Some things never die
What is it with the Indian fan and a religion called cricket? Just when a slew of obituaries started to convince you that the demise of the 50-over format had all but arrived, that too much cricket was killing the game and that player fatigue was a monster worst than a sparkless innings, two remote venues — Vadodra and Nagpur — showed how the Indian heart will always beat for cricket.
Even as cricket greats of all hues said the 50-over format was over for good, fans spilled out of the huge stadias. Both Vadodara and Nagpur were a sellout, both revived the hope for 50-over matches.
Official figures quoted a 42,000 crowd in Nagpur which only swelled by the end of the exciting game. Vadodra, too, was bursting at the seams.
As for Delhi, unimaginably long queues were spotted till late Friday evening and soon the sold-out boards were up at Kotla counters. Not that the crowd dissipated after that. People were still trying to ask cops where one could find that elusive “just one ticket please”!
Come to think of it, there is something about nail-biting finishes that give momentum to anything that may be sagging in cricket — be it player morale, fan interest or TRP ratings.
If it was the unexpected Bhajji-Parveen Kumar runs’ burst that gave cricket back to India, it was the awesome Dhoni-Raina special that did it for the game and the much debated format.
If one were to put this flip-flop debate on the viability of the 50-over format into perspective, there is actually nothing wrong with the version of the game. The reason why the talk comes up again and again is because 50-over formats have been missing the photo-finishes that give them their life and breath.
Other than that, since cricket has become a sub-continental heavy-weight (despite Australia), India winning or at least fighting ferociously to win against the rivals, especially the yet-again-mighty Australians, goes a long way in moulding fan mood — a fact the first two India-Australia ODIs have amply illustrated.
Yes, 20/20 is fast and furious and comes with major trappings of modern-day entertainment. But, the 50 overs come with a lot of respect, strategies, a doggedly scripted and fought campaign and individual brilliance. It is in this context that their longevity would be good for the game and its future. To think of them as dreary Test matches only appreciated by the players for textbook reasons would be felling the branch that you may be perched on.
Cricket is not a game that, till now, has any competition with any game in India. Hockey is still struggling and football, though in the spirited lane, has a long long way to go.
Other than these sports, the ones like boxing, tennis and chess or golf are merely flashes in the pan, much appreciated for national esteem rather than for the heartbeat. Under the circumstances, cricket sceptics do not have a chance to play through the innings, even though too much cricket is happening, players are having a burnout, performances are dwindling and Sachin is slowly and steadily walking into the sunset.
You may feel sad that the old guard has all but gone and the new one is too flashy to stay for long, but the game will still carry on unabated, what with stars being born every inning in the Indian squad.
If it is Jadeja doing wonders with the arm, it is Bhajji who is taking the bat as the likes of Sachin, Sehwag and others watch from the pavillion after being sent back cheaply.
It is this momentum, this fits-and-starts run chases, these surprising performers, these flashes in the pan that signify modern day cricket. Like the post-modern teenager who will only get more brittle and outrageous and still carry on with life, modern cricket too will attract the millions in its present, unsettling format.
Even as cricket greats of all hues said the 50-over format was over for good, fans spilled out of the huge stadias. Both Vadodara and Nagpur were a sellout, both revived the hope for 50-over matches.
Official figures quoted a 42,000 crowd in Nagpur which only swelled by the end of the exciting game. Vadodra, too, was bursting at the seams.
As for Delhi, unimaginably long queues were spotted till late Friday evening and soon the sold-out boards were up at Kotla counters. Not that the crowd dissipated after that. People were still trying to ask cops where one could find that elusive “just one ticket please”!
Come to think of it, there is something about nail-biting finishes that give momentum to anything that may be sagging in cricket — be it player morale, fan interest or TRP ratings.
If it was the unexpected Bhajji-Parveen Kumar runs’ burst that gave cricket back to India, it was the awesome Dhoni-Raina special that did it for the game and the much debated format.
If one were to put this flip-flop debate on the viability of the 50-over format into perspective, there is actually nothing wrong with the version of the game. The reason why the talk comes up again and again is because 50-over formats have been missing the photo-finishes that give them their life and breath.
Other than that, since cricket has become a sub-continental heavy-weight (despite Australia), India winning or at least fighting ferociously to win against the rivals, especially the yet-again-mighty Australians, goes a long way in moulding fan mood — a fact the first two India-Australia ODIs have amply illustrated.
Yes, 20/20 is fast and furious and comes with major trappings of modern-day entertainment. But, the 50 overs come with a lot of respect, strategies, a doggedly scripted and fought campaign and individual brilliance. It is in this context that their longevity would be good for the game and its future. To think of them as dreary Test matches only appreciated by the players for textbook reasons would be felling the branch that you may be perched on.
Cricket is not a game that, till now, has any competition with any game in India. Hockey is still struggling and football, though in the spirited lane, has a long long way to go.
Other than these sports, the ones like boxing, tennis and chess or golf are merely flashes in the pan, much appreciated for national esteem rather than for the heartbeat. Under the circumstances, cricket sceptics do not have a chance to play through the innings, even though too much cricket is happening, players are having a burnout, performances are dwindling and Sachin is slowly and steadily walking into the sunset.
You may feel sad that the old guard has all but gone and the new one is too flashy to stay for long, but the game will still carry on unabated, what with stars being born every inning in the Indian squad.
If it is Jadeja doing wonders with the arm, it is Bhajji who is taking the bat as the likes of Sachin, Sehwag and others watch from the pavillion after being sent back cheaply.
It is this momentum, this fits-and-starts run chases, these surprising performers, these flashes in the pan that signify modern day cricket. Like the post-modern teenager who will only get more brittle and outrageous and still carry on with life, modern cricket too will attract the millions in its present, unsettling format.
Published November 1, 2009, In Sunday Pioneer http://www.dailypioneer.com/212618/Some-things-never-die.html
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