Host and Dost: Top anchors in Indian cricket
In sports and cricket in particular, pre and post-match shows have been platforms for experts to discuss their views about the match and give their analysis as well as opinions. But with the Indian Premier League and advent of T20, the concept of these shows changed as well. These pre and post-match shows today involve not just plain discussions, but a regular dose of entertainment in different forms.
To host a show which can engage yet entertain a cricketing audience is not an easy task. But there are a number of anchors in India, well established as well as the upcoming, promising faces who have taken over the mantle of cricket broadcast. Not only do they possess a certain charm and ability to capture the viewer’s imagination but also immense knowledge of the game. Here we look at few of the most popular cricket anchors in India.
Mayanti Langer is perhaps the most recognised face in India when it comes to anchoring and broadcasting. She has covered the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Cricket World Cups amongst other ICC tournaments as well as the Fifa Football World Cup in 2010. Over the last decade or so, she has established herself as a bankable and reliable host who not only has a very pleasant disposition and great command over the language, but also superior knowledge about the game. She is someone who has shattered the glass ceiling and excelled in a profession where women are usually not welcome. She’s been a pioneer in cricket broadcast in India.
Well, @StarSportsIndia me & Mayanti have already unpacked #indiasnewblue ??.. But I’m going with MSD, and you @MayantiLanger_B ? #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/aHhdpQP7Ot
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) January 15, 2017
While Mayanti has been the face of Star Sports in English broadcast, Jatin Sapru has been of the Hindi one. He has a charming presence and a good sense of humour as well. He started his career in 2008 where he won a talent hunt organised by ESPN and there hasn’t been any looking back since. He has also tried his hand at Hindi commentary in recent times and has done considerably well. His persona of ‘the cricket guy’, has made him quite popular on social media and he continues to be one of the top cricket anchors in India.
Gaurav Kapur is a name that is almost synonymous with cricket. He was the long-time host of Extraaa Innings T20, the popular pre and post-show of the IPL from 2008-2017. He is known for his wit and ability to make the biggest names comfortable in a matter of moments. He is equally proficient in English and Hindi and has always kept the viewers entertained with his one-liners. He has also been an anchor on several cricket talk shows on social media.
Sanjana Ganesan is another popular name in the cricket anchoring space. While she started off her career as a model, she graduated to being a sports presenter in 2016 when she was taken aboard by Star Sports India. She was one of the primary representatives of India in the 2019 World Cup as a presenter and did a great job. She is currently also working for Kolkata Knight Riders to host KKR specific shows.
Super groovy, brand new fan anthem ✅
Fun filled session with @kkriders & @iamsrk ✅
BEST. DAY. EVER. ✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/mfkMbLXjUP— Sanjana Ganesan (@SanjanaGanesan) October 20, 2020
Suhail Chandok might not be very famous yet, but is making his way up slowly and steadily in the broadcast world. A former cricketer turned anchor, Chandok was even called up for the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp before the 2009 Champions League, after being spotted by Ray Jennings, the then RCB coach. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw due to an injury and then a spurt of such injuries in the following years led him to quit playing the sport in 2012. But he was meant to be close to sports. Since then he has earned himself a contract with Star Sports, and apart from being one of the leading men hosting cricket, he has also successfully covered sports including kabaddi.
Kira Narayanan, after excelling in the acting industry, has recently taken her first steps into sports broadcasting. While she started off covering the Kabaddi league in India, she is also one of the anchors of the ongoing IPL. She also may not be a popular face but with her confidence, knowledge and charm, she is sure to progress well.
Suren Sundaram, Nashpreet Kaur, Tanya Purohit, Anant Tyagi and Dheeraj Juneja are the other anchors doing their job in the ongoing IPL 2020.
