Veteran India commentator quits, blames BCCI for ignoring him 23 years: ‘Can’t sacrifice my self-respect and suck up’ Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has announced his decision to step away from BCCI commentary, citing frustration over being sidelined for key roles like toss and presentation duties for over two decades. The 60-year-old commentator took to X to share his retirement announcement, expressing his discontent with the lack of opportunities to handle these responsibilities, which he felt limited his contribution. His posts emphasized that this decision was deliberate, driven by his desire to be valued fully in his role. Sivaramakrishnan, known for his candid approach both online and on air, highlighted that high-profile toss and presentation duties in major BCCI matches have increasingly been assigned to figures like Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle, while other commentators have been given similar tasks in remaining games. He questioned the rationale behind this pattern, noting that even during Shastri’s tenure as coach, newcomers were given these roles, leaving him and others like him overlooked. His frustration stemmed from feeling undervalued for an extended period, despite his long-standing association with cricket broadcasting. In his tweets, Sivaramakrishnan struck a defiant tone, hinting that his retirement marked the beginning of a larger story that would shock the public and cricket fans. He expressed satisfaction that critics of his work were pleased with his decision, while thanking those who had at least acknowledged his contributions. He also conveyed disbelief at the BCCI’s potential reaction, suggesting the organization would be left unsettled by his departure. Sivaramakrishnan, a leg-spinner, rose to prominence during India’s 1985 World Championship victory.#ravi_shastri #bcci #ipl_2026 #laxman_sivaramakrishnan #harsha_bhogle
