The smooth talker

Not only did the Station Director hear the tape, he also gave Bhogle his first opportunity to cover a Ranji Trophy match in Hyderabad. And as he took his first lessons behind the mike, he wasalso studying to become a chemical engineer and playing University cricket with none other than Mohammed Azharuddin who was in the rival team.

quot;By the time I realised I could be a decent enough cricketer, it was too late. If I had to make my living as a player, I should have figured out how good I was at 16. But I wasn8217;t confident, since I was simply playing for fun,quot; he says.

So, in 1982, he hung up his gloves for good, and started pursuing his budding career on radio seriously. It was a short step from there to Doordarshan, and from Ranji to test matches.

quot;When I got my first test match, I was studying at IIM Ahmedabad and was supposed to take my written exams. I told my professor that I8217;d got this opportunity, and he actually asked me to skip the exam and cover the match instead!quot; he says. In fact, all his teachers set special papers for him and Bhogle finished his course on time.

Such was his passion for the game, that he even kicked a bright future in advertising 8212; after working withRediffusion for over two years 8212; when he found that he couldn8217;t make enough time for his first love.

quot;I missed a match in 1986 and as a result, lost out on the 8217;87 World Cup. So, I quit my job and joined Sunil Gavaskar8217;s company, PMG. I knew that if things didn8217;t work out, I could always go back to advertising,quot; he says.

But two tours in 8217;90-8217;91 8212; to England and Australia 8212; ensured that Bhogle would never have to take that option. Down Under, he did radio commentary for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and shared the mike with the likes of Keith Stackpole, Norman O8217;Neill and Jim Maxwell. Simultaneously, he also wrote for several newspapers and magazines back home. quot;While the ABC had taken me on as an Indian commentator, my fees were to be paid by the organisation I was supposed to represent. Of course AIR would have nothing to do with it. So, I did all kinds of features for various publications and ghosted columns for Richie Richardson, Azharuddin and Allan Border, just so that I could pay formy trip,quot; he remembers.

That tour also brought him to TWI8217;s notice, who promptly put his name on their list of Indian commentators. But despite presenting several tests and one-day internationals on television, it has taken Bhogle a long time to shed the tag of radio commentator8217;.

And, more importantly, carve his own place in the crowd of former cricket heavyweights and television presenters 8212; from Richie Benaud, Geoffrey Boycott and Ian Chappell to Michael Holding, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. quot;People don8217;t expect style out of cricketers 8212; their knowledge of the game is enough to see them through. But for someone like me, it is important to have a strong presence 8212; and also the ability to make the cricketers look better by asking them the right questions and putting them at ease by playing to their strengths,quot; he says.

Something Bhogle does with flourish. But a lot of concentrated effort has gone into winning the confidence of his fellow commentators, and building up a solid reputation as acricket personality. quot;When you are on air, you don8217;t even have time to think what your next sentence is going to be. Also, you are caught unaware at times, so you have to be on your toes,quot; he says. Like it happened with him in the first test against Pakistan at Chennai last month. quot;I was all set to say Good-bye8217; and wrap up the show when the director told me that the Pakistani team was doing an impromptu victory run. I had my back to the ground, so I caught the action on the television screen in front of me and talked about it, just like that,quot; he says.

Bhogle8217;s natural talent as a presenter and commentator have made him a celebrity in his own right. In fact, he has the distinction of being the first Indian broadcaster on IMG8217;s elite roaster 8212; an achievement he brushes off with characteristic modesty. quot;It8217;s a little over-hyped. See, with my kind of background, it8217;s difficult to push myself and tell people what I8217;ve done. So, here8217;s someone who can negotiate better than I can and take care of all my dealsand contract. Besides, I already had a contract with TWI, which is their television wing,quot; he says.

But he does like the adulation and recognition that comes with stardom. quot;It feels good for most part. Unless of course you want to step out to by vegetables at Grant Road or take a quiet walk on Marine Drive,quot; he quips.