Harsha Bogle: Indian cricket's non playing celebrity

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Paresh Waghela

16 November, 2009

Since 1998, Bogle has been presenting live cricket from all around the world for ESPN-Star Sports. He has covered about 50 test matches and almost 300 ODIs. When not giving ball to ball updates, he hosts shows like Harsha Online and Harsha Unplugged.

IF SOMEONE were to wake a cricket fan up at two AM in the midnight and ask them to name one commentator, without slightest hesitation, Harsha would be the first name that would come out of their mouth. Some of the other names that come to the mind, when one talks about commentators would be Sunny Gavaskar, Shaz- Ravi Shastri, Wilko- Allan Wilkins, Waaz-Wasim Akram, Ian Chappel, Tony Greig and Geoff Boycott.

Harsha A Bhogle was born in Hyderabad, July 19, 1961 in a Maharashtrian Konkanastha Brahmin family. Advertising was his first love. He graduated from IIM-Ahmedabad in 1985. His first commentary stint was a Ranji Trophy match played between Hyderabad and Kerala, when he was just 19.

Any guesses on his international debut as a commentator? It was way back in 1992, when he was invited by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during India’s Australian Tour. Incidentally, it was also master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's first tour of Australia.

Since 1998, Bogle as Indian cricket's first non player celebrity, has been presenting live cricket from all around the world for ESPN-Star Sports. He has covered more than 50 test matches and almost 300 ODIs. He has been hosting shows like Harsha Online and Harsha Unplugged.

When quipped about his favourite players, Bogle announces with an easy smile that it is Anil Kumble. He particularly likes those players who let their performance speak for themselves, like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. He likes Ganguly for his aggression.

As a child his cricketing idols were Sunil Gavaskar and BS Chandrasekhar and he used to copy their style more often than not. His personal favourite test match is the one where India beat England at Leeds in 2002.According to him, India took bold decisions, batted brilliantly in bowler friendly conditions and the spinners won the game on the last day.

Known for his witty repartees, Bogle was once in a discussion regarding coaches using too much of technology like laptops. So his fellow commentators asked him if he used a laptop, to which he quietly replied, "I am still working on my desktop to earn a laptop."

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COMMENTS (6)

Romel

.Mr. Harsha Bogle, Pls. send me your email address.

H.K. Srinivas

.Woul like to meet you and talk to you

H.K. Srinivas

.Woul like to meet you and talk to you

ashwin

.hai am great fan of harsha becoz he always says facts wen he is comm box ....i love harsha verymuch ..i had created a community on him..he is the best commentator india has ever produced..keep rocking harsha....

A bisht

.As said, Harsha Bhogle brought serious analytical debate to commentary. That apart, he brought about an evolution in the role of an anchor; who after his advent, is no more a facilitator of debate.

Vibhor

.hey Great stuff !!! Always knew u r a religous follower of cricket but Didnt know u were so good at facts... looking fwd to read more from u