''Time to mute TV sets!''
In a world governed by high decibel noise, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to speak softly in the most articulate manner with choicest metaphors rather than clinging on to clichés (as his profession demanded).
In a world governed so strongly by fanaticism, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to love the sport more than any particular team(as his profession demanded).
In a world governed by rage, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to describe emotions on the field rather than portraying himself (as his profession demanded).
In a world which considers commentary as 'making stories', Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to 'narrate a story' as (he thought) his profession demanded!
In a world where commentators like Sidhu and Rameez Raja can't keep silent, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit for he believed in the Richie Beneaud style of commentary where pauses were more important.
Unfortunately, Harsha Bhogle now finds himself like a Rahul Dravid amidst Carlos Brathwites.
I am reminded of a conversation Harsha and Geoffrey Boycott once had in the commentary box which went something like this-
GB: ''Sachin Tendulkar has in his long career never been on the honour's board at Lords.''
To which Harsha replied in his own cheeky manner with a brilliant - ''Whose loss is it?''
To the stories and reports regarding termination of Harsha Bhogle's contract from IPL commentary I have just one thing to say-
''Whose loss is it?''
Well, till the time international cricket resumes, all that we are left with for now is to listen to Navjot Singh Sidhu thumping our ear drums with- ''Ball aise jagah lagi Jahan pe haddi nahi hoti!'' (While referring to a batsman getting hit on his groin!)
Or we could just go on and 'Mute the TV set' as Harsha Bhogle had hismelf remarked a couple of years back that viewers should be given a choice to watch sports without commentary.
That time has really come with Harsha not being a part of BCCI'S contracted commentators.
For some spectators who view the IPL games in the same manner that they watched 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', it won't be a loss.
For a some crazy cricket fans like me, the loss is beyond words.
But Harsha still has a long way to go.
He now needs to declare himself as a free lancer and all the other broadcasting companies- even top ones like Sky Sports and Channel 9 will come running, after all Harsha is India's only voice of cricket.
And hopefully, he should continue to write, for cricket needs him as much as he needs cricket.
To give a glimpse of what Harsha means to me-
At 10, I wanted to be a cricketer.
At 20, I wanted to be Harsha Bhogle.
Ending it with a quote by Harsha himself, ''Most entertainment is an escape from reality; sport is an escape into reality. May it long be that way!''
A 'CRICKET' fan,
Devashish Palkar
In a world governed by high decibel noise, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to speak softly in the most articulate manner with choicest metaphors rather than clinging on to clichés (as his profession demanded).
In a world governed so strongly by fanaticism, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to love the sport more than any particular team(as his profession demanded).
In a world governed by rage, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to describe emotions on the field rather than portraying himself (as his profession demanded).
In a world which considers commentary as 'making stories', Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit, for he chose to 'narrate a story' as (he thought) his profession demanded!
In a world where commentators like Sidhu and Rameez Raja can't keep silent, Harsha Bhogle was always going to be a misfit for he believed in the Richie Beneaud style of commentary where pauses were more important.
Unfortunately, Harsha Bhogle now finds himself like a Rahul Dravid amidst Carlos Brathwites.
I am reminded of a conversation Harsha and Geoffrey Boycott once had in the commentary box which went something like this-
GB: ''Sachin Tendulkar has in his long career never been on the honour's board at Lords.''
To which Harsha replied in his own cheeky manner with a brilliant - ''Whose loss is it?''
To the stories and reports regarding termination of Harsha Bhogle's contract from IPL commentary I have just one thing to say-
''Whose loss is it?''
Well, till the time international cricket resumes, all that we are left with for now is to listen to Navjot Singh Sidhu thumping our ear drums with- ''Ball aise jagah lagi Jahan pe haddi nahi hoti!'' (While referring to a batsman getting hit on his groin!)
Or we could just go on and 'Mute the TV set' as Harsha Bhogle had hismelf remarked a couple of years back that viewers should be given a choice to watch sports without commentary.
That time has really come with Harsha not being a part of BCCI'S contracted commentators.
For some spectators who view the IPL games in the same manner that they watched 'Comedy Nights with Kapil', it won't be a loss.
For a some crazy cricket fans like me, the loss is beyond words.
But Harsha still has a long way to go.
He now needs to declare himself as a free lancer and all the other broadcasting companies- even top ones like Sky Sports and Channel 9 will come running, after all Harsha is India's only voice of cricket.
And hopefully, he should continue to write, for cricket needs him as much as he needs cricket.
To give a glimpse of what Harsha means to me-
At 10, I wanted to be a cricketer.
At 20, I wanted to be Harsha Bhogle.
Ending it with a quote by Harsha himself, ''Most entertainment is an escape from reality; sport is an escape into reality. May it long be that way!''
A 'CRICKET' fan,
Devashish Palkar
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