IPL 2026 Commentary Panel Revealed: Full Hindi and English Starcast on Star Sports and JioHotstar
Star Sports and JioHotstar have officially dropped the full IPL 2026 commentary starcast and it is packed with legends. From Sunil Gavaskar to AB de Villiers, this is the most star-studded broadcast panel the IPL has seen in years. The IPL 2026 season kicks off tomorrow, March 28.
Hindi Commentary Panel on Star Sports
Star Sports brings back some of the most recognisable voices in Indian cricket broadcasting for their Hindi coverage this season.
| Commentator | Role |
|---|---|
| Navjot Singh Sidhu | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Sunil Gavaskar | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Sanjay Bangar | Former IPL Player and Coach |
| Ajay Jadeja | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Mohammad Kaif | IPL Champion 2008 |
| Saba Karim | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Deep Dasgupta | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Padamjeet Sehrawat | Commentator |
| Anant Tyagi | Presenter and Commentator |
| Sunil Taneja | Commentator |
Navjot Singh Sidhu returning to the Star Sports box is one of the biggest talking points of this announcement. His energy and one-liners have been missed from IPL coverage and his presence alongside Gavaskar and Kaif makes the Hindi panel genuinely exciting. Sanjay Bangar brings the coaching perspective having worked with multiple IPL franchises, which adds real tactical depth to the analysis.
Championswaali Commentary on JioHotstar (Hindi)
JioHotstar goes big with their own Hindi commentary lineup, featuring some of the biggest IPL title winners ever to play the game.
| Commentator | IPL Title Credentials |
|---|---|
| R Ashwin | IPL Champion 2010, 2011 |
| Suresh Raina | IPL Champion 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 |
| Harbhajan Singh | IPL Champion 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| Irfan Pathan | Former IPL Player |
| Virender Sehwag | Former IPL Player |
| Anil Kumble | Former IPL Player and Coach |
| Piyush Chawla | IPL Champion 2014 |
| Umesh Yadav | IPL Champion 2014 |
| Aakash Chopra | Former IPL Player |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | Former IPL Player |
| Aditya Tare | IPL Champion 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 |
JioHotstar’s “Championswaali Commentary” concept is clever branding. Almost every commentator in this panel has an IPL title to their name, which means when they talk about winning pressure, team dynamics and crunch moments they are speaking from genuine experience. Suresh Raina with four titles and Harbhajan Singh with four is a combination that brings serious credibility. Aakash Chopra’s deep analytical approach alongside Virender Sehwag’s spontaneity will make for brilliant viewing.
English Commentary Panel: Star Sports and JioHotstar
The English commentary lineup brings together legendary international voices alongside India’s most celebrated broadcast names.
| Commentator | Background |
|---|---|
| Sunil Gavaskar | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Ravi Shastri | Former Indian Cricketer |
| Harsha Bhogle | Commentator |
| Ian Bishop | Former West Indies Cricketer |
| Simon Doull | Former New Zealand Cricketer |
| Daniel Morrison | Former New Zealand Cricketer |
| Daren Ganga | Former West Indies Cricketer |
| Nick Knight | Former England Cricketer |
| Graeme Swann | Former England Cricketer |
| AB de Villiers | Former IPL Player |
| Dale Steyn | Former IPL Player |
| Faf du Plessis | IPL Champion 2018, 2021 |
| Kevin Pietersen | Former IPL Player |
| Aaron Finch | Former IPL Player |
| Eoin Morgan | IPL Champion 2016 |
| Michael Clarke | Former IPL Player |
| Mitchell McClenaghan | IPL Champion 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| Deep Dasgupta | Former Indian Cricketer |
AB de Villiers in the commentary box is the headline name for English coverage. The former RCB icon is one of the most beloved figures in IPL history and hearing him analyse the game as a pundit will be one of the season’s highlights. Ravi Shastri brings his trademark big-match energy and Harsha Bhogle remains the gold standard of cricket broadcasting anywhere in the world.
The international flavour is excellent too. Ian Bishop’s technical analysis, Graeme Swann’s humour and Faf du Plessis’s firsthand experience of winning IPL titles with CSK make this a genuinely world-class English panel.
What Makes IPL 2026 Broadcasting Special
A few things stand out about this year’s commentary setup compared to previous seasons.
- JioHotstar’s dedicated “Championswaali” Hindi stream is a new concept, separating their coverage from Star Sports and giving viewers a choice of two distinct Hindi experiences
- The international contingent in English is the strongest in years with West Indies, New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia all represented
- AB de Villiers moving from player ambassador to commentator is a major shift and one fans have been waiting for
- Eoin Morgan, whose KKR side won the 2016 IPL title, adds a captain’s perspective rarely seen in the commentary box
- The total starcast across both languages runs to over 28 named commentators, making this the biggest IPL broadcast panel assembled
Check all the IPL 2026 live streaming options to know exactly where to watch on Star Sports and JioHotstar depending on your preferred language and device.
Where to Watch IPL 2026 Commentary Live
| Platform | Language | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Star Sports | Hindi | Full match coverage with Star Sports Hindi starcast |
| JioHotstar | Hindi | Championswaali Commentary stream |
| Star Sports | English | Full English panel coverage |
| JioHotstar | English | Streaming with English commentary |
IPL 2026 runs from March 28 to May 31 across 10 venues. You can keep track of all match results and standings on the live IPL 2026 points table throughout the season. For the full breakdown of every team and their players heading into the tournament, the complete IPL 2026 squads page has everything you need.
FAQs
Who are the Hindi commentators for IPL 2026 on Star Sports?
Star Sports Hindi panel for IPL 2026 includes Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sunil Gavaskar, Sanjay Bangar, Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Kaif, Saba Karim, Deep Dasgupta, Padamjeet Sehrawat, Anant Tyagi and Sunil Taneja.
Who are the English commentators for IPL 2026?
The English panel includes Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop, Simon Doull, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, Graeme Swann, Nick Knight and others across Star Sports and JioHotstar.
What is Championswaali Commentary on JioHotstar?
Championswaali Commentary is JioHotstar’s dedicated Hindi commentary stream for IPL 2026 featuring IPL title winners as commentators including Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin and Aditya Tare among others.
Is AB de Villiers commentating in IPL 2026?
Yes, AB de Villiers is part of the IPL 2026 English commentary panel on Star Sports and JioHotstar. He is listed as a former IPL player turned pundit for this season.
Where can I watch IPL 2026 live with English commentary?
Both Star Sports and JioHotstar carry English commentary for IPL 2026. Check the full IPL 2026 live streaming guide for platform-specific details and subscription information.
When does IPL 2026 start?
IPL 2026 begins on March 28, 2026 with RCB vs SRH at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The season runs until May 31, 2026.
