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Talking cricket

Narottam Puri relives his days in the commentator's box

It is difficult to judge whether he has been a better doctor or a sports commentator, but one thing is certain: Dr. Narottam Puri is a gem of a human being. Long after he took voluntary retirement from the commentator's box, his felicity and in-depth analysis are still missed.

"I underwent a by-pass surgery and had to choose between the two," says Puri, now serving as the Executive Director - Medical Services, Max Healthcare in New Delhi.

Talking about the changes cricket commentary has gone through, Puri observes, technical advancement is a definite plus. "In our time there were no talk backs. There were not so many cameras. We had to make a mental note of the score and the field positions." As for the content, Puri points out commentary is getting too verbose. "What's the point of talking when the bowler is in his run-up? This distracts the viewer. Partly the reason is that the break between the over are now devoted to commercials."

He started his career as a radio commentator and still puts the medium above everything else. "Nothing can beat the satisfaction of creating a word image of a spectacle."

However, he adds, "Some of our commentators still have the radio hangover as they keep describing things which people can see for themselves." Puri admits everybody develops clichés over a period of time. "Like Ghulam Ali has to return to raga Pahari come what may I used to say `a cruise' a lot to describe an easy single, but never realised until a youngster pointed out to me." He says commentators should not take sides. "Bringing the euphoria alive to the audience through dramatic modulation is fine but one should not get jingoistic."

He recalls his most embarrassing moment was when he got extremely excited after India won its first test match in Australia. "I realised when in the highlights I saw myself in a red pullover (accentuating the effect) standing in commentator box with a mike and speaking at the top of my voice. And Richie Benaud's succinct remark was here goes an excited Indian commentator sending the good news back home."

ANUJ KUMAR

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