Sivaramakrishnan quits BCCI commentary panel, alleges ‘colour discrimination’

Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on Friday announced his retirement from the commentary panel of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, citing a lack of opportunities to perform key on-air roles including conducting toss and post-match presentation ceremonies.

In a series of posts on X, Sivaramakrishnan said he had been consistently overlooked for prominent duties despite being associated with the broadcast setup for over two decades. He suggested that even during periods when senior figures like Ravi Shastri were involved with the team, he was not entrusted with such responsibilities.

“If I have not been used for tosses and presentations for 23 years and newcomers are given those roles, what do you think could be the reason,” he wrote.

Responding to a user who suggested that skin colour might have been a factor, Sivaramakrishnan stated, “You are right. Colour discrimination.”

He added that his decision to step away was part of a larger issue within television production, indicating that “the bigger picture” would emerge in due course.

Sivaramakrishnan, popularly known as ‘Siva’, was regarded as one of India’s most promising leg-spinners in the early 1980s. He played nine Tests and 16 One-Day Internationals between 1983 and 1987, taking 26 wickets in Tests, including three five-wicket hauls, and 15 wickets in ODIs.

He made his Test debut during India’s tour of the West Indies in 1983 and gained prominence with several notable performances, including a 12-wicket match haul against England in 1984. He was also part of India’s victorious squad in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker.

After retiring from international cricket, Sivaramakrishnan transitioned into broadcasting and remained a familiar voice in Indian cricket commentary for many years.