THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

MUMBAI, AUGUST 14, 2026

Cricket fans are set for a compelling blend of action and expert insight as Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV unveil a star-studded commentary and analysis panel for India’s highly anticipated tour of Sri Lanka, beginning August 15. With qualification for the ICC World Test Championship Final at stake, the two-Test series promises high-intensity cricket accompanied by some of the most respected voices in the game.

Adding further excitement to the coverage, former India captain Ajinkya Rahane is set to make his Test commentary debut. He joins an elite line-up featuring Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Kaif, Sanjay Manjrekar, Angelo Mathews, Russell Arnold and Farveez Maharoof, bringing together experience from both sides of the India-Sri Lanka rivalry.

The coverage will go beyond the action on the field, with the Extraaa Innings panel offering detailed pre-match, mid-innings and post-match analysis. From team selections and tactical match-ups to individual performances and series-defining moments, the experts are expected to provide fans with deeper perspectives on every crucial twist in the contest.

The English coverage will feature prominent broadcasters and former cricketers including Samir Kochhar, Harsha Bhogle, Arjun Pandit, Sanjay Manjrekar, Angelo Mathews, Russell Arnold, Farveez Maharoof and Roshan Abeysinghe. The Hindi coverage will also boast a formidable line-up, with Ajinkya Rahane, Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Kaif, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Kartik, Saba Karim, Vivek Razdan and Paul Valthaty among the voices assigned across the two Tests.

Fans across southern India will also have dedicated language coverage, with experienced cricket voices leading the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada broadcasts. W.V. Raman, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan and Bhagavathy Prasad headline the Tamil panel, while KS Bharat, Venkatapathy Raju and Ravi Teja feature in Telugu. Venkatesh Prasad, Sujith Somasunder and Sharath HS are among the familiar names on the Kannada panel.

On the field, India will be led by the dynamic Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain. The squad combines established stars such as Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj with emerging talents including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Manav Suthar, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar.

The series will also mark significant moments for two members of the Indian squad. With Jasprit Bumrah unavailable because of injury, Auqib Nabi has received his maiden India Test call-up, while Sarfaraz Khan returns to the Test side for the first time since November 2024 following Sai Sudharsan’s exclusion.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and India will be played from August 15 to 19, followed by the second Test from August 23 to 27, with both matches scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Fans can watch the India tour of Sri Lanka exclusively on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV, with coverage available across English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada feeds.

With World Test Championship qualification adding extra weight to every session and a distinguished panel ready to dissect every turning point, India’s Sri Lanka tour is poised to offer fans not just a battle of bat and ball, but a rich cricketing experience from the opening delivery to the final result.