Cricket DiariesThe Angry Young Men of Indian Cricket
April 14th 2010 19:13
Link: www.cricketdiaries.com
In fact, not all of them are young.
There are many of them, however, this IPL.
It started with Gautam Gambhir and I have written a whole load on it here. And here. For some reason, something's gotten into him and his restraint-levels have almost dipped to zilch.
While, I had already clarified that I did not agree with whatever he said, there is another brewing issue. His anger and lack of control getting the better of him and resulting in his three successive run-outs in the tournament.
Then, there is Sourav Ganguly. The Dada of Kolkatan cricket. Quite clearly, he seems to have forgotten that, it is not his Indian team of 2001, but a sub-standard Kolkata Knight Riders that he is leading.
So, calling the side pathetic and rubbish, to me, makes no sense. Nor did it make any sense to the team. They lost even more miserably in the next game against the Chennai Super Kings. By nine wickets and with eons of time left.
The latest captain to join the tirade-shelling list is Anil Kumble. The Bangalore side had lost to the Deccan Chargers, and Kumble had had his man. One Jacques Kallis. The buck had been passed.
Again, it could have been a tactic to rev him up. Or probably not. Just pure frustration. Whatever it may be, it would have done better for the senior statesman to have had a quiet little word with his man, instead of talking ill of his best batsman of the tournament in the press conference.
Wonder where did all the humility go? Thank God for the smaller mercies like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.
There are many of them, however, this IPL.
It started with Gautam Gambhir and I have written a whole load on it here. And here. For some reason, something's gotten into him and his restraint-levels have almost dipped to zilch.
While, I had already clarified that I did not agree with whatever he said, there is another brewing issue. His anger and lack of control getting the better of him and resulting in his three successive run-outs in the tournament.
Then, there is Sourav Ganguly. The Dada of Kolkatan cricket. Quite clearly, he seems to have forgotten that, it is not his Indian team of 2001, but a sub-standard Kolkata Knight Riders that he is leading.
So, calling the side pathetic and rubbish, to me, makes no sense. Nor did it make any sense to the team. They lost even more miserably in the next game against the Chennai Super Kings. By nine wickets and with eons of time left.
The latest captain to join the tirade-shelling list is Anil Kumble. The Bangalore side had lost to the Deccan Chargers, and Kumble had had his man. One Jacques Kallis. The buck had been passed.
Again, it could have been a tactic to rev him up. Or probably not. Just pure frustration. Whatever it may be, it would have done better for the senior statesman to have had a quiet little word with his man, instead of talking ill of his best batsman of the tournament in the press conference.
Wonder where did all the humility go? Thank God for the smaller mercies like Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.
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Comment by Tricolourprism
Tricolour Prism
Excuse the late comment, I am just reading this. See, judging cricketers of today on the yard stick of Tendulkar or Dravid just does not work. Times change and so do people. Take this not as an excuse but just as plain fact.
Humility is a character trait. I like not affectations but genuine manifestations. People such as Sehwag, Gambhir and even Graeme Swann are not pretentious people. They just speak up what they are feeling. And in doing that they come across as a breath of fresh air.
And the thing is that what Gambhir said was true.
Regards,
Bala
Comment by Anonymous
Gambhir was NOT asked, "do you think Rajasthan was ordinary today?"
Gambhir was asked, "were you worried that the opposition would chase down the target?"
Second point, to say, Rajasthan was an ordinary side TODAY is very, very different from Rajasthan is an ordinary side.
Thirdly, and this is a personal opinion, I do not think that Rajasthan was an ordinary side at all. Debateable, I know, so it can be excluded from this purview of the discussion.
I am all for talking straight, I have squirmed on many an occasion when Tendulkar and Dravid have not taken a matter heads on when required.
But, in case of Gambhir, the comments were not only uncalled for, but totally self-destructive; a team which was favourites to win the game, played as ordinarily as Gambhir had described the opposition to be.