By Vikram AfzulpurkarIndians are overjoyed. In the backdrop of coach Kirsten's prod that the current Indian cricket team may earn the tag of the greatest Indian team ever, the poster boy Harbhajan Singh, an off-spin bowler by all counts, SCORES A CENTURY batting AT NUMBER 3 (or 4) and RESCUES INDIA FROM POSSIBLE DEFEAT.
Take a closer look
With this writing on the wall, our fans are ecstatic but caution, my India! Cynical thought it sounds, explore the circumstances, rather the things that favoured him. Sure, it was a joyous result but let's not be overjoyed - the Kiwis had such an attacking field, the only go was (and it is his penchant) for the Sardar to go over the heads of the infield, which he did.
Certain situations allow for flair
These days, with the sheer number of pressure-situation-matches everybody can throw the bat (with moderate discretion of course). Yes, cricket is a hit-or-miss affair and on this day, the Punjab player didn't miss and got to 115. Interestingly, the other star of the day VVS Laxman (50 runs) got several plaudits about ten years ago for scoring 165 at a fast pace during a rubber against Australia. Emotional Indians as we are, our journalists wrote reams to the effect 'the boy stood on the burning deck, whence all but he had fled,' and even accused the Australian media of deriding this praise which the latter wrote he had scored when the field was 'in' as Australia had no go but to push for the win.
Reflect
There is a great element of truth in the critical media's appreciation which was grudging. These are the aspects fans need to understand.
World's Greatest?
At the moment team India are in some danger of getting lax because of excessive praise. Note that for the cricketing world, India is their oyster. IPL, Champions League, Indian investments in the Australian domestic T20 league are the components. Nobody wants to criticise India in this decade. After all lucrative contracts are to be had for players, commentators, administrators as long as India is in. Look at the praise being lavished and judge whether it's overplayed:
- An Australian coach describing Suresh Raina as 'the best young talent.' (As if there isn't in Australia, Pakistan etc)
- Dean Jones in 2007 describing Ishant Sharma as the 'next superstar of world cricket' (Is he even a star today?)
- Venkatesh Prasad being talked about as part of Team Australia cricket staff. (He's good but that good to invite global attention?)
- Gary Sobers making a press statement that "Subhash Gupte was a better leg-spin bowler than Shane Warne" for whatever specific reasons. (Did Gupte even get the accolade of being the best during his time in the '60s?)
- There's hardly been a dirty sledge against any Indian batsman (or bowler) since 2008 when the first IPL was held and huge money from 'Indian coffers' became a possibility for any player on the globe.
- A relative nondescript in current day context like Murali Kartik getting an English county contract. He's neither a current Indian player nor truly incisive. (Jolly good effort, eh, old chap? Please some Kolkata Knight Riders' selectors or administrators to 'consider' some players from England for future IPLs?)
