Out of the Box: Watching the Game We Love

by Harsha Bhogle, Sachin Tendulkar (Introduction)

Harsha Bhogle in his weekly column in the Indian Express has captured the entire gamut of Indian cricket. Out of the Box brings together the very best of Harsha’s writings, in a book that will be a veritable delight for any cricket fan.

Knowledgeable, frank and witty, and with a sense of drama comparable to that of cricket itself, Harsha brings the nation’s cricketing ethos inimitably to life. And he is at his best when paying tribute to some cricketing greats—Lara, Inzamam, Jayasuriya, Ganguly, Sehwag, and the incomparable Tendulkar.

As he follows India’s fortunes on the cricket field at home and overseas, Harsha asks the question: can India really be no.1 in all three forms of the game? The answer lies in our history, and in the pages of Out of the Box.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Biography

304 pages, Demy

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Harsha Bhogle is widely recognized as the face and the voice of Indian cricket. A recipient of numerous awards, he was voted by readers of Cricinfo as their ‘most favourite cricket commentator’ in a worldwide poll in 2008. One of his proudest possessions is a photograph of a group of spectators in Pakistan holding a banner that says ‘Harsha Bhogle fan club’. Harsha has been the face of ESPN in India since the day they went on air in 1995 and presents cricket—and, in an interesting diversion, the World Cup of football in 2006—for ESPN Star Sports. He has worked on all the major radio stations in the cricketing world as well, with a special affinity for Australia which he first visited in 1991-92, and where he was dubbed the ‘sexiest voice on radio’. He is close to achieving the double of working on 100 Tests and 400 one-day internationals, the first of which came in 1983.

- Penguin Books India

Reviews

[Paritosh Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read this book years after it was published like me( I read it in 2021), it would validate how much weight Harsha's opinions have. Be it predicting the way T20i as a format will emerge, or the way Michael Clarke would emerge on the international cricket. His small yet insightful pieces on all things cricket are very Harsha-like so to speak. Its not only about the future, he has also written a lot about Indian cricket and the Fab4, along with Sehwag and Kumble. Some stories are a great walk down the throwback road. It's a great book if you love cricket and have grown up watching Indian cricket closely in 2000s. I wish he if could write a similar book/piece predicting how cricket will be in 2030s - with the advent of the hundred, the emergence of India as a global power in cricket, the T20 leagues, new test status, World Test Championship and so more. After all, its always more fun to peek in the future, then to validate the past.

[Souvik · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Quite apart from being ruled by the presiding deity of our times, money, English Football and Indian Cricket have much in common. An irrational following that equates sports to a daily soap, a ravenous media – immature might even be the right adjective – that sometimes seen disinclined to shift the irrelevant from the truly sensational, obeisance to the individual superstar and, as a consequence of these three, complete surrender to hype.”

Reading "Out of the Box" was like reading a book by Nostradamus. Prophetic, judgmental, incisive, humorous, passionate, knowledgeable, perfectly analytical are some of the adjectives that can be used to describe Harsha Bhogle’s collection of columns on The Indian Express, but the one that would do greatest justice is probably ‘honest’. He did not shrug a collar because he is in an unique professional, he did not unjustifiably defend any of his favorite greats and his opinions are deeply embedded in common sense. A great compilation that speaks of the game with a common man’s love and passion, blending it with a journalist’s surgical brilliance and an MBA graduate’s all-connecting logical ability. His articles on Sourav and Jayasuriya made me moist, his article on Sardesai and Solkar stole my heart. A very good read for any cricket enthusiast, and much more than that. I can tell you that the time span of these articles were 2005-2008; and more than 70% of his predictions stand correct today.

[Kunal Chhabaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can imagine Harsha Bhogle speaking the words written in this book. This in itself, should be reason enough for this book to be read.

I've always been an admirer of Harsha Bhogle's story telling ability and more so, after reading this book.

Read this for Indian cricket and for the voice of Indian cricket: Harsha Bhogle.

[Kaustubh Dudhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harsha Bhogle always has brought novel experiences either to the commentary box or to the newspaper. This book is a collection of such magical articles which he had written in the golden decade of 2000s for Team India. His ideas and insights are valuable. Although, he is a marketing professional of cricket, he does sound honest all the time. Loved it!

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of the Box: Watching the Game we Love: Harsha Bhogle Revised Edition Harsha Bhogle has been writing a popular column in Indian Express about cricket from 2005 to 2011. In this book, his columns have been classified in Chapters- T20s, ODIs, Tests, Cricketing greats, Rules, regulation and infrastructure. The column contains suggestions for betterment of International cricket and other current match series. I was charmed by obituary on the death of Dilip Sardesai. The books reminds of the best tradition of cricket that one generation delivers to the coming generation. How cricket brings happiness to lives of common viewer.
2. Harsha Bhogle has witnessed cricket and he is capable of writing an anthology on limited over cricket in India and round the world. That book will be welcome for readers/

[Ashish Vijay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harsha Bhogle : One of the finest cricket commentators and an astute writer - he has been the voice of Indian cricket for almost a decade now. Out of the Box brings the best of Harsha's writings and covers wide aspects of Indian cricket - a treat for any cricket lover. His knowledge and love for the game of cricket is clearly visible in all his writing style which in turn makes this one a sure shot read.

