Twitter Reactions: Fans surprised over Harsha Bhogle's absence from IPL commentary team

The cricket world was shocked after it was reported that popular cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle will not be a part of the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) commentary team after the BCCI decided to terminate his contract. There is, however, no news regarding the reason for the termination of his contract. The 54-year-old has stated that he was unaware of the reason behind such a surprising decision by the board, ahead of the new season.

Harsha Bhogle has been associated with cricket since the 80’s and been the voice of cricket in India. He has been a part of the IPL since its inception and was also part of the promotional video ahead of the ninth season.

Bhogle took to social media to express his disappointment at missing out on what he labelled as his ‘favourite tournament’. However, when one of his followers on twitter quizzed him about the reason behind this decision, Bhogle said, “I don’t know. That is the truth”.

The decision seems like an afterthought as Bhogle was initially listed as a part of the television crew and he had even received his roster for the tournament.

“When deciding the commentators, we take feedback from everyone. We monitor social media reactions on commentators, and also take inputs from players,” an unnamed senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Sunday Express.

There have been a lot of speculations and rumors about the reason behind the BCCI’s decision. The most talked about one is Amitabh Bachchan’s recent Tweets in which he had suggested Indian commentators to talk more about Indian players than foreigners. This tweet was supposedly directed at Bhogle.

Stunned cricket fans did not hold themselves back and expressed their support for Bhogle on twitter.

@bhogleharsha @IPL – commentary without Harsha is like a pizza without exotic toppings.. Miss the attention to detail.

— sahibaat (@sahibaatt) April 9, 2016

#IPL2016 commentary damp squib without @bhogleharsha.Sidhu reminds of the chevy impala era!Prefer analysis to shero shahiri @SonyMAX

— Sandeep Kanwar (@Sandykanwar) April 10, 2016

Commentators are themselves losing charm of old days. The last man standing is #HarshaBhogle WTF BCCI are you doing.

— mohit chaudhary (@chaudharym592) April 10, 2016

If you can play IPL with other team players,
Why can't Harsha Bhogle praise other players in International Commentary..? #BringBackHarsha

— [)?®〰ℹ? ⚡?? (@Godillionaire) April 10, 2016

No @bhogleharsha for IPL 16? Are you kidding me BCCI? This is how you treat the best commentator in the country?#HarshaBhogle

— Rishabh Bucha (@BuchaRishabh) April 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/xmsdhoni/status/719105046689013760

If this is true ,then Harsha Bhogle should be on the way already, to host!! Hey @BCCI check out the trends!! pic.twitter.com/V2GCbpzZre

— Emmanuel Paul Raj (@EmmanuelPR42) April 10, 2016

Highly unfortunate to see @bhogleharsha not commentating for #IPL9. Huge loss for IPL and #BCCI indeed.

— Abhijeet Chandratre (@abhi_freeman) April 10, 2016

Firing of Harsha Bhogle is not unusual. Such unjustified layoffs happen regularly in corporate world.

— Romeo Monk (@oldschoolmonk) April 10, 2016

it's disappointing .it's also ironic that bcci drops #HarshaBhogle .condition of things r anyway rock bottom, another sign of how things r

— shalinilearningspace (@shalinilearning) April 10, 2016

Very sad to know @bhogleharsha won't do commentary in @IPL .He is the best going around & I like his views. @BCCI should look at this again

— RAKESH KAR (@rakeshkar25) April 10, 2016

"It's like butcher in one end and surgeon on other" says Harsha Bhogle when Tendulkar and Dhoni were batting together.

