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For every cricket enthusiast, Harsha Bhogle is a household name! India’s premier cricket commentator and columnist, Bhogle started out at a time when Indian commentators weren’t considered good enough for the overseas networks. He single-handedly changed that perception after he was rated the number one commentator of the season in 1992 and 1999 by an independent poll. Bringing a fresh and nuanced perspective into play, he is considered the voice of reason and is well-loved across cultures. Harsha Bhogle is an Indian Journalist, Sports commentator and is fondly referred to as the voice of Indian cricket. An entire generation has grown up listening to his very articulate commentaries, pointed observations, and unique analysis on cricket. In this blog, we bring you the story of Harsha Bhogle – the man who pioneered Indian commentary.
This Blog Includes:
Early life and childhood
Son of AD Bhogle, a professor of French, and Shalini Bhogle, a psychology professor, Harsha Bhogle was born in a Marathi-speaking family in Hyderabad. After completing his schooling at Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, he went on to study BTech in Chemical engineering from Osmania University and an MBA from IIM- Ahmedabad. He worked at an advertising agency and sports management company for 4 years before starting commentary at All India Radio at the tender age of 19.
Harsha Bhogle’s Career in Commentating and Cricket
A little-known fact about Bhogle is that he played A Div cricket in Hyderabad and represented Osmania University at the Rohinton Baria Tournament. Beginning his commentating career at 19, he earned the title of the first-ever Indian commentator to be sent to be invited by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during India’s cricket series before the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Since then Bhogle has been involved with the ABC Radio Grandstand during India’s Australian tours and the BBC as a part of their commentary team in the 1996 and the 1999 Cricket World Cups.
Since 1995, Harsha Bhogle has been the face of ESPN STAR Sports and was also a part of “The few good men” alongside Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, and Alan Wilkins. Being a gifted commentator his role grew to include signature programs like “Harsha Unplugged” and “Harsha On-line”. In fact, in search of new talented anchors, ESPN started a program “Harsha ki khoj” to attract the best talent.
Altogether Harsha has over four hundred one-day internationals, over a hundred test matches, T20 cricket, six IPL tournaments, five Champions Leagues, and five T20 World Cups to his credit. Harsha Bhogle has a very prominent social media presence, with over a million followers on Twitter and on youtube where he hosts “Out of the Box with Harsha Bhogle”. Currently, he is hosting a show called “This Week’s Special” which airs on Star Sports. Harsha is presently one of the Board of members of IIM Udaipur.
“I have realized that speaking to him sometimes opens up completely different perspectives in addition to the ones I already have…”
– Sachin Tendulkar on Harsha Bhogle
Career as a Journalist
Harsha Bhogle has also had an illustrious career in sports journalism. His wit, humor, and spontaneity have made him a coveted sports journalist and columnist in India’s leading newspapers and digital media. He is a regular columnist for the Indian express where he published his collection of articles “Out of the Box” and for “The Sportstar”.
Additionally, Bhogle captivating speech and lucid articulation fetched him a TV program “ TRAVEL INDIA WITH HARSHA BHOGLE” which was aired in the discovery channel as well as the TLC. he has published over 100 blogposts on sports sites such as the cricbuzz which have amassed immense popularity.
Harsha Bhogle- Books and Publications
Harsha Bhogle has numerous books and publications to his name.
- He has authored the biography of Mohammad Azharuddin.
- He has a collection of columns in The Indian Express, Out of the Box – Watching the Game We Love.
- For the Chennai-based “The Sportstar’,’ a subsidiary of The Hindu Group of Publications under the title “Hitting Hard” by Bhogle.
- Bhogle along with his wife Anita Bhogle has published a book titled ‘The Winning Way’ which encompasses the business knowledge drawn from the sporting world.
Harsha Bhogle: Awards and Accomplishments
Throughout his career Bhogle has managed to add several feathers to his hat whilst cementing his place in the cricket commentary. Some of his noteworthy accomplishments include:
- Being voted by Gentleman Magazine as one of “50 men you want to know better” and by Outlook as one of eight people who have changed the way their profession is perceived.
- He was ranked at no. 35 on the power list of sports illustrated in 2010 and among the top 35 Social media influencers on Pinstorm.
- Bhogle bagged the Hero Honda‘s Indian Television Academy award twice and the Ceat Cricket rating award as the best television commentator and presenter.
- He was also awarded as the sports personality of the year by ITA in 2008.
- He was awarded the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Award for outstanding work in the media.
- Leading Indian newspaper Hindustan Times referred to Bhogle as “the greatest icon of cricket commentary” as was also voted as the most popular commentator.
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- Meet Suryakumar Yadav, the X-Factor of the Indian T-20 Cricket Team
- Here is the Story of Arjun Tendulkar, the Junior Master Blaster in Making
Deccan Herald noted, “In many ways, Bhogle is a pioneer, the man who put Indian radio and television commentating on the world map”. Rightfully so, India garnered name and fame due to many accomplishments and the reputation of Harsha Bhogle. We hope you enjoyed this blog. For more interesting content, follow Leverage Edu and sign up for our newsletter!
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