The star-studded commentary lineup for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has been officially revealed, featuring over 160 experts broadcasting across various languages. A headline addition to this year’s roster is veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who transitions from the pitch to the booth after an illustrious playing career that spanned every single season since the tournament's inception in 2008.
Commentary panel for IPL 2026 is out!
Ashwin’s move follows a well-established tradition of former players lending their on-field expertise to the broadcast, helping translate the high-octane energy of the stadium for viewers at home. Over his 18-season tenure, Ashwin became a fixture of the league, beginning his journey with the Chennai Super Kings before representing the Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rising Pune Supergiants, and the Rajasthan Royals.
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R Ashwin, part of 'Championswaali Commentary' segment
Following his retirement ahead of the recent mini-auction, Ashwin has joined the Hindi commentary team on JioStar. He is set to be a key fixture of the 'Championswaali Commentary' segment, a specialised panel composed of former league winners. This role is a natural fit for Ashwin, who secured back-to-back IPL titles under MS Dhoni’s leadership during his prominent stint with CSK between 2008 and 2015.
The 'Championswaali' panel boasts an impressive collection of cricketing royalty. Ashwin will share the microphone with fellow IPL legends and champions such as Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Aditya Tare, Anil Kumble, Piyush Chawla, and Umesh Yadav. The broader broadcast team also includes seasoned analysts and former stars like Irfan Pathan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virender Sehwag, and Aakash Chopra.
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Hindi Commentary Box
The Hindi commentary box for the IPL 2026 season is set to feature a robust lineup of legendary Indian cricketers and seasoned broadcasters. Fans can look forward to insights from iconic figures like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sunil Gavaskar, alongside technical experts such as Sanjay Bangar, Ajay Jadeja, and Mohammad Kaif. The team is rounded out by deep-voiced analysts and presenters including Saba Karim, Deep Dasgupta, Padamjeet Sehrawat, Anant Tyagi, and Sunil Taneja.
Bigwigs in English panel
On the English broadcast, a global assembly of T20 royalty will provide analysis, led by former international captains and IPL icons. The roster includes heavy hitters like AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, and Aaron Finch. Joining them are World Cup winners Eoin Morgan and Michael Clarke, along with Mitchell McClenaghan and Deep Dasgupta, ensuring a high-energy perspective on the modern game.
Complementing the modern stars is a group of the world’s most respected broadcasting voices. This "hall of fame" panel features Ravi Shastri, Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop, and Simon Doull, as well as the charismatic Daniel Morrison, Daren Ganga, and Graeme Smith. Adding further depth to the English coverage are Anjum Chopra, Alan Wilkins, Katey Martin, and Murali Kartik.
Regional coverage remains a high priority, with the Tamil commentary team featuring local favorites and former CSK stars like Murali Vijay, S. Badrinath, and L. Balaji. Adding a touch of entertainment to the Tamil feed, famous RJ and Tollywood personality RJ Balaji will also return to his popular role behind the microphone.
The diversity of the broadcast extends across India with specialised panels for Kannada, Haryanvi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, and Bangla. This multi-lingual team includes a wide range of talent such as Hanuma Vihari, Krishnappa Gowtham, Veda Krishnamurthy, and Manvinder Bisla. Notable contributors like Jhulan Goswami, Pravin Tambe, and Kiran More, along with cultural icons like Gautam Bhattacharya and Shrijit Mukherjee.