[Parag Mandpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book on 2020 and the things which Harsha has written 14-15 years ago seem relevant even today. The evolution of T20 into a game changing format which he predicted in 2006 is so perfect. He deservedly sings the laurels of the Indian greats Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble, Ganguly.

It would be great if Harsha would write the refreshed version in 2020.

[Avish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got it as a gift. Have never been a huge fan of cricket, but I finally get all the hype about Harsha Bhogle.

So many of his views on cricket formats, BCCI, team dynamics, etc seem so prescient. Might not be a fun read for an avid cricket fan because of the dated content, but I loved reading his observations as someone who's not read much about Indian cricket beyond the headlines.

[Karthik Kailas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of his opinions are well analysed. But of course I too had some different opinions to some of it he has written. This is even without the power of hindsight

[Hetal Sonpal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harsha is a great writer and this us a good book. But most of the information is now dated and it was not so much fun reading it after such a long while since the matches and events have happened.

[Gauresh Lotlikar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive

[Girish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combination of prose and cricket somehow is a potent mix in our country. Few people have captured the cricket-writing mindspace as Harsha Bhogle has (Rohit Brijnath, Siddarth Vaidyanathan more so for prose). This collection of his column in Indian Express makes you re live cricket from your growing-up years

It is not an analyst account. The articles come from the love for the game and it's players. Some articles deserve multiple reads of course! And you remember certain pieces that are not part of the book!

Maybe the grouping of the sections could have been better. But that is just if you are reading all articles and trying to decide sequence.

One for the keeps!

[Anik De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tale of great Renaissance idea's that came challenging up normal conventional idiot norms. Be it advertising, journalism or sports success is not guaranteed and norms haunt in your back to get money returns.
Come this fresh anecdotes from great change makers who dared to come forward and keep faith in methods rather than run of mill works. This book helps you get out of your box of idea's and perceptions and give things a run on their own. The face of changing Indian society showcasing case studies from great cricketers, to tennis and advertising giants that connect to audiences from past 2 decades to all is a great learning example.

[Venky Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and fun read. its a collection of articles penned by Harsha Bhoglr, over the past 2 decades, since the time, he got into broadcasting and journalism. I personally like to hear Harsha Bhogles comments and opinion on the game, as he gives varied perspective, First and foremost , Harsha is well read , not only in the game of cricket , but other subjects viz, economy, business, movies etc. This book is no different and his articles are no different either, Nice book to catch up, during your transit time.

[Mayank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harsha Bhogle remains the thinking brain. The articles celebrate the game and its legends and take you back in time; to the glory days and to some unfortunate days. What add beauty to articles are his philosophy, his observations, the metaphors, the constant comparisons between the game and the life itself and the subsequent learning. He cares about the game. He has seen it evolve and he makes so much sense keeping it absolutely simple. Sure way to keep you in love with the game.

[Priyank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harsha's insights are as marvellous as his foresight. When you read these articles retrospectively, you realize so many of his predicaments and estimates prove to be correct. Very unbiased and fresh perspective on Cricket.

However, as this is compilation of articles, some of it loses importance as we already know what has happened post publication.

[Raviteja Andhavarapu · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a collection of articles written by Harsha over the course of a few years. The latest of articles is dated sometime in 2009. so these are not new ones but most of the topics were of significant events which we can recollect easily. The writing by Harsha as you should expect is full of wonderful insights, extremely close-in-nature anecdotes and comparisons. very good read overall.

[Anees Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, simple and nice. Its a collection of his articles for the Indian Express from 2008ish to date. Apart from the cricket thing, he's got a fantastic style of expression, which doesn't necessarily come out when he dons his commentator hat.

[Avishek Bhattacharjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tendulkar might have been a Formula one driver or a striker in goal mouth; Dravid would have been an Olympic shooter."
No one can write like this other than Harsha bhogle.A great read and obviously a must for cricket lovers.

[Sunita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a simple read yet a poetic read of cricket in India. Loved Harsha's style as always. It was like watching famous cricket clips again just this time through a book.

[Chirag Nahar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice compilation of some of the best articles written by one of the great connoisseurs of the game. Really out of the box thinking.

[Tharun Mohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Respect for our Rahul Dravid "The Wall of Indian cricket" manifolded after this book.

[Amit Saini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its for those who are fans of Harsha Bhogle, and love cricket to the core. A collection of his articles, A light read, crisply written by one of the best commentator of the world

[Sagnik Nag · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the cricket lovers , it's a must read ..

[Wicknesan wijeyanandan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a scintillating read, helped me to relive my childhood hemstitched with cricketig events and stars.

[Aditya Lahoti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great trip down the memory lane. A must for those who followed cricket in the last decade and a half. A wonderful collection of articles and opinions expressed by harsha. Loved it!!!

[Ankush Kamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful Collection of Cricket Article By Harsha Bhogle

[Amit Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know it is a collection of articles. Good read nevertheless

[Maynk Desai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read some of the articles in this book, and I wont to confess, If there was 1 book (on cricket) after Sachin's Autobiography I would love to get back to in my late 60's (I am 30 now), it is this.

The romance that you have added to a cricket lovers heart is like wine. Thank you Harsha for such wonderful co-relevance, for such graceful writing, for your articles keep hitting the heart with the same romance as that of a Laxman's artistic drives past cover region to Warne from outside the leg stump .