Cricket fans go wild over Isa Guha’s commentary in the Boxing Day Test – for a VERY surprising reason
Cricket fans have been getting excited about popular BBC presenter Isa Guha during the Border-Gavaskar Series – and that doesn’t just include her expert insights and analysis in the commentary box.
Guha won two World Cups for England as a player but never had ambitions of becoming a presenter.
Now she is one of the most recognizable faces of live cricket broadcasting. She presents Today at the Test on the BBC and commentates on Test Match Special, in addition to her work for Fox Cricket and Channel Seven in Australia.
If that’s not enough, the 39-year-old also presents BBC’s live coverage of Wimbledon.
This summer, viewers have fallen in love with Guha’s voice, with many posting on social media about how “seductive” they find it.
“I don’t know why but Isha Guha’s comment turns me on,” one fan wrote.
Presenter Isa Guha’s voice was a big hit with cricket fans this summer
“Finally someone has acknowledged it,” another replied.
“You spoke my heart sir,” a third replied.
A fourth said: ‘I’m a fan of Isa Guha. She has a seductive voice and her repartee is excellent, constantly echoing funny comments from her fellow commentators. Instagram is lit up with her witty one-liners.”
Hundreds of other cricket fans commented on her vote, but many of the comments are not suitable for publication.
Guha apologized after the former England cricketer called Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah his team’s ‘most valuable primate’ during the Brisbane Test.
Guha made the comment during a broadcast for Fox Sports, saying, “He’s the MVP, right? [The] most precious primate, Jasprit Bumrah.”
The comment sparked outrage on social media due to the word’s history of use as a racial slur.
Guha said she had “used a word that can be interpreted in different ways.”
The 39-year-old won two World Cups as a player before becoming one of cricket’s most highly regarded commentators
‘First of all, I would like to apologize for any wrongdoing. “I set very high standards for myself when it comes to empathy and respect for others,” she said.
“If you listen to the full transcript, I meant only the highest praise for one of India’s greatest players. And someone I also admire enormously.’
Guha’s parents Barun and Roma emigrated to the United Kingdom from Calcutta in West Bengal, India in the 1970s.
“As someone who is also of South Asian descent, I hope people will recognize that there was no other intent or malice,” she said.
“I am an advocate for equality and am someone who has spent my career thinking about inclusion and understanding in the game.
‘I hope this hasn’t overshadowed the great Test match so far and I look forward to seeing how the match develops. But again, I’m really, really sorry.”
Pace bowler Bumrah took five wickets during day two of the third Test in Brisbane.
‘In trying to capture the enormity of his achievements, I said the wrong word at that moment. It was a real mistake, it was not intended otherwise and I am sorry for any inconvenience caused,” Guha added on her Instagram Story.
Guha apologized after calling Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah his team’s ‘most valuable primate’ during the third Test in Brisbane
Guha has become one of the most recognizable faces in cricket broadcasting
Former India coach Ravi Shastri sat next to Guha for the apology on Fox Sports and applauded her statement before urging people to ‘move on’.
“First of all, brave woman,” he said of Guha.
“To do it live on television and apologize takes some steel. You heard it from the horse’s mouth, so as far as I’m concerned it’s game over. We are all human and we all have the right to make mistakes.
‘In the heat of the moment, as you saw with the Siraj incident with Travis Head [in the Adelaide Test]Sometimes things can happen when you have the microphone in your hand.
“But to stand up for yourself, to raise your hand and say ‘I’m sorry’ when things haven’t gone their way, it takes courage. She did it, let’s move on.’