Sivaramakrishnan quits BCCI commentary panel after 23 years and accuses board of colour discrimination
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan did not ease into retirement. The former India leg-spinner took to social media on Friday and announced he was walking away from the BCCI commentary panel, then accused the board of colour discrimination in a string of posts that have split opinion across Indian cricket.
What Sivaramakrishnan said
"I am retiring from commentary for BCCI," Sivaramakrishnan wrote on X. He then followed up with a pointed question: "If I have not been used for tosses and presentations for 23 years and newcomers come in to do pitch reports, tosses, presentations even when Shastri was coaching, what do you think could be the reason?"
When a fan asked directly whether his skin colour was a factor, Sivaramakrishnan did not hedge. "You are right. Colour discrimination," he replied.
Ashwin reacts, fans divided
Ravichandran Ashwin was among the first to respond. "Oh no! Why not this IPL?" Ashwin wrote, quoting the original post. It was unclear whether Ashwin was urging Sivaramakrishnan to stay on for IPL 2026 or simply expressing surprise at the timing, just eight days before the tournament starts.
Fan reaction has been predictably mixed. Some backed Sivaramakrishnan, pointing to a pattern of South Indian cricketers and commentators receiving fewer opportunities within the BCCI. Others questioned the timing and whether colour discrimination was the right framing for the issue.
A career that deserved more spotlight
Sivaramakrishnan played nine Tests and 16 ODIs for India between 1983 and 1987. His playing career was short but contained moments that would define a lesser player's entire legacy. At 18, he ripped through England with a 12-wicket haul in the 1984 Bombay Test, taking 6 for 64 and 6 for 117 to give India an eight-wicket win. A few months later, he was the leading wicket-taker at the 1985 Benson and Hedges World Championship in Australia, where India beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the final under Sunil Gavaskar.
His commentary career began in 2000. For 23 years he was a familiar voice on BCCI broadcasts without, by his own account, ever being trusted with the headline duties that define a commentator's standing in Indian cricket.
The bigger conversation
This is not the first time Sivaramakrishnan has raised these concerns. In 2021, he spoke publicly about experiencing racial slurs in northern India. Whether his departure triggers any kind of introspection within the BCCI's commentary selection process remains to be seen, but the timing, right before IPL 2026, ensures it will be discussed in every press box and commentary room across the country.
