Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Sony Sports Network Unveils Expert Panel for India-Sri Lanka Tour
Cricket is a game played with a bat and ball by two teams.
Two countries, India and Sri Lanka, are going to play each other in a cricket series.
The matches will happen from August 15 to August 27 in 2026.
The TV channels showing the games are called Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.
They have chosen a team of famous former players to explain the games to fans.
Those experts include Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Sanjay Manjrekar.
Ajinkya Rahane, a former captain of India, will comment on Test cricket for the first time ever.
Test cricket is a very long type of cricket match.
Players on the Indian team are led by Shubman Gill.
One star player, Jasprit Bumrah, is hurt and cannot play, so a new player named Auqib Nabi joins the team for the first time.
Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV announced their expert panel for the India Tour of Sri Lanka, played from August 15 to 27, 2026.
ICC World Test Championship Final qualification is at stake in the series.
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane will make his Test commentary debut, joining Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajay Jadeja, Sanjay Manjrekar, Angelo Mathews, Russell Arnold and Farveez Maharoof.
Shubman Gill leads India with KL Rahul as vice-captain, while Auqib Nabi earned his maiden India Test call-up in the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Sarfaraz Khan returns to the Test side for the first time since November 2024 after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out.
- Who
- Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV, a star-studded panel of former cricketers including Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sanjay Manjrekar and Angelo Mathews, and the Indian team led by Shubman Gill.
- What
- Announcement of the expert commentary panel and broadcast coverage plans for the India Tour of Sri Lanka Test series.
- When
- August 15 to 27, 2026.
- Where
- Sri Lanka; the announcement was made from Mumbai.
- Why
- Because ICC World Test Championship Final qualification is at stake and to give fans in-depth analysis of the series.
- Broadcasters
- Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV
- Series Dates
- August 15-27, 2026
- Stake
- ICC World Test Championship Final qualification
- Indian Captain
- Shubman Gill
- Vice-Captain
- KL Rahul
- Commentary Debutant
- Ajinkya Rahane (Test commentary debut)
- New Test Call-Up
- Auqib Nabi (maiden India Test call-up)
- Absent Players
- Jasprit Bumrah (injury); Sai Sudharsan (ruled out)