The demise of the Indian cricket team has opened our eyes to a reality — they did not have the wherewithal and capability to fight till the last man. We were at the dizzy heights now we are at the nadir. For if our team continues to play as it is today, even Zimbabwe and Bangladesh would overtake us in the ICC cricket world ratings and rankings which would truly be the last nail in the coffin. Not once did the Indian captain take responsibility for his dismal performance nor did he introspect on and its impact on the team morale. The batsmen performed as bowlers and the bowlers performed as batsmen. This affected the balance in the team. Sachin Tendulkar in the one day series was amongst the leading wicket takers. Irfan Pathan was the highest scorer in third one day match (and Kumble in the Bangalore Test showed that he could bat longer and better than our famous batting line-up). A team of 12 cylinders was firing on two cylinders namely through Sehwag and Dravid — another indication that we are only paper tigers, whereas on the field we tamely give in. Then comes the inexplicable exclusion of V.V.S. Laxman who had the highest average prior to this series in the previous 30-odd matches India had played. If Ganguly with his abysmal average could play four matches till he was forced to stay out and his best replacement was S. Sriram, surely Laxman must be a stronger contender for selection. In three of the six one-day matches, half the Indian side was back in the pavilion for less than a hundred. This is cause for concern. We have to accept the realities and plan and bat accordingly — Sachin has lost his magical touch. He is today a shadow of his past self. Mongia is out of match practice. While the Board offers rewards and incentives for good performances, it should also have a system of penalties for below par performances. The BCCI is the richest sporting body and has been tomtoming its achievements for development of the game of cricket. However, in the department of all rounders we have drawn almost a complete blank (except in Pathan who has the potential to become one, but was dropped). Pakistan has three: Afridi, Razzaq and Shoaib Mallik ( almost all were man of the match in one game or the other). They can play purely as batsmen or as bowlers. Another feature which occupied the limelight was the slow over-rate. This precipitated Ganguly’s exit. In the last two matches when Rahul was captain this was not even heard of. This shows that there is complete lack of thinking and coordination amongst the back room boys who should keep an eye on the clock and on the over rate. A non-issue became a big issue. This was also the difference between an ‘in form’ captain like Inzamam who was on song and in control, and Ganguly who was indecisive and suffered from a bout of lack of confidence. The visitors also owe a debt of gratitude to the present Indian team since we have enhanced and transformed ordinary players into demons. Naved-ul-Hasan Rana was an unsung bowler. He became the Shoaib Akhtar for the Indians, Afridi reserved his destructive best for the Indians. We must be the team every opposition dreams of. Another aspect is corporate sponsorship which though not an on field activity but it has a huge role to play on performance and ‘expectations’. Since the Board has now offered a system of graded contracts to the players, they enjoy a minimum guarantee. The question therefore is whether the bonanza and booty which comes from sponsorship detracts from the commitment and the killer instinct that players have. The dependence of the players on the game as a means of livelihood has long gone. The days when players played purely for national sentiment and pride and for the honour of turning out for the country has given way to commercialisation and corporatisation of the game. While this is necessary to sustain the game and to improve it, it has brought riches for our players, but has softened them. Parthiv Patel was a passenger in the Indian squad to the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa and earned nearly Rs 90 lakh at his tender age. Sponsors must make players accountable. Money earned should be linked to performance and to set milestones. A player must earn his sponsorship on the basis of consistent performance and not expect his account to swell without repaying back to the game which made him eligible for sponsorship. A professional must play as a professional and the team must perform as a professional team. The ‘Pajama’ approach to the game must stop. Each man must stand up to be counted. India has to play to its strength which is our batting. India must work on its weakness which is the bowling. We failed on both counts. A no show or no contest like the one at Kotla should not be accepted by the Indians. Time has come to usher change and to bring at the helm a new captain who can redefine the team. We need a captain like Rahul, who is mentally tough, a born leader, a motivator whose performance can rub off on the rest of the back. He can be the misaal for his team and they will have a role model to emulate. We must also dwell deep into the huge talent available in India in the form of retired cricketers whose experience can be harnessed by the BCCI to motivate the team. The BCCI seems to be motivated only by litigation at the moment. The Board and its selectors must also be made accountable because they have got away far too easily. May the sun shine brightly on Indian cricket when it takes to the field in July’ 05. The author is an advocate in the Supreme Court
