Sushil Doshi is an Indian sports commentator, journalist, and writer, widely recognized as the pioneer of Hindi-language cricket commentary in the country, having begun his career with All India Radio in 1968 during a Ranji Trophy match.
Born in 1947 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, he graduated in engineering from Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Science while nurturing an interest in Hindi literature, which shaped his distinctive commentary style emphasizing grammatical accuracy and vivid descriptions.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Doshi has provided commentary for over 400 One Day Internationals, 85 Test matches, and ten Cricket World Cups, making him the only Hindi commentator to cover that many global events. His work extended from radio to television on Doordarshan, where he popularized cricket among Hindi-speaking audiences, particularly in rural India, through phrases like his famous 1979 warning during an India-England Test at The Oval: “Jin logon ko dil ki bimari hai, woh commentary na sune…” (Those with heart conditions should not listen to the commentary). In recognition of his contributions to sports commentary in Hindi, he received the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2016 from President Pranab Mukherjee.
Doshi’s influence extends beyond broadcasting; a dedicated commentary box at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore bears his name, and he served on the All India Council for Sports (2020–2023), an advisory body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, advocating for indigenous games, differently-abled participation, and private sector investment in sports. As of 2025, he remains active, critiquing modern commentary for its use of slang and urging practitioners to prioritize considerate, proper language to preserve the medium’s reach and integrity.