Laxman Sivaramakrishnan says no BCCI, Jay Shah links to commentary exit

L Sivaramakrishnan denies BCCI and Jay Shah's role in his commentary exit, saying his issue was with an individual after alleging bias. Sivaramakrishnan retired from BCCI commentary on March 20.

Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has denied that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and current ICC chairman Jay Shah have anything to do with his retirement from commentary duties. Sivaramakrishnan said that his issue was with an employee at BCCI.

The former Indian spinner grabbed the headlines when he stepped down from his commentary role with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing issues of racism and limited opportunities over his 23-year association. The 60-year-old shared the news through a series of posts on X, which quickly gained traction online.

In his posts, Sivaramakrishnan claimed he was repeatedly overlooked for prominent on-air responsibilities such as toss coverage and post-match presentations, despite being part of the panel for more than two decades. Replying to a user who suggested racial bias might be involved, Sivaramakrishnan agreed to it.

Sivaramakrishnan also noted that he missed out on such roles even during phases when senior figures like Ravi Shastri were involved in the setup, hinting at a pattern that stretched over the years. He added that his exit was not merely a retirement decision, but an attempt to question how responsibilities are assigned and how production decisions are made.

Following his announcement, fans started to target BCCI and Shah for their role in the matter. The 60-year-old has now stepped in to deny that the BCCI administration had nothing to do with his exit and he was just taking control of his own life.

"Don’t bring the BCCI Administration into the picture. It’s a one on one with an employee of the BCCI. Jay Shah and Co. have nothing to do with this issue. I am taking control of my life and I think I am entitled to do it," said Sivaramakrishnan.