Harsha Bhogle responds on the drama surrounding his ouster from IPL commentary team
There was a furore in the social media yesterday when it came to light that Harsha Bhogle’s IPL 9 contract had been abruptly terminated and that he would not be part of the ongoing season. There was no reason given for this parting of ways, and there were conspiracy theories fuelling the fire.
Harsha was part of this season’s IPL auction, the league’s promotional videos and was in the commentators’ 51-day-long duty roster too. He even had his flight booked for the entire schedule.
The two possible reasons being speculated as to why Harsha’s contract was terminated are – firstly, that some senior players and Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan had criticised the way he had spoken well about Bangladeshi cricketers without focusing on India during their WT20 match, and secondly that he had been involved in a heated argument with a Vidarbha Cricket official during the WT20 over logistics.
After all the drama, Bhogle has come out with a post on his official Facebook page, that is aimed at calming the waters, but shows that he is as mystified as the rest of us as to why he was removed.
“I don't know what lies ahead. I have a contract with Star Sports with whom I share an excellent relationship. It is the reason why I don't have to do the IPL. I do it because I genuinely like the cricket on offer, I want to be part of cricket's laboratory to see what is brewing. It is a fantastic tournament.
“I still don't know why I am not doing the IPL. I haven't been told. I can accept the fact that people don't like me. But I genuinely hope it isn't because cricketers have complained about what I have to say.”
The vital point that Harsha’s post stressed on is that journalists should never be made the topic of the story and that their role should remain that of anonymous story tellers. The cricketer’s job is to score runs or take wickets, and the commentator’s job is to tell the story of how that cricketer went about it.
He thanked cricket fans for their messages of support, but expressed his discomfort at having been put into the centre of the story rather than being given the voice to tell the story.
Harsha Bhogle has been one of the most recognised voices in Indian cricket since the mid-1980s, and no big tournament is complete without him. It is hoped that this controversy is cleared up as soon as possible, and Harsha reinstated behind the microphone.
I must confess I am a little uncomfortable with all the attention I have been getting recently. I am just a cricket...
Posted by Harsha Bhogle on Monday, April 11, 2016