New Delhi: The IPL commentary in Haryanvi would be entertaining if not for the misogyny, double-meaning, and body shaming that some commentators engage in. Cricket has evolved from being a “gentleman’s game” to include the women IPL, women Test cricket, and women umpires and commentators. The language too has changed from ‘batman’ to ‘batter’, from ‘Man of the Match’ to ‘Player of the Match’. Why can’t the commentary in Haryanvi complement this change?
For instance, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, while commenting during an IPL 2024 match, recalled his own description of an umpire where he body-shamed him.
“Main use ‘pregnant man’ kaha karta. Maika pet itna bharyaa hai, delivery kad hai teri (I used to call him ‘pregnant man’ because of his big belly. I used to ask him when his ‘delivery’ is),” Sehwag said as his fellow commentators laughed.
At another instance, Sehwag made a misogynistic remark while talking about a cricketer and his way of positioning the fielders, playing on the word ‘set’.
“Aise kare se koi set na hota, mhare tai kabhi chhori set na hui (You cannot set a batter up with that kind of field setting; I couldn’t set any girl),” he said.
What is holding back commentators like Sehwag from realising how a commentary devoid of crass, benefits not just the game but the language and culture as well?
Haryanvi songs have done enough damage to the culture by shaming women and propagating rules for them after marriage. The misogyny in Haryana is no mystery to anyone. The state’s sex ratio at birth and the data on violence against women speak for themselves. Cricket commentary doesn’t have to join the club.
When Jio cinema, the official digital broadcaster of IPL 2024, decided to include commentary in languages other than English and Hindi, the promotion of local culture must have been on their mind. But it’s time for them to realise that some sort of filter is required, perhaps even taking action on erring commentators.
Also read: What’s a full toss in Jio’s Bhojpuri IPL? Ravi Kishan makes it travel the Ara-Chhapra distance
Turning beautiful into crass
Bhojpuri is another language where the commentary often veers towards double-meaning jokes. The Bhojpuri film and music industry has played no small part in ruining the image of this spoken language from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The chance that a platform like IPL provides them is being destroyed by male commentators who find it easier to fall back on crude jokes when simple cricketing commentary would do the job. It’s as if the language just can’t be spoken without interjecting some remark on women or on their attires (ghagra, choli).
The commentary in the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens was abysmal to say the least. It was downright crass and offensive to women.
ये तो अश्लीलता की परकाष्ठा है!
— Sanjay Kishore (@saintkishore) March 25, 2024
Users on X (formerly Twitter) weren’t happy at all. “These people don’t know how to do commentary at all.just degrading Bhojpuri Language.they don’t know about cricket what it is!”
These people don't know how to do commentary at all.just degrading Bhojpuri Language.they don't know about cricket what it is!
They should learn to talk about cricket as hindi commentators are doing
Ravi kishan in every sentence of his commentary ee Eetihasik Chhad ba ho bhaiya https://t.co/0NdPaG4Oh0
— Ashutosh Rai (@Ashutosh199325) March 25, 2024
This is not to say the commentary in Haryanvi or Bhojpuri can’t be entertaining or relatable. “Hawa main chadha di, tau thode na pakdega, wahan fielder hona chahiyei (The shot has been played in the air, your uncle won’t catch the ball, a fielder has to be there).”
Haryanvi commentry 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/LJhdEgvLC1
— Rahul (@Rahulmeelindia) March 27, 2024
However, such descriptions still rely on making things personal or drawing from familial references, which seems to suggest that the aim behind using these languages is to make cricket commentary sound funny rather than informative for the listeners.
The slangs are funny but the jokes on women and body-shaming are not. There are better ways to make people laugh and make the commentary entertaining. A cheap joke isn’t one of them.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)