To the man who is to cricket commentary, what Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is to batting - Happy Birthday Harsha!
May God bless you with many more years of success, joy, and every happiness in the world - touchwood, and amen!
I can still recall, as a schoolkid growing up in the early 90s, I remember listening to Harsha's commentary for the first time on radio when India were Down Under in 1992. We didn't have a cable connection (don't remember if those matches were even telecast, except an hour-long highlights capsule of the day's play on good ol' DD)...it was at that time, that I got acquainted with this comfortable, easy on the ears, joy to hear, witty as well as knowledgeable voice that presented the game in a very simple yet insightful, and a very matter-of-fact yet thorough analysis of the game.
I remember listening to his commentary and enjoying it as much as the matches. A lot of credit for changing the quality of cricket broadcast in India goes to guys like (and primarily) Harsha. I don't recall paying half as much attention to the banal commentaries in the pre-Harsha era. Mr. Bhogle, it's you who made me sit up and enjoy listening to, observing, and studying the goings-on, the after-effects and the possible effects of anything happening in a cricket field than just a mechanical account of who bowled to him, and what happened after that delivery.
One instance specifically comes to mind:
Once, Sachin once got out to a lollypop offspinner (I guess it was MichaelVaughan) in '02.
Harsha wonderfully quipped something to the following effect:
"Oh what a shame. It was reminiscent of a soldier who survived the war when all the bullets were flying by his nose and then got run over by a bicycle in his native town."
Enjoy some more of his gems here!
His commentary was and continues to be a lesson in keeping things simple, enjoying the game, channelising the knowledge, passion and love for the game in the best way possible, and also being neutral and objective while doing so.
In fact, he is one of the select few commentators who are part of the most famous, most liked, most awaited, most elite and most sought-after commentators. Not to forget, that he is unarguably, THE most revered, level-headed, and enjoyable commentator in the world, atleast definitely in the list of commentators who have never represented their country.
Besides, it also doesn't hurt that the guy has an extremely pleasing and amiable persona, that totally complement his affable and down-to-earth nature, witticisms and earthy sense of humor, and last but not the least, his wonderful, endearing smile, and toothy grin.
More power to you, Harsha! Hope you continue enthralling all of us, and have a joyous, healthy, fun-filled long life ahead!! Sincere wish - Many many happy returns of the day once again...From just one of the millions of HB fans!
