The Indian Cricket

Indian exit from current T20 World Cup has created furore. Everybody is unhappy about the manner in which we lost three straight matches in the super eight round. Mr. cool MSD has suddenly become a poor strategist. Once glittering IPL has become a prime villian. The players, who are called matchwinners because of their single handed victory in the past are called loosers. The ads, parties, razmataz that we people enjoyed watching on the TV or reading in the tabloid is a strict NO NO. We again look at Cricket Australia and heave a big sigh! If only BCCI would function like CA and then we would also have such consistency, committments, bench strength and so on. Now, whats the truth? I guess every one bit, but not in isolation...that looks to be the key.

Cricket in India is neither a mere sport nor only a passion. It is way of life, an integral part of our culture. Each one of us feel so close to the game, the team and to individual players. Our technical knoledge level in this game is very high and we are always involved in the game. Now whatever sells in masses in the country like ours is...of course...an opportunity of a mega business, publicity and power. And there lies the format of our cricket schedule, IPL and what not. Everybody wants to earn money large and fast.

Since way back, we tend to worship individual personalities and not a team, society, state or for that matter, the nation. For us, the winning is not as important as individual glory, individual efforts, and individual well being. For Cricket Australia, winning matches and tournaments is of paramount importance. Their Society is more aggressive and result focused. They put the collective efforts and the victory ahead of individual gains, for they know, the wealth and prosperity follows the winners.

Our players are also human beings. When new players enter the world of Cricket, they are care free, out of politics, pure cricketer, and extremely passionate about cricket. Then they perform with the bang and that is where they become a part of the Cricket System. This system teaches them to be in good books of authorities, sponsors, advertizers. The system teaches them that they must play all the time without a break, because if they do take a break, some one else from this country of a billion population, would knock his place out, as there is no formal rotation system. The system teaches them not to be instinctive and dare devil, for if they do and fail even once, we all (public, media, authorities) will pounce upon them and forget their umpteen good performances in the past. The system teaches them that whether the team looses or wins, an individual must keep an impeccable record so that he gets selected the next time. The system teaches them that reward is there for individual excellence and not a collective performance.

This puts a tremendous pressure on the players. Come on, even you and me need a break after working hard for six months in the office. For players, it is more difficult for each match has only two options..win or loose. Our mind and body needs rest, introspection, recovery. Everybody does...even machine needs a preventive maintainance and annual shutdown. But we believe in only breakdown maintenance for the players.

But again, the cricket is only a reflection of all of us, our way of work, our way of thinking, our value system and our vision. Till, as a society, we do not share a common vision and purpose over individual, isolated benefits, such sporadic wins and losses will keep coming..not only in cricket, but in any field.

No one likes to loose, late alone players. but then in order to win consistently, we have to pay the price in the short term, take hard decisions, be more pragmatic and resist knee jerk and hasty decisions, digest few set backs with an eye on the end. Then not only in cricket, but we will be the winners on many many fronts, for our society is extremely intelligent, sharp, open, tolerent and empathetic. We only have to look up and see beyond now and here.