Isa Guha is among the presenters leading the BBC's Wimbledon coverage in 2026. The former England cricket star has been a familiar face on screens since her Wimbledon debut in 2022. Joining Clare Balding, Guha has become a key part of the broadcaster's tennis coverage.
Guha's Tribute to Sue Barker
In 2023, Clare Balding took over from Sue Barker as the BBC's lead Wimbledon presenter. Guha paid tribute to Barker, saying: "She's got an incredible warmth. When you watch her on television she feels like a friend." Guha added: "She was someone I certainly watched when I was younger, never imagined that I'd even be in her company so to be sat there with her and see how she goes about her business, her offering me advice and so forth, it was a little bit surreal." Reflecting on the experience, Guha said: "It was an incredible time last year. The ability to be there with Sue, see how she operates, the doyenne of sports broadcasting, and to be in Clare Balding's company and all these legends. It was a pretty amazing experience."
Isa Guha's Cricket Career
Born in Buckinghamshire in 1985 to parents who emigrated from Calcutta, India, to the UK in the 1970s, Guha is a former England cricketer. She balanced her sporting career with academics, graduating with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from UCL and later earning an MPhil in neuroscience. Guha recalled to The Telegraph: "I went through a phase after we won the World Cup of 'what am I going to do with my life?' I would spend three or four days a week training in the morning and then going to university. It took seven years [attempting to do a PhD] and I wanted to quit after the second year because it was just too much."
Guha made history as the first South Asian woman to represent England after her international cricketing debut at age 17. She played in the 2005 South Africa World Cup and the 2009 Australia World Cup. In 2009, she was named the ICC number one ranked bowler in the world.
Transition to Broadcasting
Guha announced her retirement from international cricket in 2012 and moved into presenting and commentary. She joined ITV Sport in 2012, co-presenting cricket coverage, and later worked for Sky Sports and Fox. In 2020, she became the lead presenter of the BBC's test match and ODI highlights show.
Marriage to Richard Thomas
Isa Guha married her long-term partner, musician Richard Thomas, in 2018. Hailing from Cornwall, Thomas was a member of the acoustic-led alternative rock band Brothers and Bones. After ten years together, the band broke up at the end of 2020, having opened tours for Ben Howard and Bastille. In September 2018, Guha shared wedding photos on X, writing: "It's been a challenging year but with this incredible human by my side I know I can get through anything. So lucky to have him in my life."
Guha previously spoke about the difficult period before the wedding, as her mother received a cancer diagnosis. She told The Telegraph in a 2019 interview: "We got her out of hospital and did a small, intimate ceremony, then the following week in Cornwall, Ebony [Rainford-Brent – Guha's former teammate] was on FaceTime to her throughout the whole wedding. She did get to see us get married." Praising her husband's support, especially after her mother's death in January 2019, she added: "He was just incredible. I am super lucky to have him in my life. He was just amazing, the last six months or so."
