Sidhu swiftly regains his place in the commentary box, overshadowing his fellow commentators with his seasoned cricketing experience.
Renowned cricketer, commentator, and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu made a poignant statement during the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday. Responding to inquiries about his return as a commentator, Sidhu, aged 60, eloquently remarked, “Shareer kahin bhi ho aatma yahi basti hai” (My body may be anywhere, but the soul is always here).
Having served as a three-time Lok Sabha MP and a one-time Rajya Sabha MP, Sidhu’s re-entry into cricket commentary comes after a hiatus of approximately a decade, coinciding with the onset of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled from April 19. With the IPL season culminating in the final match on May 26, the absence of the senior Congress leader from the political arena, especially in his home state which goes to polls on June 1, is palpable.
Nevertheless, Sidhu’s trademark aggression remains unaltered. Emerging from the shadows of Punjab Congress and resuming his role as a commentator, Sidhu swiftly regains his place in the commentary box, overshadowing his fellow commentators with his seasoned cricketing experience, captivating oratory, and multilingual prowess in Hindi, Punjabi, and English.
Handpicked by Star Sports for Hindi commentary during the IPLT20, Sidhu garners both admiration and criticism on social media. While admirers commend his return to the field he belongs to, critics express discontent, citing repetitive jokes and poetic verses. As MI struggles under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy, suffering three consecutive losses in the IPLT20, Sidhu heaps praise on former MI captain Rohit Sharma, yet underscores that the franchise’s decision to appoint Pandya as captain must be respected.
In the face of crowd disapproval towards Pandya during Monday’s match, Sidhu, in his characteristic style, offers a morale-boosting quip to his fellow commentators, “Maine kaha baat sun oye, marey hue kutte ko koyee taang nahi maarta” (loosely translated as people only pick faults with performers). Star Sports hails Sidhu’s return as “Sardar of the commentary box is back,” recognizing his significant presence. Throughout his illustrious cricketing career, Sidhu participated in 187 One Day International (ODI) matches, amassing 7,615 runs.
During Monday’s RR versus MI match, Sidhu regaled the audience with his remarkable memory, recollecting various anecdotes. Known for his humorous escapades both on and off the cricket field, Sidhu reminisces about watching a movie with Mohammad Azharuddin from the front row of a cinema hall and Mohinder Amarnath’s lighthearted response to being bowled out in a match, indicating his intention to resume batting while humorously reassembling the bails on the stumps.