Not for the boring lot: Sanjay Manjrekar shares tips to be a good commentator, says neutrality is key

Sports commentators have the best seat in the house, but occupational hazards abound. Even seasoned broadcasters, on occasion, fall prey to the tyranny of clichés. So, what makes for a good commentator? “The most important thing is that you shouldn’t be a boring person. Anil Kumble, for example, is not an entertaining, fun guy. So, when doing commentary too, he is like that,” Sanjay Manjrekar told a magazine.

The former cricketer, who made the short walk from the dressing room to the commentary box, believes that the use of playful language and a commitment to neutrality are more important in keeping audiences engaged. “A commentator must never have an agenda. If they are worried about their relationship with players, they aren’t being honest with their jobs. Viewers will see through it,” he said.