
- August 3, 2025
You know how cricket commentary can either enhance or hinder your experience of watching a match? Well, during the 5th Test match between India and England at The Oval in 2025, former player turned commentator Sanjay Bangar found himself caught up in a mini storm – and it wasn’t even related to any cricketing tactics or player performances. The lowly groundsman was the unlikely source of controversy because of a comment from Bangar that appeared to have frustrated some viewers.
The Curious Case of the “Heavy Roller” Comment
Just think about it: in the middle of the panning camera movement, it then shows a scowler on a big roller, getting set to prepare the pitch for when play resumes. And what a moment! Ultimately, the state of the pitch could either help or hinder the day for the batsmen and bowlers, and Bangar observed in his commentary that the roller is heavy, which is all well and good! Then he added, ” not only the weight of the roller, but rather the weight of the groundsman on it!”
Now, if you think this sounds inoffensive or perhaps just an innocent comment, you’re probably not alone. But what happened next was a backlash on social media and cricket forums, criticising Bangar as the one who said something distasteful and almost rude.
This comment came at a time when the Indian players were already somewhat jittery about the pitch conditions for the second test and were frustrated with their dealings with the English ground staff. Thus, Bangar’s joke, which was intended in jest, missed its mark and was a comment that could be taken to have a slight tone of sarcasm or in any way belittling the work of the groundsman.
When Off-Field Drama Adds to On-Field Pressure
In order to appreciate how alarming this comment was, we need to go back to the lead-up to the match around the pitch at The Oval. The media reports suggested that Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had a heated discussion with the groundsman about pitch access. All the reports said that Team India had asked for almost exclusive access to the wicket, which is an extraordinary ask in international cricket.
The Indian coaching staff said how frustrated they were, calling the restriction unnecessary and strange. The media buzzed with speculation, casting a critical eye on the ground staff’s conduct and the frosty hospitality surrounding pitch access. This backdrop added to the charged atmosphere in which every comment, even about a groundsman being “fat”, must have had some implication.
Commentary Ethics: Where’s the Line?
This situation brings up a question about the influence and (more importantly) the responsibility of commentators. Commentary is meant to elevate the game — offering insights, sparking laughter, and keeping viewers hooked from ball one to stumps. If commentary is not executed well, it can backfire — especially if the subject of the commentary is a person, rather than just a player or the game.
Commentators should, of course, be mindful of their words and have no reasonable basis to make comments or statements that can be interpreted as disrespectful or minimizing to anyone who is part of the game. Cricket is a team game, and people should understand that everyone is working together as a team – this includes both players and support staff – and respect should be shown to everyone who makes the match happen.