India commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has revealed he has decided to quit BCCI commentary after years of not getting any big position. The 60 year old went to X and announced his retirement, which attracted the world wide attention of the cricketing fans and the media. Sivaramakrishnan was an outspoken and analytical writer, who said he was frustrated by not being given responsibilities like toss and presentation, which he feels is the main role of a commentator.
In several posts, he had clarified that although he had long been affiliated to the BCCI commentary, through a span of more than twenty years, he has seldom had the privilege of working with tosses or pitch reporting or presentation responsibilities. In case I have not served 23 years on TOSSES and PRESENTATION, and newcomers receive these chances even during the lifetime of Shastri as coach, then I wonder what reason could there be?
Sivaramakrishnan made it very clear that the choice he made was not without reason, as he needed to feel important in his job and play a significant role. Although he has always been valued in the film by both the viewer and his voice and insights, he was unable to take part in the assignments of commentary, and it is a difficult decision to take. His announcement has elicited debates in the cricketing fraternity on how BCCI has handled broadcasting functions and how it has failed to appreciate the experience of the commentators.
Even after his retirement, Sivaramakrishnan has left behind him a legacy of being one of the most revered cricketing voices in India, both on field as a player during his era and off field as a keen analyst. His exit signifies the conclusion of an age in BCCI commentary, the debate surrounding the manner in which mature talent is applied to Indian cricket broadcasting.