As every Tom, CENSORED and Harry have made their opinions known on Indian Cricket team, I thought I will just list a few random thoughts (in alphabetical order) about the team that carries the hopes of the largest number of supporters in the world when it comes to team sports.
BCCI: The authority that determines the team and its composition amongst other things, the BCCI has been called all possible names, including the very befitting “bunch of jokers” by a former India International. Does everything else but develop cricket at the grass root level and ensures that by hook or crook the best 16 are not available to choose the final playing team.
Captaincy: A crown of thorns that any player who has played for India could aspire for.
Dependency: The team had this problem of depending on few players. Although it hasn’t completely come out of this, the present team looks like all players are ready to chip in with their might.
Endorsements: Well this aspect almost ensured that the entire Indian team (at least the best available one) missed the recently concluded ICC mini-world cup. Has also raked up the debate – Are the players greater than the game itself?
Fielding: The proverbial thorn in the flesh as far as the Indian team is concerned. But one has to admit that with the introduction of youngsters the team is improving this aspect of its game.
Gamesmanship: In the past one has seen Indian players be extremely reluctant to pay back in the same currency when they are sledged. They were meek and considered to be the gentlemen cricketers. The new breed however is a hard nut to crack. The captain leads the way, no wonder we have seen a few disciplinary actions against the team in the past, though some of them were unwarranted.
Home record: Even the best of the best teams have been brought to their knees by Indians on Indian soil. What comes to mind immediately is the match at Eden gardens, where India broke the record unbeaten winning spree (I think it was something like 16 wins) of the Aussies….and the circumstances under which they did it. Also look at “P for Pitches”
Idols: That’s what the cricketers are when they are performing. But sadly, when they are not, they are still treated as idols after the Ganesh/ Durga Pooja, thrown into the sea (the difference being there is no elaborate procession or reverence), not even an epitaph.
Jokers: a. look up BCCI
b. the spectators who hurl missiles at visiting teams when the home team is playing badly.
Killer instinct: Something that the team has always been accused of lacking. Indian team had a tendency to buckle under pressure. But then this team under Ganguly has shown some signs of having graduated to being men from boys, winning matches from not just pressure situations but also seemingly impossible situations.
Lack of genuine All Rounder: In the mould of Kallis or even our own Kapil Dev is what is hurting the team the most as of today.
Match-fixing: A controversy that came saw and demoralized the entire nation. Luckily the team has evolved stronger from it. Sadly some of the best talents in the team like Azharuddin, Jadeja and Mongia have never returned (and possibly will never return), while the likes of Stewarts, Laras, De Silvas and Gibbs (amongst others whose names were thrown about by bookies) have been enjoying a fresh breath of life with their respective teams.
Neighbor (read Pakistan) : The Arch rivals, these two teams can whip up some magic and passion, when the play against each other. Javed Miandad smashing Chetan Sharma for a last ball six in Sharjah and Jadeja hitting Waqar all over the park in Bangalore are two gems out of a whole minefield of them. Would love to see them feature in World Cup final.
Openers: Ever since Sunil Gavaskar (and to some extent Sidhu) left, India has been looking for match winning opening batsmen (at least one if not two) as far as test matches are concerned. Here the role of the openers has been reduced to that of seeing off the new ball, so that the strong middle order can capitalize. Unfortunately even that rarely happens.
Pitches: Under-prepared and tailor made for the team when playing in home conditions. This is the factor that often results in the team losing matches on foreign soil. I remember that K.Srikkanth (former Indian Captain) while he was in charge of the Pitch Committee demanded that the pitches be changed, BCCI promptly changed him.
Quota system: That ensures that selectors who represent the various zones try to get in players from all zones in the name of impartiality. Geographic locations often supercede talent when it comes to making it into the national team.
Running between the Wickets: Another problem coupled with fielding. It is almost two different worlds when we see the likes of Laxman and Dravid trying to complete a run and compare that with say Kaif and Yuvraj.
Spinners: India’s strength of the yesteryears. Even now we do have match winning spinners, provided the conditions are suitable. But surely gone are the days when Bedi, Prasanna and Chandra could skittle out an opposition on any track.
Tendulkar: Well there couldn’t be a more important “T” in Indian cricket than this man. He is referred to as God by most Indians (including a few spooky creatures…whether spooky creatures believe in God is a different question all together). Man who is one of the greatest cricketing talents that has ever graced the game is also the most sponsored sports person in India. He promotes anything from a ball pen costing 10 bucks to automobiles worth several lakhs.
U and me: The paying public who keeps the team afloat. Hopefully some day we will realize that it’s a game after all and the players are human beings too.
Victory: Something that always seems elusive overseas but much more achievable at home.
World Cup: The dream of every Indian cricket fan. We won it once in 1983 when nobody believed we could. Will South Africa be a repeat, lets cross our fingers…
“X”press Pace: Is what the team has lacked in their bowling. Though we had one of the best seam bowlers in Kapil, India has never been able to produce a Brett Lee, Shoaib Akthar and the likes. Pace bowling is chink in the armory of the team, early breakthroughs are a key in both versions of the game. The sad fact is that there doesn’t even seem to be hope in horizon….
Young Turks: The ones who have infused a new enthusiasm into the game as far as the team is concerned. They have brought with them a certain degree of chirpiness, agility and loads of optimism. But I still believe that a player like Robin Singh deserves a place in the one day version, for he is as fit as any other Indian player if not better.
Zaheer: He has potential (will I be held for copyrights violation..?)
Comments please…