Laxman Sivaramakrishnan Announces Retirement from Commentary Ahead of IPL 2026
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's Retirement Announcement
Renowned commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has declared his retirement from commentary duties for the BCCI, just before the IPL 2026 season. He expressed feelings of discrimination based on his skin color, stating that he was overlooked for tosses and presentation ceremonies, even when Ravi Shastri was unavailable. In a post on X, he stated, "I am retiring from commentary for BCCI." He further questioned why he had not been utilized for these roles over the past 23 years, while newcomers were given opportunities even during Shastri's coaching tenure. A follower inquired if his lack of opportunities was due to his color, to which Sivaramakrishnan affirmed. He added, "This retirement is just the beginning of a story that will shock cricket fans and the general public. I appreciate those who supported me, while those who wished me ill can rejoice. The BCCI will be left in disbelief," he concluded in another post.
A Look Back at Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's Career
Sivaramakrishnan was a familiar voice in the commentary box, sharing his insights for many years after transitioning from playing. He last played professionally for Rest of India against Karnataka, the Ranji Trophy champions.
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan's Career Highlights
He was part of the victorious 1985 World Championship of Cricket team, where he emerged as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets across 5 matches. In April 1983, he made history as India's youngest Test debutant at just 17 years and 118 days, a record now held by Sachin Tendulkar.
Throughout his career, Sivaramakrishnan participated in 9 Test matches and 16 ODIs, taking 26 wickets in Tests and 15 in ODIs. In total, he claimed 154 wickets in 76 first-class matches, scoring 1802 runs with an average of 25.02, including five centuries. He also took 37 wickets in 33 List A matches, with his final appearance for India occurring during the 1987 ODI World Cup. Additionally, he expressed interest in coaching Indian spinners during Rahul Dravid's tenure as head coach.