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Virender Sehwag to Rohit Sharma: Cricketers who debuted in reality TV as hosts

Updated On: 11 September, 2026 06:12 PM IST | Shruti Sampat

Cricket and entertainment have shared a strong bond in the subcontinent, with several prominent cricketers extending their careers to television. From quiz shows to reality formats, these players have successfully transitioned from the cricket field to becoming familiar television hosts

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Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma (Pictures via AFP and Instagram)
Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma (Pictures via AFP and Instagram)
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Rohit Sharma is set to enter the entertainment space as the host of Family Full House with Rohit Sharma. The Sony Entertainment Television show marks his television entertainment debut, with the former India captain moving from cricket broadcasts and interviews to a family-oriented format. Promos have highlighted his relaxed personality and even revisited his viral “garden” comment, giving viewers a glimpse of his hosting style
Rohit Sharma is set to enter the entertainment space as the host of Family Full House with Rohit Sharma. The Sony Entertainment Television show marks his television entertainment debut, with the former India captain moving from cricket broadcasts and interviews to a family-oriented format. Promos have highlighted his relaxed personality and even revisited his viral “garden” comment, giving viewers a glimpse of his hosting style
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Rohit Sharma has enjoyed an illustrious international career, becoming one of India’s most prolific white-ball batters. He holds the ODI record for the highest individual score of 264 and has led India to major triumphs, including the 2024 T20 World Cup. A five-time IPL-winning captain with Mumbai Indians, Rohit retired from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup
Rohit Sharma has enjoyed an illustrious international career, becoming one of India’s most prolific white-ball batters. He holds the ODI record for the highest individual score of 264 and has led India to major triumphs, including the 2024 T20 World Cup. A five-time IPL-winning captain with Mumbai Indians, Rohit retired from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup
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Virender Sehwag is making his reality-TV hosting debut with Rise and Fall Season 2. Known for his fearless batting and witty personality, Sehwag brings the same straightforward approach to the reality format. While he has previously appeared on television and hosted the web series Viru Ke Funde, Rise and Fall marks his first major stint as the face of a mainstream reality show.
Virender Sehwag is making his reality-TV hosting debut with Rise and Fall Season 2. Known for his fearless batting and witty personality, Sehwag brings the same straightforward approach to the reality format. While he has previously appeared on television and hosted the web series Viru Ke Funde, Rise and Fall marks his first major stint as the face of a mainstream reality show.
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Virender Sehwag was one of India’s most explosive opening batters, representing the country in 104 Tests, 251 ODIs and 19 T20Is. He scored more than 17,000 international runs and became the first Indian to score a Test triple century. Known for his fearless batting and witty personality, Sehwag later became a popular cricket commentator and television personality
Virender Sehwag was one of India’s most explosive opening batters, representing the country in 104 Tests, 251 ODIs and 19 T20Is. He scored more than 17,000 international runs and became the first Indian to score a Test triple century. Known for his fearless batting and witty personality, Sehwag later became a popular cricket commentator and television personality
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Sourav Ganguly established himself as a television host with the Bengali game and quiz show Dadagiri Unlimited. Premiering in 2009, the Zee Bangla format gave the former India captain an opportunity to connect with contestants beyond cricket. Now, he is hosting Bigg Boss Bangla. Ganguly’s popularity as “Dada” translated seamlessly to television, and his long association with the show turned him into one of the most successful cricketer-turned-TV personalities
Sourav Ganguly established himself as a television host with the Bengali game and quiz show Dadagiri Unlimited. Premiering in 2009, the Zee Bangla format gave the former India captain an opportunity to connect with contestants beyond cricket. Now, he is hosting Bigg Boss Bangla. Ganguly’s popularity as “Dada” translated seamlessly to television, and his long association with the show turned him into one of the most successful cricketer-turned-TV personalities
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Sourav Ganguly, fondly known as “Dada”, was one of India’s most influential captains and left-handed batters. He scored more than 18,000 international runs and amassed 11,363 runs in ODIs, including 22 centuries. His aggressive leadership helped transform Indian cricket in the early 2000s. Following retirement, Ganguly successfully ventured into television with the Bengali game and quiz show Dadagiri Unlimited
Sourav Ganguly, fondly known as “Dada”, was one of India’s most influential captains and left-handed batters. He scored more than 18,000 international runs and amassed 11,363 runs in ODIs, including 22 centuries. His aggressive leadership helped transform Indian cricket in the early 2000s. Following retirement, Ganguly successfully ventured into television with the Bengali game and quiz show Dadagiri Unlimited
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Navjot Singh Sidhu was one of the earliest Indian cricketers to make a strong mark on entertainment television. After finding popularity as a cricket commentator, his witty observations and trademark “Sidhuisms” made him a natural fit for comedy formats. His major reality-TV breakthrough came as a judge on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, where his banter with contestants helped establish him as a television personality beyond the cricket field
Navjot Singh Sidhu was one of the earliest Indian cricketers to make a strong mark on entertainment television. After finding popularity as a cricket commentator, his witty observations and trademark “Sidhuisms” made him a natural fit for comedy formats. His major reality-TV breakthrough came as a judge on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, where his banter with contestants helped establish him as a television personality beyond the cricket field
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Navjot Singh Sidhu represented India between 1983 and 1999, playing 51 Tests and 136 ODIs and scoring more than 7,000 international runs. An attacking batter, he was particularly known for his strokeplay and performances as an opener. After retiring, Sidhu reinvented himself as a cricket commentator, with his colourful language and trademark “Sidhuisms” making him a television favourite.
Navjot Singh Sidhu represented India between 1983 and 1999, playing 51 Tests and 136 ODIs and scoring more than 7,000 international runs. An attacking batter, he was particularly known for his strokeplay and performances as an opener. After retiring, Sidhu reinvented himself as a cricket commentator, with his colourful language and trademark “Sidhuisms” making him a television favourite.
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Wasim Akram ventured into Indian reality television with Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena in 2008. The former Pakistan captain appeared as a judge alongside Sushmita Sen on the dance-based reality show, which paired cricketers with celebrity dancers. His appearance marked an interesting crossover between cricket and Indian entertainment at a time when prominent Pakistani celebrities on Indian television drew significant attention
Wasim Akram ventured into Indian reality television with Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena in 2008. The former Pakistan captain appeared as a judge alongside Sushmita Sen on the dance-based reality show, which paired cricketers with celebrity dancers. His appearance marked an interesting crossover between cricket and Indian entertainment at a time when prominent Pakistani celebrities on Indian television drew significant attention
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Wasim Akram is regarded as one of Pakistan’s greatest fast bowlers, with 916 international wickets across Tests and ODIs. The left-arm pacer played a crucial role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph and became the first bowler to take 500 ODI wickets. After retiring, Akram successfully moved into commentary and television
Wasim Akram is regarded as one of Pakistan’s greatest fast bowlers, with 916 international wickets across Tests and ODIs. The left-arm pacer played a crucial role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph and became the first bowler to take 500 ODI wickets. After retiring, Akram successfully moved into commentary and television

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