In 1998, a moment that would change the course of Devender Kumar's life unfolded. As a 10-year-old, he was mesmerised when Tony Greig, the iconic commentator, exclaimed during Sachin Tendulkar’s Desert Storm innings, “The little fellow has hit the big fellow for a six.” That piece of commentary, as Tendulkar sent a six flying off Michael Kasprowicz, left an indelible mark on young Devender. Captivated by Greig’s voice and the magic of his commentary, he knew he had found his calling.
The Moment That Sparked a Dream
Recounting his first experience with commentary, Devender shared that he had stumbled upon the broadcast while flipping through channels. The distinct tone and rhythm of Greig’s voice made him realise that this was something extraordinary and worth pursuing. From that moment, commentary became his passion.
He spent hours practising, often mimicking the radio commentators he listened to on his father’s analogue radio. The radio picked up stations broadcasting on both short and medium wave frequencies, allowing Devender to absorb commentary from various sports, not just cricket. His fascination with commentary grew, and he spent countless hours perfecting his craft.
From Jodhpur to Jaipur
However, Devender’s road to becoming a commentator was anything but smooth. Born in Chutarpura, a small village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, he had no background in sports and didn’t speak English. He also had no idea how to break into the world of commentary. But that didn’t stop him. Every day, he would listen to sports broadcasts, especially enjoying the BBC's three-hour weekly program, Sports World, where he could hear commentators like John Murray and Alan Green cover sports like football and tennis.
Devender recalled how, in the early days, he couldn’t even understand what they were saying due to his lack of English skills. Yet, the rhythm of their voices and the energy in their speech fueled his determination. Gradually, he improved his English by reading newspapers and expanding his vocabulary, further deepening his interest in commentary.
Though his passion for commentary was unwavering, Devender also pursued a nursing course after completing his schooling. Upon graduating, he was offered a job in the USA. However, he declined the opportunity, knowing that this would take him away from his ultimate goal—commentating on at least one of Sachin Tendulkar’s games before the cricket legend retired.
To chase his dream, Devender moved from Jodhpur to Jaipur, hoping that the capital of Rajasthan would offer him more opportunities. He believed it would take only six months to break into international commentary. Yet, the path was far longer and more challenging than he imagined.
Devender would visit the Sawai Mansingh Stadium every day, rolling up a newspaper to use as a microphone and practice commentary on any ongoing game. His commentary wasn’t limited to cricket; he covered sports like football, basketball, handball, volleyball, tennis, karate, and even horse polo. While some people appreciated his dedication, many ridiculed him. Yet, he remained undeterred, engrossed in his passion, determined to become an international commentator.
For ten long years, Devender followed the same routine. He would wake up at 3 a.m. to listen to Voice of America radio broadcasts, learning English in the process. By 5 a.m., he was walking an hour to the stadium to observe and commentate on the various games.
Regardless of holidays or weather conditions, Devender was at the stadium, honing his skills. He mentioned how, despite some mocking his commitment, others began to take notice, and he started getting paid commentary work. He was soon called to commentate on local tournaments in Jaipur, earning INR 500 per day. While the work wasn’t consistent, a few days of commentary were enough to cover his monthly rent, which was also INR 500, with some leftovers for other expenses.
His consistent dedication soon led to opportunities with All India Radio, Doordarshan Jaipur, and Akashvani, where he did radio dispatches for Ranji Trophy matches. Devender’s work also expanded to polo matches, where he commentated for DD Sports.
A major breakthrough came in 2009, during the now-defunct Champions League T20. Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, noticed Devender’s passion for commentary and arranged an internship for him in Delhi. It was there that he met Alan Wilkins, who became his mentor. This connection paved the way for more opportunities. When the Afghanistan Cricket Board needed a commentator, Devender’s name was put forward, and he was hired.
Voice of Afghanistan
On December 5, 2017, Devender made his international commentary debut, calling an ODI between Ireland and Afghanistan in Sharjah. He remembers the day vividly, saying he was overwhelmed to sit in the same commentary box where Tony Greig once narrated Tendulkar’s famous Desert Storm innings. It took him a full innings to process the experience, and it was only when he started commentating in the second innings that he realised his dream had come true. Excitedly, he posted on social media that he was making his international cricket commentary debut.
Since 2016, Devender has become the voice of Afghanistan cricket, providing commentary for nearly every international match they’ve played. With no professional cricket background, Devender’s journey to commentating in over 100 international matches stands as a testament to his hard work and passion. He also covers Afghanistan’s domestic tournaments and travels to Kabul annually, where he is affectionately known as the "Voice of Kabul."
Despite concerns from others about the political climate in Afghanistan, Devender was clear that his love for commentary would take him anywhere. He even stayed in Kabul during a domestic T20 game in 2022, despite a blast at the stadium. He stated that being the son of an Army man made him unafraid of such challenges.
Although he never got the chance to commentate on a Sachin Tendulkar match before the cricket legend retired in 2013, Devender has many other dreams he is eager to fulfil. One of them came true when he called the India vs. Afghanistan match for BBC Test Match Special during the 2022 Men's ODI World Cup. Now, he’s setting his sights on other sports, confident that he’ll continue to achieve his goals.