Former Indian leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has sent shockwaves through the cricketing community by announcing his retirement from the BCCI commentary panel. Taking to social media, the 1985 World Championship hero expressed deep frustration over being sidelined for over two decades. He revealed that despite his 23-year tenure, he was never given high-profile responsibilities such as conducting the toss or hosting post-match presentations, roles that he claims are repeatedly handed to newer commentators or a select few like Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle.
Sivaramakrishnan’s departure was marked by sharp criticism of the current system, where he stated he could no longer “sacrifice his self-respect” to continue. He hinted at deeper systemic issues within the commentary assignments, warning that the “truth” behind his exit would shock people once fully revealed. While he had a relatively short international playing career of 9 Tests and 16 ODIs, he had built a formidable second career as a broadcast expert, making his sudden exit a significant talking point regarding how veteran commentators are managed.
The announcement drew an immediate reaction from Indian star Ravichandran Ashwin, who expressed his surprise and disappointment on social media, especially with IPL 2026 just days away. The tournament is scheduled to begin on March 28 with a clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Sivaramakrishnan’s resignation has now ignited a wider debate on social media about the distribution of opportunities within the BCCI’s broadcasting wing and whether senior experts are being unfairly overlooked for newer faces.
