In a candid and unusual outburst, India ODI skipper Rohit Sharma has criticized the state of cricket commentary in India as "disappointing" and "agenda-driven." In an honest interview with cricket writer Vimal Kumar, Rohit did not mince words, accusing most commentators of spreading negativity rather than enlightening people about the nuances of the game.

The commentaries on television today are so disappointing," said Rohit. "When I travel to Australia, their commentaries are entirely different. Day and night is how different it is. Over here in India, it is as if the commentators' motto is to choose a player to target and go negative.

Rohit's comments follow an emotionally charged season of the IPL, during which he announced his retirement from Test cricket in the middle of the tournament. While fans and commentators alike were stunned by his choice, it also fueled renewed debates over player mental well-being, media scrutiny, and the behavior of athletes in response to public opinion.

watch the video:

He is so so right about the the Indian commentators. He technically exposed Star Sports and its panel who do PR for and against a certain player in the guise of being fair. pic.twitter.com/t9P4fjFyOB

— Irroh (@irroh45) May 8, 2025

ALSO SEE:IPL 2025: LSG vs RCB Match 59 - A Head to Head breakdown

Rohit Sharma calls for honest, thoughtful cricket commentary instead of drama and controversy

What appears to have particularly annoyed the 36-year-old opener is the tendency among certain Indian commentators and journalists to dwell on controversies or promote certain agendas. "There's no space for agenda-driven criticism," he added. "Cricket is a beautiful game, full of nuances. People watch to understand it better. But if we keep offering masala instead of insight, we are failing the fans."

The India skipper's words have ignited controversy in the world of cricket. While some of his critics claim that players should learn to accept criticism as part of professional sport, others have commended Rohit for raising a problem faced by many sportsmen but whom they are hesitant to discuss publicly.

Sharma's words are a wake-up call for broadcasters and ex-cricketers in the commentary box to look at their methodology. As cricket itself changes, the need for smart, balanced, and analytical reporting is increasing and India's cricketing world will have to reconsider the way it communicates to its millions of fans.