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Our Authors: The Voices of EssentiallySports

At EssentiallySports, our content comes to life through the passion and expertise of our authors. We're a close-knit team, united by a combined love for storytelling and sports – a passion that’s been at the heart of our company, starting right from our founders. Our writers aren't just reporting; they're bringing unique insights, deep analysis, and vibrant narratives to the sports world.

What Our Authors Cover Best

Our diverse team of writers thrive in delivering exclusive interviews, breaking news, and in-depth analysis across an extensive array of domains, including NBA, NFL, NASCAR, UFC, Golf, College Football, WNBA and all the major American leagues. They craft pieces that go beyond the headlines, offering perspectives designed to enhance your fan experience, with factual accuracy always at the forefront.

Connect with Our Authors

We believe in transparency and fostering connections. To learn more about our individual authors, their backgrounds, and their specific areas of focus, please explore their individual author pages. You can often connect with them directly on their social media channels, linked from their profiles.

Contact

For general inquiries, or if you wish to reach our editorial team, please email us at editorial@essentiallysports.com.

Our Writers

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Dhruv George is EssentiallySports’ foremost authority on motorsport and a founding member of the NASCAR desk. With eight years in motorsports journalism, he’s interviewed top names from F1’s Pierre Gasly to Moto2’s Tony Arbolino. That range of access has cemented his reputation as a trusted voice among gearheads. He’s also unafraid to challenge officiating calls, most recently defending Joey Logano after the DYL penalty in Phoenix.

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Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist who has reported on five NBA seasons and two Olympics at EssentiallySports. As part of the Journalistic Excellence Program at ES, he continues to refine his hard reporting with grounded storytelling rooted in fan culture. Trusted for real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments, he is the NBA Matchday Newsdesk’s go-to reporter. An OKC-loyal since the Seattle Supersonics days, he hopes to one day sit down for an exclusive with Russell Westbrook.

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A three-year veteran, Himanga Mahanta is a Senior UFC Writer at EssentiallySports and a cornerstone of the combat sports team. He leads the ES MMA PPV Live Coverage Desk with nuanced takes and trend-spotting instincts, delivering real-time updates and sharp analysis across the MMA world. From Breaking News, Beat Reports, Exclusive reports, Opinion columns - you name it, and he’s done it. A devoted Conor McGregor fan, his work has even drawn mention from the likes of Chael Sonnen.

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Abhishek Mishra is a senior soccer specialist at EssentiallySports. He primarily focuses on the USWNT beat, with broader coverage spanning the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, MLS, and NWSL. While he specializes in injury reports, his work also explores broader themes like equal pay. A former collegiate player, Abhishek brings firsthand insight to the pitch, making him a trusted voice among soccer fans at every level.

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Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways. Vatsal’s coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win captured both the emotional weight of her victory and the context of her comeback. He draws on his experience as a recreational player to add a courtside lens to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center.

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Sagnik Bagchi is a senior writer at EssentiallySports, where he covers collegiate and Olympic sports through opinion-led storytelling. His volleyball reporting explores program shifts and leadership transitions—such as Harper Murray’s evolving role and John Cook’s candid retirement reflections at Nebraska. With nearly four years of experience, Sagnik has contributed across key beats from the Paris 2024 Newsbreak team to behind-the-scenes NHL Playoff coverage. His versatility earned him a place in the ES Journalistic Excellence Program. He previously covered bodybuilding, earning a shoutout from IFBB Pro Greg Doucette for his reporting.

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Sudeep Sinha is a Senior Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports with two years of experience at the ES RingSide Desk. He was also a key part of ES’ 24/7 Paris Olympics coverage, earning a reputation as one of the desk’s sharpest boxing minds. His fight-night dispatches and analytical stories have been featured on major platforms including Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports. He has covered pivotal developments at both the amateur and professional levels—from USA Boxing’s setbacks at the 2024 Paris Olympics to Ryan Garcia’s PED controversy. Outside of work, Sudeep finds balance in reading, cycling, and debating match-ups and controversies with fellow fans across boxing subreddits.

