Ardeshir Furdorji Sohrabji "Bobby" Talyarkhan (1897–13 July 1990) was an Indian

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

commentator. Talyarkhan was one of the earliest cricket commentators in India. His radio commentaries played an important role in spreading of the game and making the name of the players throughout the country.

Bombay Pentangular The Bombay Quadrangular was an influential cricket tournament held in Bombay, British India between 1892–93 and 1945–46. At other times it was known variously as the Presidency Match, Bombay Triangular, and the Bombay Pentangular. Presidency ...

owed some of its popularity to his voice. He first commentated on a match between Parsees and Muslims played at the Bombay Gymkhana in November 1934. Talyarkhan had "a fine command of English, a polished public speaking style and an ability to create dramatic interest in the game". He disliked sharing the microphone and did the commentaries all alone throughout the day.

Ramachandra Guha Ramachandra "Ram" Guha (born 29 April 1958) is an Indian historian, environmentalist, writer and public intellectual whose research interests include social, political, contemporary, environmental and cricket history, and the field of economics. ...

felt that he "brought to cricket broadcasting a rich, fruity voice and a fund of anecdotes. He was ambitious and opinionated, with a voice that was 'beer-soaked, cigarette-stained'. His self control was superhuman, for he would speak without interruptions, except for lunch and tea." His career with the All India Radio ended with the series against West Indies in 1948–49. AIR insisted on having a team of three commentators, with which Talyarkhan disagreed. The only time he shared the mike was when India made its first tour of Pakistan in 1954–55. He made a brief reappearance in 1972-73 when he presented the close of play summaries. Talyarkhan continued writing his daily columns till his death on 13 July 1990.

References

* Obituary in ''ACSSI Almanack'', 1989–90 * Richard Cashman, ''Patrons, Players and the Crowd : The Phenomenon of Indian Cricket'' *

, ''A Corner of a Foreign Field'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Talyarkhan, Bobby Indian cricket commentators Parsi people from Mumbai 1990 deaths 1897 births Cricketers from Mumbai