Rohit Sharma Calls Out ‘Agenda-Driven’ Commentary in India
Rohit Sharma Slams Indian Commentary as ‘Disappointing’
One of cricket’s most beloved players, Rohit Sharma, isn’t holding back when it comes to his feelings about the state of commentary in India. In a recent interview, the veteran batsman, who recently retired from Test cricket, expressed his disappointment with the direction commentary has taken, contrasting it with the style he sees in Australia.
‘Masala’ Over Pure Cricket
Sharma, 38, feels that the focus on ‘masala’—dramatic narratives and controversies—has overshadowed the pure love of the game. He believes that Indian commentators often prioritize creating sensationalism over providing insightful analysis.
During an interview with Vimal Kumar, Sharma candidly shared his thoughts. ‘We see everything, we talk to each other. Sometimes when we are watching the match on TV, the kind of things commentators talk about is much different from the kind of commentary you see in Australia. Here, it is so disappointing. I am being very honest. It seems like they just want to target a player and speak about him. This is very disappointing,’ he said.
Respect for the Players
While acknowledging that criticism of a player’s performance is justified, Sharma believes commentators should know where to draw the line. He emphasized the need for respect towards the players, especially those who have dedicated their lives to the sport.
‘There are a lot of people who love the game. They don’t want ‘masala’, they want to watch cricket. In today’s times, we put a lot of masala in the game. There are cricket lovers too who want to know more about the game, and understand why a player’s form is bad. They don’t want to hear about personal stuff. Just because you have the right to speak, doesn’t mean you’ll say anything. Respect the players. I even said at a few places that everyone who has been part of these World Cups deserves great respect. It’s not a joke to win 23 out of 24 matches, no matter how it happened,’ he asserted.
Agenda-Driven Criticism
Sharma further lamented the rise of ‘agenda-driven’ criticism, where commentators seem to have personal biases rather than offering objective evaluations. ‘Yes, there have been things where it has gone out of our hands. We didn’t do well in some instances, where we deserve criticism. No problem. We lost to New Zealand at home, we deserve criticism. But there’s a way to criticize someone. Today, agenda-driven criticism is being done here. It is not so likable,’ he concluded.
Focusing on the Game
Sharma concluded by stating that he doesn’t believe in defending himself against criticism, but rather chooses to focus on his performance on the field. ‘To handle criticism is important in a sportsperson’s life. I understand that. But, it’s unnecessary criticism that I am against. Such things weren’t needed. I see people say a lot about me, some say that I get out to left-arm seamers. If I go out defending that, I’ll do a lot of things wrong. My time is very precious, don’t want to waste my time defending myself. Attacking is what my work is. It’s better to show what you want to on the field, not outside,’ he said.