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Soheli Tarafdar is our Lead College Football Writer at EssentiallySports, anchoring the ES Marquee Saturdays Live NewsCenter. For the past two seasons, she has broken locker room rumors, decoded cryptic posts, and unpacked the behind-the-scenes drama shaping the college football world. A firm believer in the Joel Klatt school of thought, she echoes his belief: "You either love football, or you love being a football player." Soheli is currently part of the ES Journalistic Excellence Program, where an elite group of writers are trained to uncover the Unique, Unusual, and Untold in new-age sports journalism.

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Rohan Singh Bhaunt brings over a decade of basketball experience to his role as Senior NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. A former point guard and video educator with a 62K-strong YouTube following, Rohan channels his high basketball IQ into detailed play-by-play analysis. His background helps demystify complex strategies, blending a player’s lens with sharp editorial clarity. He continues to foster a community of active players through practical breakdowns and easy-to-adopt playing tips.

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Suryakant Das is a Senior Writer leading UFC live coverage at EssentiallySports. With over two years of experience in MMA journalism, he stands out as a member of the in-house ES Journalistic Excellence Program. His expertise shines through in the breadth of his coverage—spanning real-time event updates, pre- and post-fight interviews, and breakdowns of viral moments from the Joe Rogan Experience. His work has earned recognition from respected MMA voices, including Nina-Marie Daniele and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, further establishing his credibility in the field.

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Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the gridiron’s cultural nuances. With cross-sport expertise and a background in crafting basketball lifestyle stories, she brings a fresh perspective to football. Her core focus is on how athletes build influence beyond game day. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, Pritha specializes in long-form features, player-driven ventures, and the evolving identity of the modern NFL star.

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Jaideep R. Unnithan is a Senior Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports and one of the division’s most trusted voices. Since joining in October 2022, he’s brought a deep love for the sport into every story—whether reporting on a live bout with the ES LiveEvent Desk or unpacking the legacy of a fighter from another era as part of the features desk.

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Tanushree Bhowmick is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports with over five years of experience in sports and lifestyle journalism. Having covered UFC and MMA extensively, she now brings that lens to Olympic wrestling—highlighting how traditional combat disciplines echo through modern fighting. With a keen eye for technique and storytelling, her work explores how champions are shaped across both worlds.

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Maleehah Shakeel is our Senior Olympic Sports Writer. From the World Athletics Championships 2023 to the Paris Olympics and the Winter Cup 2025, Maleehah has covered the sport's biggest moments. Her Live Blog on Jordan Chiles’ medal revocation became a go-to hub for fans to learn every development. Beyond writing, Maleehah is always reading up on fans' psyche, to finetune her craft. As part of EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, Maleehah brings a strong editorial voice that focuses on the people, pressure, and turning points behind every headline.

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Ashmit Kumar is a Senior basketball Writer at EssentiallySports with three years of experience. A Journalism graduate, he has been an integral part of the ES NBA coverage’s live trends desk for the past two seasons. His portfolio also includes deep dives into player endorsements, shoe deals and Team USA’s Paris 2024 gold, where he collaborated with beat writers across sports as part of our 24/7 Olympics coverage. Now part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, Ashmit combines reporting depth with a sharp editorial voice, bringing clarity and balance to a fast-evolving league.

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Diptarko Paul is a Senior Writer at EssentiallySports who brings a sharp focus to standout performances in often-overlooked Olympic sports. A State Championship swimming qualifier, he blends 8 years of content creation with insightful commentary and immersive storytelling. From shaping editorial voices at Yahoo India to driving Coinbase’s content strategy, his career spans digital media, esports ecosystems, and American sports coverage. He served as a key member of the Paris Olympics trends desk and earned a spot in the company’s prestigious Journalistic Excellence Program, where he sharpens his reporting under the mentorship of industry veterans.

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Disita Sikdar is our Senior Olympic Sports Writer, specializing in the gymnastics and wrestling beats. She was part of ES’ 24/7 Paris Olympics coverage. Her work includes a write-up on an ES Exclusive of Simone Biles’ coach and choreographer. Certified through EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program and a co-author of a literary anthology, she brings a unique narrative edge to her sports journalism. Currently pursuing a Master's in Literature, Disita is drawn to the adrenaline of track and field and the split-second moments that make history.

