From Rohit to Sehwag: Cricketing icons take on new innings with TV & streaming

For years, the post-cricket career of an Indian cricketer largely followed a familiar route: commentary, coaching, cricket administration or brand endorsements. That path is now expanding. A growing number of cricketers are taking their personalities beyond the sport, entering television and streaming as hosts, judges, mentors and reality-show faces.

The latest name to join the list is Rishabh Pant, the India wicketkeeper-batter has joined Good Game, a global gaming reality show, as its global brand ambassador and judge. The show brings together gaming and creator culture, placing Pant in a format that extends beyond conventional cricket programming.

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Rohit Sharma has taken a different route into mainstream television. Family Full House with Rohit Sharma marks his television entertainment debut, with the former India captain stepping into a family-oriented format on Sony Entertainment Television and SonyLIV. The show moves him from the familiar setting of cricket commentary and broadcasts into a role centred on entertainment and family audiences.

The latest name to make the transition is former India opener Virender Sehwag. He is set to host Rise and Fall Season 2, taking over from Ashneer Grover and making his streaming reality-show hosting debut. The format will see Sehwag take on a role that requires him to anchor the show rather than appear as a cricket expert or celebrity guest.

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Sehwag's move also builds on his experience in digital content and commentary, where his humour and straightforward style have already become part of his public persona. His entry into reality streaming shows how the post-cricket career is expanding into newer entertainment formats.

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Ganguly showed the television route could become a second career

Sourav Ganguly has perhaps one of the longest-running examples of this transition. After his playing career, Ganguly became closely associated with Bengali television through Dadagiri Unlimited, hosting the quiz-reality show across multiple seasons. He has also been announced as the host of Bigg Boss Bangla in 2026.

Harbhajan Singh has similarly appeared across entertainment formats. After announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2021, he took on television roles including judging the comedy reality show Mazaak Mazaak Mein.

Navjot Singh Sidhu's television career offers another example of how a former cricketer can establish a separate identity on entertainment shows. From The Great Indian Laughter Challenge to several comedy and reality formats, Sidhu moved from cricket commentary into judging and entertainment.

S Sreesanth took the reality-show route more directly, appearing on shows such as Khatron Ke Khiladi and Bigg Boss 12, alongside exploring acting opportunities.

The newer generation is moving towards creator-led formats

Streaming has widened the possibilities further. Shikhar Dhawan joined Amazon MX Player's fitness reality show Battleground as a Super Mentor, using his experience in professional sport within a format focused on fitness and competition.

Arshdeep Singh is also building his own content playbook on Snapchat. Away from the intensity of the cricket field, his content leans into the more casual side of his life, from practice and travel to teammate interactions and candid, humorous moments.

The difference today is the range of formats available to cricketers. Gaming, family entertainment, comedy, fitness and reality competition now offer routes into the screen that did not exist in the same form during earlier generations of players.

For broadcasters, streaming platforms and brands, this also creates a different kind of opportunity. Instead of using a cricketer only for an endorsement or a campaign appearance, platforms can build a format around the player's ability to host, judge, mentor or interact with contestants.

The cricket-to-entertainment move is therefore no longer limited to the occasional celebrity appearance. Players are increasingly being cast as television and streaming talent in their own right.

With Pant, Rohit Sharma and Sehwag taking different routes into entertainment, the question now is: which cricketer would you want to see make the next move to the screen, apart from MS Dhoni?