Yes,that's what happened to India's chances at the world cup.Before the two stinging defeats first at the hands of greenhorns Bangladesh and then old rival Sri Lanka,team India went to the world cup tipped as one of the favourites to win the big one.A batting order littered with 3 stars who have 10k+ runs in ODI's and many upcoming dashers and stroke players,it looked a formidable squad.However,all this was on paper and for all you know the game is not played on paper. In the real world there were several things wrong with the team-it had several aging stars well past their use by date,tired legs which made it a dull fielding unit.The modern game calls for lightning reflexes and an aggressive attitude. India lacked both.
So what went wrong?In hindsight this was a disaster waiting to happen.Too many stars specially not worth their salt anymore always spell trouble.It happened last year to Brazil at the soccer world cup.After the debacle there have been many articles in the media blaming the fans for creating unnecessary pressure on the team. There is a serious flaw in that line of thought.Cricket is at best a game and should be played like one.What is the pressure-just go out and compete-if you win great,if not then what the heck nobody died.Yes,the illiterate mobs in India burning effigies and pelting stones on players houses need to get this into their heads but that cant be the reason for loosing-not by a long shot.Also,if a player representing the country at the highest level cant handle the heat in the kitchen then he better butt out for someone who can.
The media which is the prime culprit here in building and then cashing on the hype is now busy doing what it does best-sensationalize!.Yes...blow this so out of proportion that it starts looking like a national calamity.Embarrassing yes but a national disaster specially for a developing country like India...hello!....its ridiculous.We lost because we were simply not good enough. The hopes and expectations of a billion people simply cannot rest on a game of cricket.
The other thing that media seems to be spinning is the corrupting influences of excess money and endorsements in the game. Since when did money become bad for a sport?The most competitive sports around the world-Soccer,Tennis,Golf,Boxing all are huge money spinners much larger than cricket.Do they not have champions or moments of sporting excellence?Sport needs to move with the times if it has to survive.Hence in my opinion,money should be a motivator not a hindrance in any sport.
The two people I feel bad for are Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Both have been outstanding performers for a very long time.Its sad to see Dravid being let down by his team.Sachin looks mentally tired.His problem is the failure to believe that he is not the dominating batsman that he used to be.He needs a break from the game for his own good.I think he should quit ODI's if he wants to play test cricket for a few more years.18 years is a very very long time to play at the highest level.Chappel's methods didn't work and he would get the pink slip.Fair enough,you don't get retained for failure.
Meanwhile life goes on...India will play cricket again and win if it deserves.
So what went wrong?In hindsight this was a disaster waiting to happen.Too many stars specially not worth their salt anymore always spell trouble.It happened last year to Brazil at the soccer world cup.After the debacle there have been many articles in the media blaming the fans for creating unnecessary pressure on the team. There is a serious flaw in that line of thought.Cricket is at best a game and should be played like one.What is the pressure-just go out and compete-if you win great,if not then what the heck nobody died.Yes,the illiterate mobs in India burning effigies and pelting stones on players houses need to get this into their heads but that cant be the reason for loosing-not by a long shot.Also,if a player representing the country at the highest level cant handle the heat in the kitchen then he better butt out for someone who can.
The media which is the prime culprit here in building and then cashing on the hype is now busy doing what it does best-sensationalize!.Yes...blow this so out of proportion that it starts looking like a national calamity.Embarrassing yes but a national disaster specially for a developing country like India...hello!....its ridiculous.We lost because we were simply not good enough. The hopes and expectations of a billion people simply cannot rest on a game of cricket.
The other thing that media seems to be spinning is the corrupting influences of excess money and endorsements in the game. Since when did money become bad for a sport?The most competitive sports around the world-Soccer,Tennis,Golf,Boxing all are huge money spinners much larger than cricket.Do they not have champions or moments of sporting excellence?Sport needs to move with the times if it has to survive.Hence in my opinion,money should be a motivator not a hindrance in any sport.
The two people I feel bad for are Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Both have been outstanding performers for a very long time.Its sad to see Dravid being let down by his team.Sachin looks mentally tired.His problem is the failure to believe that he is not the dominating batsman that he used to be.He needs a break from the game for his own good.I think he should quit ODI's if he wants to play test cricket for a few more years.18 years is a very very long time to play at the highest level.Chappel's methods didn't work and he would get the pink slip.Fair enough,you don't get retained for failure.
Meanwhile life goes on...India will play cricket again and win if it deserves.
1 comment:
Don't agree to some of the observations. For eg. really don't feel sorry for Sachin Tendulkar, he should have retired voluntarily and gracefully by now. Has been a failure for last couple of years. He is building statistics and nothing else.
I think Australians are the best to imitate here. If you don't perform, you are on the way out, however senior or mighty you may be.
Our exit was imminent. Its good that it happened at this stage. Atleast we are forced to look inwards and take corrective actions. Had we moved on to the next stage, then we would take refuge under comments like - " Pakistan couldn't make it to next round, but we did" or We were good but were beaten by stronger teams etc.. etc..
If one goes insane, at times, shock therapy is the best therapy. Nobody likes it, its painful but has a curative effect on the patient, in our case the Indian Team.
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