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Khosalu Puro is the primetime college football writer at EssentiallySports, covering everything from locker room buzz to end zone drama. After spending four years as a writer with a regional publication, she has anchored ES Marquee Saturdays for the past two seasons. She also plays a key role in the CFB Pro Writer Program, which connects with fan creators. Khosalu combines editorial depth with real-world fan engagement—building focused, passionate college football communities across platforms.

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A Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports, Prasun Chakrabarty works with the ES Insights and Trends Desk. He has provided live coverage of key events like the World Athletics Indoor Championships and the U.S.

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Sumedha Mukherjee is a senior NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports, covering both the Cup and Xfinity Series with a keen focus on race-day strategy. A recipient of the 2023–24 Best Motorsports Writer award at EssentiallySports, she blends deep research with real-time instincts—like flagging Joey Logano’s fuel window gamble at Nashville, recalling his identical play at the 2019 South Point 400. As part of the Journalistic Excellence Program, Sumedha delivers sharp, real-time analysis tailored for today’s digital-first NASCAR fan.

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Rahul Goutam Hoom is a senior NHL correspondent at EssentiallySports with nearly three years of experience covering the league. He holds a Master’s in Mass Communication and Journalism and specializes in delivering sharp, accessible coverage to hockey audiences across North America. A consistent voice at the ES Trends Desk, Rahul brought a beat reporter’s clarity and a fan’s lens to the Florida Panthers’ season, including standout reporting on Matthew Tkachuk’s humorous rule breach during a regular-season game. His cross-sport versatility extends to equestrian coverage as well, with contributions to the ES Horse Racing Desk’s Kentucky Derby reporting.

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Ripunjay Gaba, a tennis enthusiast-turned-journalist at EssentiallySports, found his way from freelance sports journalism to the publishing house in ES. Here, his writing canvas encompasses the game specifics while finding poetic resonance in covering major sporting events. Ripunjay, a perpetual upgrader, uses avid reading to bring varied flavor to his Tennis reporting. From the Netflix Documentary Break Point to the various Tennis podcasts, his coverage stays diverse. Beyond the world of articles, he extends this commitment to physical well-being with regular workouts, infusing dynamism into both the narratives he crafts and the life he lives. In Ripunjay's world, every keystroke is a step closer to unraveling the essence of tennis.

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Yashika Dutta covers NCAA basketball at EssentiallySports, bringing two years of reporting experience to the ES Basketball Newsdesk. A member of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, she delivers features on the Big Ten Conference and high-stakes March Madness games that channel the intensity of college hoops. A former player herself, Yashika’s stories reflect an on-court understanding that has earned engagement from UConn coaches and Olympian Rori Dunk.

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Shivangi Agrawal is a Senior NFL Writer, representing the Visual Storytelling Desk. A Mass Communication and Media Studies graduate, she brings two years of newsroom experience from her time as a Senior Copy Editor at WQOW-News 18. At EssentiallySports, Shivangi focuses on identifying digital-first NFL narratives, particularly during game-day coverage. Her work often centers on tailoring stories for underserved audiences, blending traditional football analysis with a modern visual approach. She sees this hybrid model as key to engaging the evolving digital sports reader.

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Parnab Bhattacharya is a Beat Writer at EssentiallySports in the Golf Division. With four years of writing experience, he is now exploring his deep-rooted love for the gentleman's sport. Parnab's area of expertise is his predictive and perspective pieces, where he explores all things golf, diving deep into the whys and whats behind players' and Tours' moves in the sport, and unflinchingly voicing his take. His love for sports extends beyond the golf course. As a Madridista at heart, he swears by Saint Iker's reflexes and CR7's predatory instinct, when not lost in the pages of a Dostoevsky novel or exploring global cinemas.

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Sagnik Ghosh is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports. His story of becoming an NFL writer is as interesting as his story of becoming an MMA practitioner. Coming from such a sport where athletes look to knock the brain cells off each other for a living, Sagnik resonates with the aggression that American Football offers.