Legendary players such as Sunil Gavaskar, Ian Chappell, Ravi Shastri, and Wasim Akram donned the role of commentators after bringing down curtains on their international careers. After doing great as players, these icons performed excellently in their new roles as well. Following the footsteps of these legends, some cricketers who retired after the 2019 World Cup started their new innings in this sport as commentators.
While serving their teams on the field, these players earned a lot of supporters who wanted to see their engagement with the sport after their retirement as well. Watching these players in the commentary box has been fun thus far as they have strived to make the sport more exciting with their impressive commentary.
Talking more, here are the six cricketers who became commentators following the 2019 World Cup
6. Carlos Brathwaite
Carlos Brathwaite (Photo Source: Twitter)
Carlos Brathwaite came into the limelight after hitting four maximums against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup and winning the distinguished trophy for his team. Brathwaite was a crucial member of the West Indies team in the 2019 World Cup as well. Playing eight games in the competition, he racked up 154 runs and nine wickets for his side.
In the intriguing match against New Zealand, he scored a ton and took his team close to the target of 292. After the World Cup in England, Brathwaite played T20 International (T20I) and One-Day International (ODI) series against India but he failed to be effective and got dropped from the side.
The talented all-rounder became a member of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 commentary panel. During the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers, he grabbed a lot of eyeballs after the West Indies’ loss at the hands of the Netherlands in the competition, Brathwaite’s stunned reaction inside the commentary box went viral on social media sites.
5. Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik (Photo Source: Twitter)
Dinesh Karthik played his last ODI match against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. In the game, he came to bat at number five and scored only six runs. Since then, he didn’t play any ODI matches for India. During England’s tour of India in 2021, the wicketkeeper batter made his commentary debut.
Karthik held the commentary mike for the first time in the opening T20I between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Later, he commentated in the three-match ODI series between both sides as well. In June 2021, he was the only Indian along with Sunil Gavaskar who became a part of the on-ground commentary panel of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand.
In the Ashes 2023, Karthik was seen in the commentary box with legendary cricketers such as Nasser Hussain, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, and Mark Taylor. The India wicketkeeper is also an essential part of The Hundred League commentary panel.
4. Jean-Paul Duminy
JP Duminy (Photo Source: Twitter)
Jean-Paul Duminy served South Africa for 15 years from 2004 to 2019. After the 2019 World Cup, he retired from ODIs but made himself available for T20Is. However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) didn’t show interest in receiving his services in the shortest format, following which he took retirement from all forms of cricket in January 2020.
In September 2020, Duminy joined the Star Sports broadcast team to commentate in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Duminy was seen commentating for the first time in the opening edition of the Mzansi Super League organised by Cricket South Africa (CSA) in 2018.
After the 2020 IPL season, the former Protea batter joined the Star Sports broadcast team for the 2021 installment of IPL as well. Duminy featured alongside some accustomed commentators and former cricketers such as Ian Bishop, Sunil Gavaskar, Danny Morrison, and Mpumelelo Mbangwa in that league edition.
3. Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Aaron Finch hung up his international boots in 2022 after leading Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. The fierce opener played 254 international matches in his 11-year international career. From 2018 to the end of his career, he served as captain of the Australian team in white-ball cricket.
Following his retirement in 2022, the former Aussie stalwart donned the role of a commentator. In the Indian Premier League 2023, he registered his presence as a commentator along with his compatriot David Hussey. The veteran is also associated as a part-time commentator with Fox Cricket as well.
In May 2023, Finch got a contract from Nine’s Wide World of Sports to serve them as a commentator for the Ashes 2023. The Aussie might be seen receiving more huge assignments as a commentator in the upcoming years due to his deep understanding of the sport.
2. Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan . (Photo Source: Twitter)
Eoin Morgan completely changed the playing style of England’s white-ball team with his marvellous captaincy skills. Under his leadership, England lifted their maiden ODI World Cup trophy in 2019 at home. After the spectacular title victory, Morgan served England in limited-over formats till 2022.
In June 2022, he announced his retirement from international cricket and the former England captain now works as a commentator. Just a few minutes after his retirement, Morgan became a member of Sky Sports’ commentary panel for England’s 2022 home season. During the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, he joined the star-studded commentary panel that featured legends such as Sunil Gavaskar, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Dale Steyn, and many other illustrious names.
The Irish-born cricketer took retirement from all forms of the sport in February 2023. Morgan was also a part of the JioCinema broadcasting team to work as a commentator in IPL 2023. Later in the year, the former England skipper was seen commentating in the Ashes 2023, for Sky Sports.
1. Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle commentary. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The former West Indies skipper Chris Gayle is away from international cricket since November 2021. However, he hasn’t announced his retirement but the southpaw might do that any time. The Caribbean cricketer didn’t feature in the 2022 installment of IPL for the first time since his league debut in 2009.
In 2023, Gayle participated in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Unbox Event. The former RCB player also got a contract from JioCinema and was featured in the IPL 2023 commentary panel. He was accompanied by legends such as Brett Lee, Scott Styris, Eoin Morgan, and Graeme Swann.
During the inaugural IPL 2023 game between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans (GT), Gayle made his commentary debut but his poor commentating skills received a lot of criticism from ardent fans. Several league watchers took to social media to take a dig at the West Indies legend for his abysmal show at the commentary box.