"And so it shall come to pass - that India will fail".
I know - a billion hopes would have been dashed today, a million dreams strangled and asphyzated as India went down to Srilanka. I would have wanted to add "fighting" at the end of that last sentence, but I don't know if its the moment or the place that I would chose for that phrase. Don't get me wrong, I love India. I love cricket. I am, (therefore I think - Descartes anyone) a fan of the game, and would love to see India regarded as the team to beat in cricket. But today, I am disappointed. That they came croppers in a crunch game. That world cup won't mean the same anymore . And "shame" would mean a lot more.
But this week was about a lot more than cricket in the cricket universe. The death of Bob Woolmer was very very unfortunate, not to mention the murder which was shameful to say the least. I had always thought of foul play being involved in the death, and though I 'm not surprised, I feel disappointed at the security for an event as premier as the cricket world cup. Not long ago, I watched Munich and felt a sense of abandonment when the athletes were being murdered. A similar sense engulfed me as the events unfolded. But I am ashamed to of myself to be thinking about the next big match and to have moved on so quickly from the murder of a cricket coach.
If anything, the death of Bob Woolmer is an indication of things that are beyond cricket. A loss of life always puts a perspective on the things going on and around. I guess if Bob Woolmer was not murdered, but had died anyway, people would have still accepted it as part of the obsession with the game - a sense of helplessness that comes with the territory when you are associated with the cricket in subcontinent. Disgruntled fans always have extreme ways of showing their discontent. But where is the sense of "Its just a game anyway"!!! I understand competition, I understand ambition, but does it have to kill the sporting spirit?
I guess all of us have played cricket at various levels, and I would love to ask everybody if they have won all the time. If they had a 5-fer or a century everytime they played a game. I used to play with kids less than half my age and they won against me a few times. It was just a game. But why do we associate ourselves with the sports so much, elevate human beings to superheroes and turn to supervillians when they fail??? Do we look to these guys to be the answer to all our misgivings and failures in our lives? Do we expect that the dishonest lives we lead are redeemed by the passionate, honest and loyal sportspersons we expect to see on the field all the time?? Its time to realize that they are just beings - as falliable as the rest of us. Of course, they are luckier because they are overpaid, over sponsored, over adored, never understood (over-stood>???).
Let me ask you this - if you got an offer that lets you make more money, would you go for it? If that comes at the cost ofa little corruption, would you do it? India is probably a country with a lot of corruption - and everybody wants to live a more comfy life all the time. So are the cricketers wrong to be looking ways to earn more money by their endorsements?? Who cares as long as they perform!! You wouldn't like it if you saw a cricketer looking like he is not giving 100%. Would you be able to give your 100% towards your job if a cricket match was going on!! If you would, go ahead and criticise the team. Else, stop ridiculing them and debasing them. They are probably no better than you are. They are accountable to you because its your money to them. But they are only as good as you (or sometimes not as good, depending on what pedastal you see yourself).
Anyways, in the context of the sad murder of Bob, the win-lose situation of India has lost its sheen. I would have been elated if India went to super eights, but on their performance, they are probably better off staying home, and working on their basics. I am sure there will be whole-scale changes, and no one will probably be untouchable anymore. May be this is for the good. Though it pains to know that some of the best batsmen of my generation won't probably be a part of the coronation with the world cup, but then - its just a game.
My interest in the game hasn't dwindled, though India will not be a favorite team for some time to come. But hey, all it will take is a streak of 16 continuous chase wins for them to be on the front seat of my fandom. Which I guess will probably take some time.
And till then, life moves on. But I really hope the Indian team finds some semblance. From its fans especially. And I hope nothing untoward happens. To the players. And the coaches. And the coaches they travel in.
