Hats off, Harsha

Harsha Bhogle is just a nice guy who has complete mastery over what he''s doing. That''s what''s made him so successful.
Harsha Bhogle is like dahi-misaal — an irresistible combo of varying tastes that come together miraculously somehow. Like the popular snack that represents comfort food at its yummiest, Harsha too is a man who fits in effortlessly, wherever he goes.People like the guy. Trust him, too. And the constituency Harsha has carved out for himself over the years is sizeable enough for advertisers to sign him on at fat endorsement fees.
Isn''t that something? I mean, Harsha isn''t Mandira. Thank God. It''s not the oomph factor that''s got him the job. Harsha isn''t an out-of-work cricketer, either. He''s only the bright-eyed cricket aficionado next door, who does his job pleasantly and competently. And yet, it is Harsha who has quietly walked away with the glory, managing to hold his own, even while Navjot Sidhu boggles the imagination with his unique brand of expert comments.
To someone who knows absolutely nothing about cricket, it''s reassuring to watch Harsha deconstruct a match. His measured words, sardonic asides and occasional digs not only contribute to a better understanding of a very complex game, but also add that extra (not extraaaa) something to its enjoyment.
And yet, Harsha is no hero or studman, appearance-wise. He could be an ENT surgeon, a chartered accountant, a stockbroker, an investment banker, a commodities trader, a travelling salesman, an engineer, an IT professional. Hell, Harsha is so ‘everyman-ish'' that it''s hard not to want to slot him instantly. But the package works. And how. You forget his guy-next-door personality the minute he starts his spiel. How come? Simple. The man knows his stuff, that''s how come. He is always on sure ground, he never commits obvious boo-boos, rarely plays to the gallery and goes about his job exuding quiet authority. That''s called good television — infotainment at its best. No wonder Bhogle is making big bucks.
Sigh. If only guy would do something — anything — a little naughty now and then. But that''s my personal requirement. Sports and everything related to the subject must have a few wicked and witty elements fuelling the machine. Viewers must be kept interested. A robotic sportsman, no matter how accomplished, may remain a record-holder of merit. But another man with fewer wins, more charisma and the odd rumour or two will definitely rate higher coverage. That''s how it is in the media jungle.
Harsha is a bit too well-behaved, and a bit too bland. His interviews are clever but not terribly memorable. We are told he''s a caring husband and doting father etc etc. To which I say, “Good, good, good,� but do I want to know? Sorry, I like my cheap thrills when it comes to sports celebs (and unwittingly or otherwise, Harsha qualifies). I want to know whether Bhogle has ever boogied with a belly-dancer, or been seen sipping nariyal-paani with a starlet. Chances are, never. How disappointing. Much as we may huff and puff about morality, a little masala is not such a bad thing. TV stars need a little tweaking too.
Sidhu has his Sidhuisms. Mandira has her cleavage (the others don''t really count). So, what does our Harsha have? I''d say he has basic decency. Bhogle is the ultimate gentleman. I can''t imagine him doing or saying anything dicey or dubious. He is much too much of a nice guy. And that''s why he''s successful. Big time successful. I recall a small incident at the Titan Cup, Wankhede stadium, a few years ago. During the lunch break, there was some confusion about which buffet was to be served to which invitees. Xerxes Desai, the then chairman of Titan, directed his guests to a special table. It turned out to be the one manned by a largely foreign TV crew — the kind of phirang crew that leaves good manners at home before coming to India. Bhogle was working with that particular set-up at the time. And fairly new to the job, too. Seeing the embarrassment of local invitees and appalled by the rudeness of the foreigners in his own team, Bhogle intervened smoothly, apologised on their behalf and sorted out the mix-up in a calm and unruffled manner.
It was a gesture that didn''t go unnoticed or unappreciated. It certainly endeared Bhogle to me and left a very positive impression. A man who could stick his neck out in a situation like that was a man worthy of respect. A man of character. That''s what makes Harsha Bhogle the Man of the Match. In every match. Even when India loses. But, hey Bhagwan, please don''t let that happen now. We want Sachin to earn his Bharat Ratna.