Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane will make his Test commentary debut during the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, 2026. Rahane joins the Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV broadcast panels to provide expert analysis following his recent retirement from professional cricket.
Trading the batting crease for the commentary box, Ajinkya Rahane is stepping into a new role just weeks after closing a playing career that spanned nearly 18 years. The transition comes as India prepares for a series in Sri Lanka, with the first match scheduled to begin in Galle on August 15.
Sony Sports Network’s Addition to the Broadcast
The broadcast will be hosted on the Sony Sports Network and streamed via Sony LIV from August 15 to 27, 2026. Rahane’s appointment is intended to bring a deeper tactical dimension to the coverage, focusing on the strategies and decision-making processes that define five-day cricket.
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head, Sports and International, Sony Pictures Networks India, stated that Ajinkya Rahane has always been distinguished by his composure, resilience, and astute reading of the game, and that viewers will benefit from his perspective on the format he knows so well as he makes his Test commentary debut on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.
For Rahane, the shift represents a change in vantage point. He expressed a desire to offer fans a deeper understanding of what happens on the field by breaking down the nuances of the game.
A Career Defined by Red-Ball Success
Rahane enters the booth with a significant statistical pedigree. Over 85 Tests for India, he scored 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, a tally that includes 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries.
Beyond the numbers, his tenure was marked by high-stakes leadership. He notably led the Indian team to a Test series victory in Australia during the 2020-21 season. This experience in varied overseas conditions is what the network expects will provide an insider’s perspective
for the viewing audience.
The Pivot from Professional Play
This broadcasting debut follows a rapid exit from the active game. At the end of July, the 38-year-old announced his immediate retirement from international cricket, domestic competitions, and the Indian Premier League.
While he has stepped away from the Indian domestic and international grid, his playing days are not entirely over. He is scheduled to appear as a marquee player for the Amsterdam Flames in the inaugural European T20 Premier League.
Additionally, his years of service have secured his place in the highest tier of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) retired players’ pension program, which provides a fixed monthly allocation of ₹70,000.
Expectations for the Sri Lanka Tour
The upcoming two-match series serves as the primary testing ground for Rahane’s new career. The network intends for him to analyze the decisions, strategies and moments
that shape a Test match, moving from the physical execution of the game to the intellectual breakdown of its progress.
By connecting his history as a middle-order batter and captain with the live action in Sri Lanka, Rahane aims to make the broadcast more enriching for fans
. His ability to decode match situations in real-time will be the primary value add for the Sony Sports Network coverage.
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