— Rahul (@rahulksingh291) April 10, 2016

IPL is not that interesting without @bhogleharsha ,@ianuragthakur ji @BCCI
Cric Fans plz raise u r voice#BringBackHarsha #IPL9#IPL2016

— sairam naidu (@Sairam_39) April 10, 2016

Harsha Bhogle commentary is good , forget the bad @BCCI ! #BringBackHarsha @bhogleharsha #HarshaBhogleQuotes pic.twitter.com/yHezXKQ11s

— Trojan_Horse (@SampathRedDevil) April 10, 2016

.@bhogleharsha is the best cricket commentator India currently has; there are many who are doing it despite their mediocrity. Bring him back

— Highlander (@RiteshPadhalni) April 10, 2016

@bhogleharsha @IPL
Time for Harsha Bhogle the columnist to write more then#SilverLining

— Paul Michael (@realPaulMichael) April 10, 2016

I want to raise my idiot box volume with some great commentary rather than non sense. Bring back #HarshaBhogle #IPL2016 @BCCI

— zishan ali (@zishan23291) April 10, 2016

@RahulBose1 @bhogleharsha Disappointing? Yes. Disaster? No. #Perspective in today's times. Also, it's just the #IPL hopefully.

— Rajiv Arvind (@RajivArvind) April 10, 2016

Harsha Bhogle is the Virat Tendulkar of commetory. Its unfortunate that he wont be involved in IPL

— kumar Gaurav (@gaurav9rock3) April 10, 2016

Unlike many players-turned-commentators, @bhogleharsha doesn't take cricket for granted. It shows that he researches. So #BringBackHarsha

— Uday Singh Rana (@UdaySRana) April 10, 2016

after Harsha Bhogle is out when Sir Jadeja is bowled for a duck, siddhu will shout, 'Oye guru, kitni badhia chhoda gend ko-thoko taali'..

— Lambodar Mishra (@lamboomishra) April 10, 2016

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted and Harsha Bhogle get sacked, now please tweet about 4g girl and Abhishek Bachchan! #HarshaBhogle #4ggirl

— Ronak Rathi (@RonakRathi_RR) April 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/xmsdhoni/status/719103307042668544

Thanks bcci.u sacked the only sane and intelligent commentator.@bhogleharsha #BringBackHarsha..cud see the common man and his wits in him..

— anoop (@machoanoop) April 10, 2016

Why BCCI is not under RTI ? It seems to be a mysterious organization running in a parallel India…. Harsha Bhogle sacked but why ?

— World Cup Sumo (@ChalTossKar) April 10, 2016

I guess now @bhogleharsha has some insight on how it feels to be in the shoes of a 'Chennai Super King' @ChennaiIPL ..

— Dr. Madhu T (@itsmadhu) April 10, 2016

Sacked Harsha Bhogle & Brought Siddhu?

Dear BCCI,

It's Cricket, Not Comedy Nights with kapil. #BringBackHarsha #IPL2016

— sahil indoria (@indoria_007) April 10, 2016

Replacing Harsha Bhogle with Navjot Singh Sidhu is like replacing Butter Chicken with Aloo Gobhi #BringBackHarsha

— Rahul (@rahulksingh291) April 10, 2016

This is so true about Mr. Harsha Bhogle. If he does commentry on radio, all the people will switch back to Radio. pic.twitter.com/MLSKHZx5hd

— Shantanu Vaity (@ShantanuVaity) April 10, 2016

Harsha Bhogle knows more cricket than all three generations of Indian cricketers combined.

— pyaar se, Mario (@sherlock_er) April 10, 2016

BCCI grow up!!! By sacking Harsha Bhogle and constantly interfering in the game you are not doing anything good for yourself too.

— Lalit (@ROFL_Pundit) April 10, 2016

Things which are irreplaceable in cricket
Dhoni's CAPTAINCY
Kohlis's BATTING
Harsha Bhogle's COMMENTARY#IPL2016 #HarshaBhogle

— Fukat_pateli (@fukat_pateli) April 10, 2016

Arrogant behaviour of BCCI towards Harsha Bhogle.
When it comes to commentary, he is the best..!

Rethink on ur decision BCCI

— Parul Msd (@ParulMeshram1) April 10, 2016

Grew up admiring to Tony Grieg and Harsha bhogle's commentary…Sad to see him suffer due to cheap politics of BCCI #BringBackHarsha

— AB (@arindambhattac9) April 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/Lokendra729/status/719102768624050176