Today’s weekend blog is on cricket.
Friends, a few weeks back, I had written about the world’s top 10 best cricket commentators. In that list, there were only two Indian commentators.
In today’s blog, I am writing about India’s top 10 best Cricket commentators.
Indian cricket fans are listening to some of their favourite cricket legends lend their voice to the cricket action over the years. It’s generally the preferred route for many former cricketers to become cricket commentators. It started with Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, now we see more cricketers take to commentary box after retirement. With their in-depth knowledge of the game, and their personal experience, having played the game, it’s been fascinating to them describe the action.
Here is the list:
10 Laxman Sivaramakrishnan– He has a slightly dry style which makes it tough for himself to endear himself to the viewers. He has penchant to focus on the leg spinners, which can prove slightly annoying, which can be slightly annoying. His sense of humour is not his strongest trait.
His rating is 3.5/10
9 Sanjay Manjrekar– We have lot to thank the IPL for, unfortunately, it’s had an adverse effect on the quality of his commentary. Since the inception of IPL, with the need to cater to masses, he has had the habit of getting carried away, tries to focus on entertainment and not the cricket. Although his knowledge of cricket is great, hence, he’s got a spot lower down the list.
His rating is 4/10
8 Arun Lal– He is a warrior. He recently returned to the commentary box after battling from a rare case of jaw cancer. He has habit of over-glorifying the language he uses, both while doing English and Hindi commentary, and his commentary style is not so free flowing. He has a very neutral style. With that being said, he is a solid commentator who has a good analysis of the game.
His rating is 4/10
7 Navjot Singh Sidhu- The less said the better, because let’s face it, Sidhu lays a lot. One is left to wonder at times if a cricket match is on or if we have subscribed to a podcast of Sidhu’s as he tends to ramble on. Has deteriorated over time and has developed a habit to talk about everything but the actual game that is on. His style caters to a very tiny part of the audience and is probably just going out of vogue.
His rating is 5/10
6 VVS Laxman– Having a tougher time taking to commentary than some of his peers. He has not made a breezy transition into commentary. His accent is a bit hard to comprehend, which makes it slightly less enjoyable for the viewers. Also, he has habit to fumble a lot while speaking, making it awkward. Being one of the best Test batsmen ever, his reading of the game on the other end, is top-notch and we can only hope he gets better with time.
His rating is 6/10.
5 Murali Karthik– He has transitioned from cricketer to commentator with ease. Not one to ever short on confidence, he has brought the same style to commentary box. He has terrific command over the language, while also keeping it simple and enjoyable. He uses his experience to describe what cricket is like all over the world. He could grow to become one of better Indian commentator.
His rating is 7/10.
4 Sunil Gavaskar– He took to the commentary box, like a duck takes to water, making a seamless transition from being the best batsmen in the world to becoming an ace commentator. Having achieved so much in the game, his knowledge is unparalleled and his ability to read a player’s technique and comment on where he can improve upon is unmatched. However, he is finding difficult to adapt to the IPL style of commentary and tries to crack jokes at unnecessary times. Sometimes he does get a little harsh and over-analytical when criticizing somebody.
His rating is 7.5/10
3 Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly– While everyone expected Rahul Dravid to take commentary with ease, Sourav Ganguly was less of a natural at the beginning. Both these stalwarts use their experience to analyse the game to perfection. Being contemporaries to a number to a numbers of commentators currently, the duo brought an enjoyable element of banter to the table. Both are currently taking a break in commentary.
Their rating is 8/10
2 Ravi Shashtri– The undoubted ‘baap’ of the commentary box, he is an absolute legend. He has established a legacy with his deep voice almost instantly recognizable as he describes the action. His control over his diction is also commendable. Has described some of India’s most iconic moments, like Yuvraj’s 6 sixes and Dhoni’s winning 6 in the World Cup 2011. His tendency to resort to cliché to describe the play have set him back. Has also displayed a tendency to show a bias toward Indian players.
His rating is 8.5/10
1 Harsha Bhogle– At the top is none other than India’s presenter-commentator extraordinaire is Harsh Bhogle. He has carved a niche for himself in a field dominated by former cricketers and established himself at the top. For over 2 decades, fans have been treated to his insightful analysis, quick wit and his ability to connect with the everyday cricket fan. His one-liners have become immortalized in history as he has shared the box with the who’s who of the cricket world. Remember that he has never played cricket at national /international level.
His rating is 9.5/10.
Waiting for your feedback on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
30th May 2025