After a long time Indian Cricket team have put up a spirited performance to beat England in their own Home. Considering the fact that they were on the brink of defeat in the first test at Lords, it is a commendable performance. The hero of this victory undoubtedly is Zaheer Khan who one year back was on exile because of his poor performance. To stage a come back and perform consistently at a high level needs grit, determination & commitment. Zaheer deserves a big pat on his shoulders. I am also tempted to include Dada’s name here as he too has shown lots of character to stay high despite being ridiculed by so called his near & dear.
But what I am really worried is about the media who will now place Zaheer next to GOD and lift him to leave him under cloud 9. But seasoned professionals would understand that the same media would drop one down the very next day if he does not perform or team looses. The classic case in point is that of Irfan Pathan who at the age of 20 was cherished & nourished by the media which might have got into his head and now he is undergoing Vanavas in Kenya. I am sure Zaheer would not allow this short-lived name & fame to get into his head and would concentrate on earning the next win for India at the Oval.
But I am also amazed by the attitude of Sreeshant. Many say he is aggressive but to me, at least in Trent Bridge, he was a joker. Without getting any wicket and not knowing where the wicket was, he was spraying all over the place.But the tantrums he threw, made a mockery of the whole game and I saw many people in the crowd and the commentators virtually laughing at him. At one point of time he was bowling from 2 yards before the bowling crease and to me even a school boy cricketer won’t attempt that, leave alone the variations, Sreeshant had in mind. I sincerely feel, good sense prevails upon him which would help him to concentrate on his game and stop all the non-sense he is doing on the field. If you are as consistent as Mcgraw or Pollock, then you show your aggressive attitude, people will appreciate whatever you do.
I am sure senior cricketers like Zaheer would talk to Sreeshant as otherwise it would the end of the Road for him like the Balajis & Nehras who came, saw , did not conquer anything but left unceremoniously.
Good job Zaheer and Kudos to the Indian team. Instead of basking on Glory , they should put on their thinking caps so as to work out, how they can make the series 2-0.
NO GUTS NO GLORY.