"Kohli goes down the ground, Kohli goes out of the ground!", uttered Harsha Bhogle while doing commentary as Virat Kohli, then the Indian captain, smashed a six against Haris Rauf at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2022 T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan.
Those words by Bhogle have now become as iconic as the six. And for the commentator himself it is one proudest moment of his professional career.
"The three or four pieces of commentary that I'm proudest of this is definitely one of those," Bhogle said recently in a special podcast with CNBC-TV18.
Chasing 160 to win, India were 132/4 in 18.4 overs when Kohli swung his bat hard on a delivery by Rauf to deposit the ball straight back over the bowler's head for a six.
For millions of cricket fans watching the match, the six was accompanied with the words "Kohli goes down the ground, Kohli goes out of the ground!".
Much like the chase, the commentary stint was also difficult for Bhogle. "...without doubt, the most difficult commentary stint that I've ever done in my life," he adds.
So why was calling this moment the most difficult stint for a man who is often revered as the voice of Indian cricket?
"Because here is a game that's almost gone. It's an India Pakistan game, the emotion behind an India Pakistan game. Nobody's watching it rationally." Bhogle explains.
Bhogle also shares his learning from football commentator Peter Drury.
"I remember Peter Drury telling me we have to remain rational, in spite of the fact that the audience is always irrational." Bhogle says.
"I say Kohli goes down the ground because I have no idea that ball's going for a six because that shot not going for a six is very very rare; that a player has the skill to play that shot for a six so I don't know it's going for a six. If you place this one, which he does on 18.6 you can see as soon as that hit the bat that it's probably going for six," Bhogle says.
"At 18.5 anybody tells you they knew that it's going for a six they're either high on something or they're lying. So that is what the first line is called. He goes down the ground and then suddenly there's amazement in my own voice." Bhogle explains the reason behind his much revered words," he adds
Kohli remained unbeaten on 82 as India completed a thrilling chase with 4 wickets to spare.
