Dropped @ Silly Point

Fans too harsh on their heroes - From The Hindu

Adapted from "The Greg Chappell Column" of The Hindu --

It has been a fascinating few days in India. The passion for the game in the country is truly amazing. Everywhere I have gone, I have only answered questions on Indian cricket or about Indian cricketers: What's wrong with Sachin Tendulkar's elbow? Will he be able to regain his best form? Is there any hope for Sourav Ganguly? And so on.

I must say that cricket fans in India are too harsh on their champions. Most players are at their peak for four or five years. Sachin has been the best player in world for over 15 years now. After failing with the bat in Kochi, Sachin contributed with the ball in a big way towards India's handsome win. Yet, he finds himself under constant scrutiny. It's sad really because Sachin is a rare talent.

There has always been an extra-ordinary pressure on him to succeed. To overcome such social pressures and keep your mental focus is incredible. I don't think anyone, even the late Don Bradman, would have been under so much pressure in his time.

Their second victory on the trot at Visakhapatnam will definitely ease the pressure on the India team, for they are now 2-0 up in the six-match series and know that they only have to win two of the remaining four to lift the trophy. They can now relax a bit and settle down to play their natural game.

It will be certainly less pressure on skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is going through a lean patch. Anyone who has played international cricket for any reasonable length of time is bound to have experienced such a trough. He is too good a player to let his poor form persist for too long. Right now the public opinion is against him, but I wouldn't worry too much about that, for public opinion can be very fickle. Sourav is the winningest captain India has ever had and needs more support to get things right.

Only human


Fans often forget that the stars and their heroes are also human beings. That they can also make mistakes like you and I do, every day. It is not being easy to be under the spotlight all the time.

I always felt that Australian fans are very demanding and the English press used to be very harsh on their players, but now, having watched Indian fans' reaction to the `failures' of their icons, I can safely say that the pressure on Indian cricketers is the most. It is not a happy situation for the players because extreme pressure often leads to shortening of careers. Only those who are mentally tough survive.

I only hope that Indian fans were a little more forgiving and celebrate wonderful talents like Sourav, Sachin, Sehwag, Dravid, Laxman and Kumble rather than vilify them for their short-comings. It will not only help the current lot to perform better, but also help newer talents to emerge.

Coming back to the second ODI, it is almost impossible to chase a target like 356. Scoring seven runs per over batting first is one thing, but maintaining that run-rate while chasing a target like that is quite another. Pakistan made a brave effort, but it was a lost cause really.

Now Inzy has to inspire his boys to bounce back in the one-day series just they had done in the Tests. Pakistan will find it harder this time because the come-back window is ever so small in the ODIs than in the Tests. I suspect that their effort in the Bangalore Test drained them so much mentally and physically that repeating the show in ODIs will be a tough ask.

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posted by Sreeram @ 8:36 PM