Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane gave viewers a fun moment during the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle when he broke into a hilarious imitation of former India head coach Ravi Shastri during the live broadcast.Rahane, who is making his Test commentary debut with Sony Sports Network, has quickly shown that his role behind the microphone will not be limited to analysing the game. His Shastri impression, complete with the former coach’s familiar voice and energetic mannerisms, left viewers amused.The moment also carried a personal connection, given Rahane’s long association with Shastri during his India career.
From teammates to the commentary box
Shastri was closely involved with the Indian team during one of its strongest periods in Test cricket. He worked alongside Rahane and was part of the setup when India secured the memorable 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win in Australia, with Rahane leading the side in Virat Kohli’s absence for much of the series.Rahane has previously spoken about Shastri’s influence on Indian cricket, particularly alongside Kohli, during a period when the team developed a strong and aggressive approach to Test cricket.Now, with Rahane himself behind the microphone, fans are getting to see a more relaxed side of the former India captain. His Shastri mimicry added humour to a broadcast that has otherwise focused on the action from Galle.Watch:
Rahane brings humour to commentary debut
Rahane’s transition from the field to the commentary box has already attracted attention. Having spent years playing at the highest level, he brings first-hand knowledge of Test cricket and leadership to his analysis.However, his willingness to joke around has provided a different dimension to his new role. The Shastri impression quickly became one of the lighter moments of the India-Sri Lanka series, with fans enjoying the former captain’s playful side.As Rahane settles into commentary, moments like these are giving viewers something beyond tactical analysis while offering a glimpse of the camaraderie among members of India’s previous teams and coaching setup.
