Bal has spent 15 years in mainstream journalism working in some of India's leading publishing house before joining Wisden in 2001. He was the first editor of Wisden Asia Cricket and the Asian editor of wisden.com. Bal became the editor of Cricinfo in 2004 and under him the site has grown to acquire a distinct voice and many readers. In 2007, Cricinfo was bought by ESPN. He is also the founder editor of Cricinfo Magazine, which appeared for the first time in January 2006.