Regardless of whether the miracle of Bermuda putting it across
Bangladesh happens (the equivalent of the mythical Bhageeratha
bringing the Ganga river from the heavens to the Earth) and India
slips in to the Super-8 via the backdoor (This IMO is a dubious and
shameful way to enter the Super-8),
Indian cricket is at a serious crossroad and now is in danger of
following the same road to oblivion as Indian hockey. (I have
talked
about this before; the chief reason being the lack of consistency,
which is a reflection of the low athletic index of the subcontinent
and the lack of Olympic Quality athletes in its team sport ranks.)
The only advantage that Indian cricket has over Indian hockey is the
money that Indian cricket is bathing in. That may be its only saving
grace. Alas, that money is also not being used in the right manner.
As usual we have the political bigwigs who routinely interfere in the
selection procedures and nip many a budding and aspiring talent.
Then we have over glorified players (batsmen) brought up on a steady
fodder of batsmen friendly wickets on which they compile their NON-
CLUTCH dubious records, save the very rare CLUTCH performance.
And this tamasha is an endless cycle: has been since my childhood
days
and continuing merrily and I see no end to it. Never in my life have
I seen Indian cricket hit that magic word: CONSISTENCY. Players come
and go but the mantra of broken promises and shattered hopes
continues.
And honestly, can we wake up tomorrow morning and see a new dawn for
Indian cricket??? What has not happened for decades, will it ever
happen in the future?
Till that time, let's get used to these shock defeats in major
tournaments where newer entrants play CLUTCH cricket. And just like
the Indian hockey team's inability for the past 3 decades or so to
play CLUTCH hockey in major tournaments like the Olympics and World
Cup, leading to the team's drastic demotion in world
hockey rankings, so also cricket will follow, except that the false
glamour of BCCI's money which its poor hockey cousin, the IHF (Indian
Hockey Federation) lacks, may throw a false sheen on this steady
demise of Indian cricket.
As I have mentioned in earlier posts, India should thank itself that
China, S.Korea, and Japan have not started playing serious cricket.
And when they do they will knock off India even from the Asian top
ranks (leave alone world rankings) which it is shakingly and
pathetically clutching to.
Shiva IYER
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