Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Forget how poorly Indian cricket team members are doing-performing(on the ground ofcourse not in ad-studios). At least one Indian always rocks in every Cricket tournament. And he is Harsha Bhogle, a cricket commentator, the best among all contemporary cricket commentators. Bue hello!! He is not just a commentator, he is much more.

Harsha Bhogle did his post graduation in Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad(IIM Amhedanad – IIMA). Before several years one could find him on the footpath outside the IIMA campus, sipping cup of tea at famous roadside tea stall there.

After many years, Harsha was in Ahmedabad to deliver his speech at IIMA. Enjoy here his 1 hour 18 minute speech in video. Quality of video is poor. But then you can always enjoy only audio part, closing your eyes without temptation of visual. After this speech you will say, Harsha is not just a commentator but much more.

When India’s favourite cricket commentator takes to the mike, you can expect a mesmerised audience. And so was the case when Harsha Bhogle shared some absolute gems and witty comments at his alma mater, IIMA

On excellence:

Talent dazzles, but it has hardly anything to do with excellence. It is what you make of that talent that matters. Arrogance is the biggest stumbling block to excellence. It is something similar to what Shane Warne’s wife recently said — about him living in a ‘rarefied bubble,’ wherein nobody had the courage to tell him he’s doing something wrong. It is more important to surround yourself with people who are better than you.

On cricket:

There are no excuses. The Aussies will never say that we have lost. They’ll just say that we’ll come back and do better next time.

Harsha, the cricketer:

I loved fielding from the bottom of my heart. Have you heard the ‘cluck’ sound that a ball makes on hitting the bat? I used to fantasise about the sound of it hitting my palm. And being a fielder meant I could be friends with everybody. The bowlers loved anybody who could save them even a single run.

On live television:

Being unprepared helped. Initially, I used to compete with others. But you can’t comment on a reverse swing when Wasim Akram is sitting next to you. I realised that if I make them look better, I will look better myself. There is no space for ego here.

On luck and IIM:

At 21-22, I thought it was all a matter of luck, like all 21-22-year-olds do. I did not receive the interview letter from IIM, Ahmedabad. But when my father forced me to call and inquire, I found out my name was in the list, but the letter hadn’t reached. So you see, it wasn’t luck alone, but also the fact that I made the effort to call. It is important to recognise an opportunity. For as someone said ‘The harder I practise, the luckier I get.’ So is also the case with IIMA, which has moved with the times. Excellence, after all, lies in the present.

Famous one-liners:

‘Failure is always a step to success — the previous, in fact.’

‘If you really want something, you will get it and there is no scientific explanation for this.’

‘Years back, I told Rahul (Dravid) to get married. Every woman I met wanted to get married to him.’

“I can’t be Tendulkar but mind you Tendulkar can’t be me either.”

Short Formal Introduction of Harsha Bhogle:

Harsha Bhogle did his schooling from the Hyderabad Public School, and Chemical Engineering from the Nizam College, Hyderabad before joining IIM-A. His first commentary stint was a Ranji Trophy Match played between Hyderabad and Kerala, when he was just 19. He covered his first Test Match as a commentator for Doordarshan when doing his MBA. Advertising was his first love. He graduated from IIM-A in 1985 and then went to Australia in 1991 -1992, where he did freelancing on the cricket tours until he was voted one of the best cricket commentators by the Australian media.

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Harsha Bhogle’s Column on ESPNSTAR

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