Rohit Sharma slams Indian commentary standards

India ODI captain Rohit Sharma has hit out at the quality of commentary and cricket journalism in the country, claiming it is more focused on creating controversy and adding 'masala' rather than discussing the nuances of the game. Rohit said the current state of commentary in India is a disservice to genuine cricket lovers who are eager to deepen their understanding of the sport.

The 38-year-old highlighted how the 'masala' has taken over 'pure cricket' in modern times. During an interview with Vimal Kumar, Rohit said how big a difference there is between the kind of commentary he sees in India in comparison to what he sees in Australia, calling the former highly 'disappointing'.

"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," Rohit said

The veteran batter, who recently quit Test cricket, said that criticising a player over poor form is fully understandable, but commentators should know where to draw the line. He accused Indian broadcasters of focusing on a single-star player and repeatedly discussing his personal life, rather than appreciating and analysing the game itself.

Rohit said, "You guys are focused on creating controversy, on blowing up news. The quality of journalism has gone down. Earlier, conversations would revolve around cricket. Now, it's all about getting views, likes, and making more people read your articles. Very little is written or spoken about the game itself. Tactics, analysis - it's all missing.” There are so many people who want to know about the game. Why do they need masala? They are true cricket lovers. I know there's this belief nowadays that fans want masala, but there are also those who want to understand the game. For instance, they want to know why someone's form has dipped and what he's doing wrong. They want that insight. Don't talk about personal stuff. Yes, you have a platform to speak, but that doesn't mean you can say anything. Respect the players, he added.

Rohit is not the only senior player who has voiced concerns about the standard of commentary in India. Virat Kohli, in the past, has also been openly critical.

Rohit clarified that players are more than willing to accept criticism for their performances but drew the line at what he called 'agenda-driven' criticism. "Yes, things have sometimes gone out of our hands and we haven't performed well. We fully deserve criticism for that. Yes, we didn't do well against New Zealand at home - so yes, criticise us. But there's a way to criticise people. I think here, it's agenda-driven criticism. That's not likable," he said.