From Jodhpur to Kabul: Meet Devender Kumar, the voice of Afghanistan cricket

Three weeks ago, during the toss for the 2024 Shpageeza Cricket League final, the jam-packed Kabul International Cricket Stadium gave a standing ovation to an Indian. It was for the commentator Devender Kumar, who has become the voice of Afghanistan cricket.

“It still gives me goosebumps,” Kumar tells The Indian Express on Day 3 of the one-off Test match between Afghanistan and New Zealand.

“They started chanting my name, they clapped for over a minute. It was a pretty surreal feeling. Something I am going to treasure till my last breath,” says Kumar.

The 36-year-old Kumar has been going to Afghanistan as a broadcaster for the past seven years. Despite a near-death experience during the regime change in 2022, he never thought twice when the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) invited him again later that year.

“I know that there has been a war going on for the past 40 years. But is it their war? In my experience Afghans are the most peaceful people you will ever come across,” he says.

“You remember the bomb blast that happened at the Kabul Cricket Stadium in 2022? I was 10 yards away from the blast site. Two people died and there were several injuries. It happened during the innings break of the Shpageeza League match between Pamir Zalmi and Band-e-Amir. It was not the first time I witnessed a blast,” he reminisces.

Devender Kumar during the final of the 2024 Shpageeza Cricket League at the Kabul Cricket Stadium in Kabul. (Special Arrangement)

Following the incident, when Kumar left Kabul, Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib shared a heartfelt note on social media, thanking Devender for his support towards the Afghan people during the difficult period.

“This is the bond I have with the players and fans, and that’s why I kept on going back. My parents are still worried about me but Afghanistan cricket has helped me live my dream. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, I was working with the BBC as an expert,” says Kumar with a booming smile.

The cricket enthusiast

Unlike a million Indian kids, Kumar was not fascinated by Sachin Tendulkar’s desert storm in Sharjah. It was the voice of Tony Greig that inspired Kumar to become a commentator.

“I never played cricket at any level. The voice of Tony Greig is the reason I wanted to become a commentator. I am just a cricket enthusiast, who is learning and falling in love with this beautiful game every day,” he says.

Kumar hails from Chutarpura village in Shergarh Tehsil in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. He left his village at the age of 18 to pursue his dream.

“I reached Jaipur in 2006 and the first place I visited was Sawai Mansingh Stadium. I had no clue about anything. People were surprised that where people usually come to join the cricket academy, I came to become a commentator!” laughs Kumar.

“Greg Chappell and Ian Fraser used to work at the RCA Academy. I used to interact with Chappell. He saw me practicing my commentary one day and gave me a signed cap.

“During my time in Jaipur, I spent lots of time listening to BBC’s programmes, be it cricket commentary, football or tennis, I used to try to copy it,” he says.

In 2015, after seven years of endless struggle, Kumar finally had his baptism-by-fire moment. He got his first break in a horse polo tournament in Jaipur, which was telecasted on Doordarshan. Things began to then stir along.

“My first international break came in 2017 during the Afghanistan vs Ireland series. I still don’t know who recommended my name. During my endless visits to the SMS stadium, I met Alan Wilkins, Danny Morrison, Harsha Bhogle and others. And I guess one of them recommended my name to the ACB,” he says.

From 2017, onwards, Afghanistan became Kumar’s adopted nation. He spends 30-40 days every year in Afghanistan doing commentaries in their List A and first-class matches.

“Cricket in Afghanistan is like football in Brazil or Argentina. You will see kids playing in the mountains. They will clear the snow and will play cricket. This game has become a binding force for the Afghanis. The entire country was on the streets after Afghanistan reached the semis of the T20 World Cup. The visuals sent by my friends were unbelievable. Even in the domestic matches, people do come in good numbers,” he says.

Devender Kumar with renowned cricket commentator Mike Haysman (Special Arrangement)

Nabi’s god-like stature and the mystery spinners

Kumar compares former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi’s stature to Sachin Tendulkar.

“Rashid Khan is a global superstar but he can’t match Mohammad Nabi’s popularity in Afghanistan. Nabi has got that Sachin like stature. He is absolutely adored by the people,” he says.

In his seven years of covering Afghanistan’s cricket, Kumar has realised one thing: that world cricket will keep on seeing more and more mystery spinners coming out from Afghanistan.

“There are thousands of mystery spinners. Now there are around 60-70 academies in Afghanistan and you will see around 20 of them at each academy bowling with different variations. They just watch cricket on TV and copy it on the playground,” he says.

“And most of them bowl googly, and different types of it as well. They don’t bowl leg-breaks because they play with the tape balls. In tape you can’t spin the ball, you have to push it through your fingers to trouble the batters. They use their fingers to bowl the googly and all of them are experts. In the near future, you will see more mystery spinners coming out of Afghanistan.”

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