|| Desk Report ||

The Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcaster is teasing with the idea of introducing ‘virtual commentary’ in this year’s T20 league after a successful recent experiment in an exhibition match.

Former India paceman Irfan Pathan was doing commentary from his Baroda home, Deep Dasgupta from Kolkata and Sanjay Manjrekar from his Mumbai residence for a live game at Centurion Park in South Africa on Sunday.

“It’s an extraordinary experience though we were worried throughout because the internet speed can fluctuate and that affects the voice quality. Anything can happen anytime in live cricket and with technology not fully in your control, it can be tricky but Star did a wonderful job,” said Irfan Pathan.

“Though this was an exhibition game, everyone took it very seriously as they all wanted the show to resume (after months of break),” Pathan said in his experimental commentary in an exhibition match before IPL glitz.

“Star is usually very thorough with its planning and execution but commentary from home in the IPL will be a massive challenge,” said the former pacer, who had to lock him in a room to not get distracted on the job while his son knocked on the door from time to time.

“It’s much easier to be in sync when you are sitting next to each other while commentating and creating the same chemistry was a challenge from home,” the pacer said.

“We rehearsed it a day before the game just to test internet quality. We had screens put but we could not see each at all times, so when to pause and when to start talking was a challenge but we pulled it off.”