Venkat Raman –
Save for running between wickets and giving square cuts, Hemant Parikh has the makings of the Man of the Match every time, and certainly the Best All-Rounder of all times.
The reporter-cum-salesman-cum-programme producer-cum- programme presenter at Radio Tarana is one of the few who serves the community and reports what he does not from many parts of New Zealand but also from different parts of the world.
That is, not including his hourly (sometimes twice hourly) postings on Facebook, Twitter and other social media.
He is also one of those who make you believe that each has about 50 hours.
He has been batting it, often alone, defending both the wicket. That in itself is an Art of Living that he alone has mastered.
Extensive coverage
The current Cricket season has seen him covering several important matches, almost ball by ball. The best of Hemant from the Media Box of First Class Cricket has been heard since long but it was perhaps in 2007 that he was taken seriously when he covered the final phase of the match between India and Sri Lanka held in Barbados, West Indies.
India won the match but his tone was excited because it was good cricket that won.
Howzat?
Tens of thousands of Radio Tarana listeners and Indian Newslink readers expected nothing but the best from Hemant as the Cricket World Cup matches began in Christchurch on February 14, 2015 for the opening match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The following day he was in Adelaide, Australia to cover the highly electrifying match between India and Pakistan at which the Boys in Blue convincingly won but not without giving everyone tail-biting anxiety.
Every One Day International of the current Cricket series that would be interest to us have, and would have the presence of Hemant and his expert comments.
That includes Hamilton, Wellington, Auckland, and Melbourne where the final match will be played to determine the World Cup 2015 Winner.
Hectic schedule
“It has been hectic but most enjoyable. Apart from watching some of the finest moments in Cricket including brilliant square cuts, off-drives, fours and sixes (not to forget the brilliant catches, LBW and superb throw of the ball from the boundary straight into the hands of the bowler, I had an opportunity to report them. Cricket fans will always be glued to the game. I know the feeling,” Hemant said.
Special People
Since the Cricket World Cup 2015 began, he has interviewed scores of personalities.
Among them were Sky TV Commentator Simon Doull, Radio Sport host Martin Devlin, South African Cricket Broadcaster Niel Manthorp, Indian Journalist from Mumbai Sunandan Lele, New Zealand’s all-time great Sir Richard Hadlee, ‘Little Master’ Sunil Gavaskar and most important of all, Ashis Ray, Veteran Commentator and author of ‘The Indian Challenge.’
“Reporting a major international game like Cricket and Rugby makes you alert gives you sleepless days and nights. But the excitement is irreplaceable and irrepressible- posting a updates every few minutes or giving ball-to-ball account would be thrilling,” he said.
Another proud fact is the respect with which he is received by officials of ICC, NZ Cricket, Auckland Cricket and sports reports and commentators from various parts of the world.
There is something special about the man who charms his family; read the last word as the World.
