IPL 2022: Five Hindi commentators who will be treat for ears during this season

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to treat cricket fans to the most thrilling battle between bat and balls. Undoubtedly, IPL will heat the Indian summer when top-notch players from the world will once again participate in a two-month contest for their respective franchises. While players will have a huge responsibility to deliver quality cricket on the field, a few former cricketers and cricket experts who possess extraordinary knowledge and wisdom about the game will hold the mike to take us to the specifics of the game.

IPL will once again bring some of the best minds with a microphone who will lend their opinions to enrich the game for cricket fans. While IPL’s top brass decided to stream the cash-rich league in Gujarati, Marathi, and a few other local languages for the first time, Hindi heartland will enjoy the voices of some known figures and a few new ones.

Commentators are one of the most vital cogs that make the game as enjoyable as the players. CricTracker lists out five such Hindi commentators who will be treated to hear.

1. Ravi Shastri

“And the party begins in Mumbai.” Yes, just like that, IPL’s party will kick start once again from Wankhede stadium. It’s the same ground where we witnessed one of the best commentaries from India’s former head coach during the 2011 World Cup final when MS Dhoni went for maximum to lift the WC after 20 odd years.

Ravi Shastri is regarded as one of the best men to hold the mike, and during his stint as India’s head coach, he was a major miss as fans love to hear from the big man. The 59-year-old played 80 Tests and 150 ODI matches. Shastri also picked 280 wickets in his international career and took three 5-wicket hauls as well.

The right-hander also amassed over 6500 runs in his international career with the bat in hand. Shastri’s voice has set a benchmark for commentators in the world and as well as for all the aspirants out there.

2. Aakash Chopra

He is one of the most popular Hindi commentators and is widely known for his scholarly opinions about the game. Aakash Chopra‘s broad knowledge helps him compare on-field action with regular happenings in day-to-day life that keep cricket fans engaged with the game.

Chopra also uses famous Hindi proverbs during his commentary, making it easy for non-specialists to understand the game better.  He played 10 Tests for India and scored 437 runs at an average of 23.0 and also has his own YouTube channel where he posts regular videos about the latest happenings of the cricketing world.

His YouTube channel has a subscriber base of 3.2 Million. Chopra’s voice and wisdom did the magic in the game, and it will be a treat for ears to hear him again during IPL 2022.

3. Jatin Sapru

Jatin Sapru is an Indian sports journalist, television host, broadcaster and cricket commentator who works for the Star Sports network. He left engineering and did a Journalism course which eventually landed him in the industry, having fascinated the likes of ESPN and Star.

He has been working as a moderator in many matches and has built a reputation as a sports journalist and commentator. Due to closely watching the game for such a long period, Jatin Sapru is regarded as one of the most loved and followed cricket commentators.

He likes to call himself ‘A failed cricketer’ but believes it’s his hard work and passion for the game which eventually landed him a job where he gets the opportunity to rub shoulders with the game’s greats. Jatin is in the elite list of personalities who never held the bat and ball but are still regarded as a prominent face when it comes to analysing the game. Indeed, Jatin’s analysis and thoughts will be a treat for ears for cricket fans during IPL 2022.

4. Irfan Pathan

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan is one of the best cricketing minds and understands the game well. His analysis and familiarity with players keep cricket fans glued to TV screens. As he has been quite a successful Indian player and an all-rounder, Pathan’s magic with voice is also spreading like a fire in the jungle. The fans love listening to his thoughts and narrations during the game.

However, despite his career on the field coming to a close in January 2020 when he announced his retirement, Pathan has continued to grab the limelight. The veteran has taken up commentary as a profession and has been seen sharing his analysis before international and domestic games.

Fans often share their delight with Pathan’s commentary and applaud the former quality all-rounder for his apt research and thoughts. He will be part of the Hindi and Gujarati commentary panel, and undoubtedly, his words of wisdom will make the game more interesting.

5. Suresh Raina

It’s impossible to keep Mr IPL away from the Indian Premier League. After going unsold in IPL auction for the first time, Suresh Raina will hold the mike and join the Hindi and Gujarati panel narrating the game as it progresses. Raina has been one of the most successful players in the tournament and fourth-highest run-getter, but now the southpaw will appear in a new avatar, making his fans go crazy.

Raina enjoys a massive fan following in the country for his swashbuckling batting style, wicket-taking skills and exceptional fielding on the ground. He has played 205 IPL matches, scoring 5528 runs at an average of 32.52. He has a century and 39 fifties to his credit.

The left-hander has also picked up 25 wickets in 13 seasons. Raina understands the game well and has won the title with CSK four times; his analysis and understanding of the game will surely make him a commentator to hear out. Fans will be desperate to see their favourite player in action, but this time with the mike in hand.