“The little guy is smashing the big guy over the roof,” called the legendary Tony Greg during the iconic ‘Sharjah Desert Storm’ – India vs Australia match at the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah. That Sachin Tendulkar’s assault on the Australian bowlers still makes those who witnessed the mayhem go crazy; but for young Devender Kumar from Jodhpur, Rajasthan as much as he was smitten by Tendulkar’s sandstorm innings, he was in awe of the commentary by Greg as well.
And while after that game many young fans aspired to be like Tendulkar, Kumar wanted to be a commentator.
Kumar, who is now fondly known as the ‘Voice of Kabul’ has been a professional commentator for 8 years. He is Afghanistan Cricket’s go-to man when it comes to cricket broadcasting and has even called the games in T20 leagues. He never had formal training in what he is doing today, nor did he go to an English medium school. It was his all-time mate, radio, that taught him the language and books aided him to get better at it.
“I was listening to it on the radio and I liked the tonal expression. I didn’t know who Tony Greg was and also much about Sachin Tendulkar either. But the rhythm caught my attention and I kept exploring ways to become a commentator,” Kumar tells CricketNext in an exclusive interaction.
“I didn’t watch the game on TV. So, I didn’t know what Sachin looked like but I would pick things from the description of the player by the commentator. The Sharjah match was in 1998 but I saw Sachin for the first time when I moved to Jodhpur city from my village in 1999-2000. And then I realised that he looks quite like the commentators described him,” he added.
The Struggle Begins
Kumar had a passion for commentary but was clueless about where to start from. One fine day, he read a newspaper advert in which Lalit Modi – the former Rajasthan Cricket Association president – was calling for talented boys and girls and was ready to give a platform. The word ‘commentary’ wasn’t mentioned in the paper, yet Kumar took it a chance and reached Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
“The first visit wasn’t so good. They asked to go to some broadcasters. But I wanted to understand the game. I knew the basics but wanted to comment in real-time. So, I would go there every day, from 2006 to 2015-16. I never celebrated any festival, going to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium was my daily routine.
“It was a spirit-crushing experience at times but there were some great moments as well. Like watching the game so closely, because when you enter the stadium to watch the sport you tend to forget everything. You develop the consciousness and focus at the moment,” he added.
Daily visits and his zeal for learning the technicalities of the game made him a known face at the stadium. That is when he came across several broadcasters, team coaches and other senior cricketing brains, boosting his knowledge every day.
And to work on his language, he used to visit the tourist spot in Jaipur and interacted with foreigners.
“As far as the language is concerned. Listening to the radio and reading books have really helped me. When I moved to Jaipur, I went to the Jal Mahal and spoke to foreigners. I would interact with a lot of coaches like Dav Whatmore, and Greg Chappell… I spent a year and a half with Chappell when he was there at the Rajasthan Cricket Association, and also the players from Australia and England,” Kumar said.
“You need to have the knowledge of the art of broadcasting. So, I would listen to ex-cricketers and some highly knowledgeable people on the BBC. Content is king,” he added.
Meeting Sachin for the First Time
A Sachin Tendulkar-innings inspired him to take the mic in hand and be a commentator. Hardly he had known that he would get an opportunity to sit next to the ‘God of Cricket’, watch him bat and call the action. Though it wasn’t any international match, neither Kumar was in a comm box but the moment left a huge impact on his life.
“I was at the Sawai Mansingh Cricket Academy where Sachin was working on his reflex and Jonty Rhodes was helping him by hitting tennis balls at him with a racket. It had been several years watching Sachin play and what I understood that he would be recognizing that cricket is slipping away from him. Because I could sense the frustration,” Kumar said.
“Once his training was done he headed back to the stadium and meanwhile, he turned around and told me, ‘Your dedication is impressive. You may achieve what you are working for,’ and then he lifted the bat towards me. It was a surreal moment for me I couldn’t sleep for the next 5-6 days,” he added.
The First break
Kumar got his first international break in 2017 after word had spread about his work. He was invited by the Afghanistan Cricket Board to call the ODI series against Ireland in English. Life had come full circle as it was at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium where he made his commentary debut.
“December 5, 2017, an ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland at Sharjah. I still don’t know who recommended my name. For me, it was like coming to a full circle. It was the same stadium where Sachin was smashing Australia when I first heard about it on the radio. And now, I was really there.
“Walking through the stairs and entering the Sharjah commentary box… it was a surreal moment. Legends have been there in that comm box – Henry Blofeld did it for BBC Test Specials, Tony Greg, and Ian Chappel. No other feeling could match that,” Kumar recalls
Braving a Bomb Blast in Kabul
Devender is a famous name in Kabul now. He has been visiting Afghanistan as their prime English voice in cricket matches. Back in 2022 when he was there at the Shpageeza League, he had a close shave when a bomb went off at the Kabul stadium during a game.
“The atmosphere was buzzing. I had just finished an interview and the blast happened probably 10 yards away from me. I didn’t realise it then but I could’ve lost my life because I was about to go to that spot and meet the spectators. Probably God wanted me to commentate for BBC and that’s what I survived,” he chuckled.
Love in Kabul makes me forget humiliation in Rajasthan
Just a few weeks ago, Kumar was the broadcaster at the final of Afghanistan’s Shpageeza T20 League. His fandom in the Afghan capital was such that a jam-packed stadium gave a standing ovation. 36-year-old Devender Kumar believes the love he is getting in Afghanistan is making up for the humiliation he went through during his struggle days.
“I don’t know how to express it. They just love the way I commentate and present the real image of Afghanistan cricket to the world. I have seen standing ovations when Sachin used to walk out to bat. It was happening with me and I was just mesmerised,” he recalled.
“The Sawai Mansingh Stadium still hasn’t accepted me. Actually, I never look for acceptance. I just focus on being a good commentator and it has always been that, since I left home,” he further added.
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