Channel 4 cricket commentators 2021: Rishi Persad hosting India vs England Test series for Channel 4

Dixit Bhargav | 05/02/2021
Channel 4 cricket commentators 2021: Rishi Persad hosting India vs England Test series for Channel 4

Channel 4 cricket commentators 2021: The SportsRush present before you a list of commentators for India vs England Test series.

The ongoing four-match Test series between India and England is the first one to receive free-to-air live television coverage by Channel 4 in England since Ashes 2005.

After a few late entrants in the bidding process, it was just a couple of days before the series began that Channel 4 acquired the rights of televising a high-profile series from host broadcaster Star Sports.

With the series also having it in it to decide the second finalist of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, it is highly likely to allure a stellar response from the fans.

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“This is fantastic news for all cricket fans in the UK. It’s been a long 16-year wait for the return of live Test cricket to free to air television but it couldn’t have come at a better time. What better antidote to the lockdown blues than an England Test series in sunny India,” Channel 4 Chief Content Officer Ian Katz said in a statement.

“We’re delighted to be showing live Test cricket on Channel 4 again and given the recent performances of both sides this series is set to be a cracker. We’re thrilled to have struck this deal with Star Sports,” Channel 4 Head of Sport Pete Andrews said in a statement.

Channel 4 cricket commentators 2021

Given the intrigue-factor around the series, it was only fair to have an equally adept commentary panel. As a result, Star Network has roped in the likes of Harsha Bhogle, Sunil Gavaskar, Murali Kartik, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Deep Dasgupta, Nick Knight and Mark Butcher in a seven-member English commentary panel.

Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, more number of English commentators were likely to travel to India to be part of the commentary panel for this series. For now, fans have a couple of options in former English batsmen Knight and Butcher.

It is worth mentioning that Knight was also part of the commentary panel for Sony Network during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar trophy.

As far as the coverage at Channel 4 studio in England is concerned, illustrious anchor Rishi Persad is leading the terrestrial coverage. Persad is being accompanied by the former England captain-duo of Sir Andrew Strauss and Sir Alastair Cook as studio analysts. Having said that, former England Women’s batswoman Ebony Rainford-Brent has replaced Cook in the ongoing second Test.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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