Indian commentator becomes voice of cricket in Afghanistan

“The little guy hit the big guy for six.”

“I then started practising my commentary for hours. My father was in the army and had an analogue radio which could receive both shortwave and medium wave radio stations. I would listen to commentaries of not only cricket but all sports and practise this for hours.”

But for Devender, who hails from Chutarpura, a small village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, the road to becoming a commentator was anything but easy. He didn’t speak English, had no sports background, and didn’t know what else he had to do to become a commentator. He practised every day by listening to news and commentary on the radio. He spent three hours a week studying “intensive English classes”.Sports WorldHe appeared on the BBC programme BBC Sport News and listened to commentators such as John Murray and Alan Green talk about a range of sports including football and tennis.

“Through this program, I listened to sports news from all over the world every Saturday and Sunday,” Devender said. “At first, I didn’t understand a word of English, so I couldn’t even understand what they were saying. But the way they spoke, the rhythm of their voices, everything about it, I was so fascinated.”

“Gradually, I started reading English newspapers which improved my vocabulary and enabled me to understand the content of the newspapers. This in turn developed my interest in sports and commentary, which has now become my 24-hour job.”

During this time, Devender also did a course in nursing after completing his schooling. After completing his course, he was offered a job in the United States but turned it down as he wanted to become a commentator full-time. This happened in 2006, towards the end of Tendulkar’s career. Devender had to commentate on at least one of Tendulkar’s matches before his retirement. His job in the United States may have prevented him from realizing this dream.

Devender came to Jaipur from Jodhpur to pursue his dream. He felt that once in the state capital, things would get easier and he would be able to start commentating international matches within six months. But the journey to the top was a long and difficult one.

Devender used to go to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium every day. Whenever he saw a match going on, he would sit there and start commentating using a newspaper as a microphone. He commentated on many sports including cricket, football, tennis, basketball, handball, volleyball, karate, kabaddi and horse polo. Many liked his commentary, but many also made fun of him. But he didn’t care. He was immersed in his passion. He had to become an international commentator.

This trend continued for the next 10 years, according to Devender, who said he would wake up at 3 a.m. and “Voice of America“To learn English.” He would then walk to the stadium an hour away from his home at 5 a.m. to watch and commentate on various matches.

“This became my daily routine. Diwali, Holi, summer and rain didn’t bother me,” Devender says. “I started going to stadiums and commentating wherever the matches were going on. Some people made fun of me, some called me ‘crazy’, but others liked my commentary and I started getting work.”

“Later, people organising tournaments in Jaipur would hire me to commentate for which I would be paid Rs 500 a day. Three-four days of work was enough to cover my monthly living expenses as the rent for the room I was staying in was only Rs 500. The remaining money could be used to meet other expenses.”

Gradually, Devender began getting work outside of school and local tournaments. AkashvaniAll India Radio and even Durdarshan Jaipur. He also began covering the radio coverage of Ranji Trophy matches in Jaipur and has also commentated on polo matches in Jaipur for DD Sports.

Devender still gets emotional when he remembers that day. “I couldn’t believe that Tony Greig was sitting in the commentary booth introducing Sachin’s Desert Storm to the world,” he says. “It took me an innings to understand it all and when I started commentating during the second innings, it finally felt like a dream come true. That’s when I posted on social media: ‘I’m making my international cricket debut’.”

Devender is currently the voice of Afghanistan cricket. Since 2016, he has commentated in almost every international match that Afghanistan has participated in. Though he does not have a professional cricket background, he has commentated in over 100 international matches. Apart from international matches, Devender also commentates in Afghanistan’s domestic 50-over and T20 tournaments. He visits Kabul every year for these matches and is also referred to as the “Voice of Kabul”. Devender has visited Kabul several times and describes the city as his “second home”.

“When I was first offered to go to Kabul, people asked me a lot of questions but I answered them clearly,” he said when asked about the political situation in Afghanistan. “I love my work so I can go anywhere for work. There was no question about going to Kabul.”

After Tendulkar retired in 2013, Devender’s dream of commentating on his batting did not come true, but he does not want to let that go unfulfilled. He fulfilled one of those dreams last year during the Men’s ODI World Cup when he commentated on India vs Afghanistan for BBC Test Match Special. He now wants to move on to other sports and is confident of achieving that dream too.