Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has announced that he is retiring from commentary for the BCCI, which prompted a response from R Ashwin.
Sivaramakrishnan, who played nine Tests and 16 ODIs for India between 1983 and 1987, took to commentary in the 2000s but has now announced retirement from BCCI commentary while making a series of cryptic posts on X.
“I am retiring from commentary for BCCI,” he posted first.
When asked by fans about the reason behind his decision, Sivaramakrishnan replied with “I don’t suck up,” before claiming that he wasn’t given chances to call games of late because of “colour discrimination.”
He also pointed out that, despite being among the most experienced names in the commentary world, having been in the profession for 23 years, he wasn’t appointed for toss or presentation duties, while newcomers were preferred: “If I have not been used for TOSSES and PRESENTATION for 23 years and newcomers come in [and] do pitch report, tosses, presentation even when Shastri was coaching, what do you think could be the reason?”
R Ashwin was the first prominent cricketing name to respond to Sivaramakrishnan’s post, writing: “Oh no! Why not this IPL?” The former spin bowlers from Tamil Nadu also share a bit of history, having been involved in a social media war of words.
Notably, Sivaramakrishnan last commentated in IPL 2024, and wasn’t part of the panel for the 2025 season. He had posted on March 17 about expecting a contract for the upcoming season, writing on X: “The Director of BCCI Broadcast, I believe has called my only friend Bharat Arun if I was doing fine. Arun has said that I am perfectly Fine. So I am expecting an email for the IPL.”
Soon you will see the bigger picture: Laxman Sivaramakrishnan
The former spinner hinted that fans were not aware of the complete picture, and there was more to the story than meets the eye, concluding that “soon you will see the bigger picture”.
“This retirement is only the beginning of a story when told, general public, cricket fans and everyone will be utterly shocked,” he wrote before deleting the post. “I am very happy that people who hate me are delighted. But those who thought I was at least decent, thanks. BCCI will be left with disbelief.”
Sivaramakrishnan burst onto the scene in the early 1980s and was India’s youngest Test cricketer at the age of 17 years 118 days when at the time of his debut, against the West Indies at St John’s in May 1983. However, after a famous 12-wicket haul against England at Bombay and a magnificent outing at the 1984/85 World Championship of Cricket, his career went downhill, and he made 24 more international appearances for India.
Image courtesy: Star Sports
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