumdar’s educational journey reflects a balance of academic excellence and passion for sports history. He completed his B.A. in History from Presidency College, University of Calcutta in 1997, followed by an M.A. in Modern History in 1999 from the same university.

His academic career took a defining turn when he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship (1999–2000) to pursue a DPhil in History at St John’s College, University of Oxford. His doctoral thesis on the Social History of Indian Cricket was later published as Twenty-Two Yards to Freedom, a book that became a landmark in sports literature.

 

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Majumdar’s academic accomplishments also include being a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Central Lancashire, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at La Trobe University, Melbourne, and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Chicago since 2003. He has also been affiliated with De Montfort University, the University of Toronto, and the International Olympic Museum in Lausanne, where he was a research fellow in 2005.

Career in Sports Journalism

Boria Majumdar is a respected media personality who has been associated with top sports networks such as Times Now, Ten Sports, ESPN, NDTV, and Headlines Today. Over the years, he has written for prominent publications like the Times of India, Outlook, Wisden, and Anandabazar Patrika.

He co-wrote Playing It My Way, the autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar, which became a global bestseller and remains one of the most widely read sports books. His deep connections within the cricket world have given him access to legends like Tendulkar and several generations of Indian players.

In 2018, his second major work, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians: The On and Off the Field Story of Cricket in India and Beyond, further cemented his reputation as an authority on Indian cricket culture.

 

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Boria’s scholarly works include numerous monographs and edited collections such as Lost Histories of Indian Cricket, The Illustrated History of Indian Cricket, and Cricketing Cultures in Conflict. His writing explores cricket as more than just a sport, a reflection of India’s social, cultural, and political evolution.

RevSportz: The Sports-Tech Venture

After his temporary ban was lifted, Boria Majumdar turned his focus to entrepreneurship. In 2024, he launched RevSportz, an innovative “sports-tech” start-up backed by multiple corporations.

RevSportz spans six verticals, including sports content creation, NFT memorabilia (in partnership with Dubai-based CricFlix), a digital cricket museum, and initiatives for para-sports and education (Sports EdTech and FinTech).

According to Majumdar, “Sport is mainstream news.” Through RevSportz, he aims to “take sport beyond television” and create a global digital ecosystem for fans and athletes alike. The venture also includes Singapore-based strategist Prantik Mazumdar as a key advisor.

Boria Majumdar Controversy: The Wriddhiman Saha Case

In 2022, Boria Majumdar became embroiled in a major controversy that led to his two-year ban by the BCCI. The incident began when Wriddhiman Saha, the Indian wicket-keeper, shared a screenshot on Twitter showing messages from a journalist who allegedly tried to “coerce” him into an interview.

After all of my contributions to Indian cricket..this is what I face from a so called “Respected” journalist! This is where the journalism has gone. pic.twitter.com/woVyq1sOZX

— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) February 19, 2022

The BCCI’s three-member committee, comprising Rajeev Shukla, Arun Singh Dhumal, and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, identified Majumdar as the journalist in question. The committee found his messages to be “intimidatory and threatening” and banned him from interviewing cricketers, attending matches, or accessing BCCI facilities for two years.

Despite his claim that Saha had “doctored the WhatsApp messages,” the BCCI held that Majumdar’s behavior “crossed the line of professionalism.” The Boria Majumdar ban was intended to set a precedent against coercive journalism in sports.

In later interviews and through his writings, Majumdar shared his version of the events, suggesting that his messages were misinterpreted and expressing hope that such incidents would pave the way for more respectful journalist-athlete relations.

Publications and Books

Boria Majumdar has authored and edited several acclaimed books that combine his academic depth with journalistic flair. His notable titles include:

• Twenty-Two Yards to Freedom: A Social History of Indian Cricket (2004)
• Lost Histories of Indian Cricket: Battles of the Pitch (2005)
• Goalless: The Story of a Unique Footballing Nation (with Kausik Bandyopadhyay, 2006)
• The Illustrated History of Indian Cricket (2006)
• Cricket and Beyond – Essays on a Sport at a Crossroads (2007)
• Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians (2018)

He also co-edited academic collections such as Sport in South Asian Society, Revisiting 1857 – Myth, Memory, History, and Olympism: The Global Vision.

Net Worth and Professional Influence

While Boria Majumdar’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, his extensive work as a media personality, author, and founder of RevSportz suggests a successful and financially stable career. With over 50 journalists now working under RevSportz, his influence extends beyond reporting; into shaping the future of sports media in India.

 

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Social Media Presence

On ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter, where he is active under @BoriaMajumdar, he regularly shares insights, interviews, and sports analysis. Despite past controversies, his following remains substantial, with fans engaging in discussions around cricket, media ethics, and sports innovation. As of Oct. 9, 2025, he has social media following-

• X- 202.6K Followers
• Instagram- 33.9K followers
• LinkedIn- 15K
• Facebook- NA
• Youtube (Revsports) – 136K subscribers

FAQs about Boria Majumdar

1. Who is Boria Majumdar?
   Boria Majumdar is an Indian sports journalist, historian, and author known for his work on cricket and sports culture.
2. What is Boria Majumdar’s educational background?
   Boria Majumdar completed his DPhil in History from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
3. Why was Boria Majumdar banned by the BCCI?
   Boria Majumdar was banned for allegedly sending coercive messages to cricketer Wriddhiman Saha.
4. What is Boria Majumdar’s latest book?
   Boria Majumdar published Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians, exploring the culture and business of Indian cricket.
5. Who is Boria Majumdar’s wife?
   Boria Majumdar is married to Sharmistha Gooptu, an academic and co-editor of several of his works.
6. What is RevSportz?
   RevSportz is a sports-tech company founded by Boria Majumdar featuring digital content, NFTs, and sports innovation.

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