World Cup - India Bails Out

Was waiting for Bermuda to crash before putting this blog. Nowit is final. India bows out of this world cup without even entering the Super Eight.

So what?

Why the hell is the media making such a bullshit out of this thing?

One channel , dont remember which, is asking "Because of whom have we lost the World Cup Chances. SMS A Chappel B Dravid C Dhone D Tendulkar"

What nonsense is all this? When will people grow up? We all are sad that India lost, but people, please stop pointing fingers. Sit back and think. Are we not over reacting?

Why the hell are people breaking Cricketers houses?

It is a huge loss for advertisers and I guess that is one reason why the media wants to gain as much mileage as possible in the few days that people would watch these channels out of anguish.

I had a big discussion about the crazy things these people do, and why media is acting in such immatured manner...

Some points that came from that discussion are that,

1) Yes, we lost. So what? We need to take things on the right stride and see what can be done next instead of burning effigies and cursing Dravid. Just a year ago this same public was worshipping him for the continuous 16 (or was it 17) Chase Victories he gave India. A couple of years ago they called for Ganguly's blood, and they want to make him captain today.

We all saw what happened to Sachin's form when he was made Captain. Now the same stuff is doing rounds once again. Luckily Sehwag scored a few runs the last two matches, else people will cry for his blood as well.

Guys, come on. Wake up. The fault is not there in the individual. The fault lies in the way we take it. Cricket is a sport as any other. We have not created a Computer System, that can play flawlessly and win everytime. Yes, we do enjoy when India wins, but please take it light if we lose.

2) Second, what can be done about the present state of Indian cricket?

--> First stop cribbing or crying and start analysing

--> Blame game is not going to work. Nip it at the bud. Everyone wants to win. Do you think Dravid wanted this loss? He bloody wants to win that cup a 1000 times more than you or I do.

--> These people have a famly. They have children. When people react this way, do you think they can play peacefuly? You tell me, if you were to be India's opener, with your parents, wife and children back in India under threat of being attacked, can you do a good job? Every man, even people in the military can do a good job only if they feel that back home they have the complete support of their people.

--> When someone gets selected for the Indian team, you can be damn well sure, he is talent wise much much better than anyone in the world. What could be the reason for him not to perform? --> It is you and me. We people create so much pressure on these poor people that they buckle. After all they too are humans. When you boo someone so badly if the lose, how can they play peacefully. Perhaps, India won the 1983 worldcup because people rarely cared about cricket and there wasn't as much hype about this game as it is today.

--> So should I not be angry or sad at India's loss? You damn well have every right to be sad and angry, but take it out on your bathroom or on your sofa. Not on Dravid or Dhonis house.

--> The attitude of Indians should change. Australia just lost a couple of series and did the Australian fans react that way? Infact not just India, I include Pakistan in this as well. People dying. People committing suicide when Pakistan loses to India. I think we are taking it a step too far here.

3) I may not be an expert on Cricket, but I can see that there are somethings that could be done to Indian cricket (mostly suggestions from my roommates)


--> Create pitches that resemble every nation and give the team practice on these pitches before we play a series there.
--> Give the cricketers rest. They are not Horses. I see them playing the most matches (close to 1.5 times the australians).
--> Keep coaches for all departments (i.e a bowling coach, batting coach etc.).
--> BASICS BASICS BASICS. Catch the cricketers young. Teach them the basics well. Stop blaming the present set of cricketers. They are already old, and it is tough to change them. Aim at the future.
--> Quick running between the wickets. We sorely lack here. We are soooooo lazy. When I see a match between Australia and SA, the match is so full of action. They keep running between the wickets the moment the ball leaves the bat. Maiden overs are almost impossible to see against these nations.
--> Fielding. Fielding. Fielding. 20-30 runs here and you win most matches.
--> When to take Powerplay. What to do when you win the toss :). In the Bangladesh match, our score was 192. IT is very clear that they were going to get there in 45 overs if at all they manage to do it. It is plain simple that you dont have to take the second powerplay at all, especially when they are scoring left right and center. I know it is easy to pass comments on this as we lost that match. But , think about it. Ricky Ponting did not risk the second Powerplay when Smith was going great guns, even though their target was 378.

We have to learn from other countries, and there is no shame in doing so if we implement it well. Srikanth was one of the first to introduce "Pinch Hitting" which the Lankans (especialy Jayasuriya) adapted very well to win the 1996 world Cup. Likewise if there is something the other teams are doing, we have to watch and learn.

All said and done, it is a game. Humans are involved. So it is bound to go either way, and we have to learn to take it in the right stride.

4) Also, I wanted to make one point very clear here. Cricketers have NO BLOODY MORAL responsibility as Srikanth was pointing out. I COMPLETELY disagree with him on this. Indian Government is morally responsibile to the citizens of India, because we pay taxes. So someone who pays taxes/or holds a ration card, has every right to question the government. But not the same with Cricket. It is a sport. You cannot ask Sania Mirza why she is not winning the Wimbledon. It is her effort. She wins or she loses. You watch the match because you yourself made the choice to do so. Sania has no moral responsibility to answer you why she lost. If you are pissed with her losing a match, then please go and take out your anger on a teddy bear. You have no damn right to tell her that she is answerable to the Indian fans. Remember, you are a "FAN". Nothing more. Dont tell me that you watch TV and therefore pay for the Cable, and that money is used for advertising, and so on and finally the stars are paid from that money. It is a stupid argument and is similair to saying that you buy a shirt and you pay Raymonds, and he in turn pays the textile mills, and they in turn pay the farmers. Therefore you expect the farmer to do what you say. You are just buying a shirt for your comfort, and the farmer is just doing his job. Noone is morally responsible here.

5) On the whole, this world cup has been a total disaster. A Murder. 2 Giant nations bowing out before the Super 8. Crores of advertising losses.

Anyone game for a Pakistan India series while the world cup is going on ? :)... maybe that will put the smiles on the advertisers ....