The Hindu : Sport : Let us resolve...

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Thursday, Mar 08, 2007
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Let us resolve...

With the opening match less than a week away, here are 10 World Cup resolutions worth considering, writes Nirmal Shekar

Sure in my mind that the resolutions advocated in this column might have the same life expectancy of most New Year resolutions, I have nevertheless decided to move forward and err on the side of optimism ahead of a seemingly never-ending cricket World Cup.

1. Let us resolve that we will not burn effigies and paint players' names on donkeys should India lose a crucial contest in the Caribbean. More than the insult meant to the players, donkeys, blissfully unaware of a trivial pursuit over which we expend passions like gamblers part with Casino chips in Las Vegas, deserve to be left alone.

2. Let us resolve that we will not abuse the national flag, dragging it across spilt spirits and soft drinks and eatables as we celebrate a `famous' Indian victory. Some things in life are too sacred for even cricket to be allowed to pull down from the pedestal.

3. Let us resolve that we will not elevate — apeing the tacky TV tripe peddled by sportscasters — the latest match-winning century by an Indian batsman into `the greatest ODI hundred ever made.' Even a cursory knowledge of history will be enough to realise that there were, indeed, a few in the past who could do a bit with the bat in World Cups. Ever heard of Viv Richards?

4. Let us resolve that we will never again say that Team India carries the hopes of a billion people and the prayers of that many are with Rahul Dravid's men. The truth — if anybody still cares for it in this age of ephemera, an age of boosterism and saturation coverage of popular sport in the media — is that a vast majority of that billion has rather more mundane everyday concerns. Their hopes and dreams are not hooked to the fortunes of the men in blue.

5. Let us resolve that we will ignore the latest round of rumours vis-a-vis the latest rift in the Indian dressing room. Dravid is not just a decent, cultured and suave leader, he is much more than that. He knows a bit about management and problem solving and he is not the type to wash dirty linen in public. This team is his team and he knows how to keep the boys together. Just ignore those two-bit `sensational developments' whenever they come up; instead, stay tuned to the events on the field.

6. Let us resolve that we will not glorify the triumph as the `greatest achievement in the history of Indian sport' should Dravid's men come back with the World Cup. It might not even be the greatest achievement in the history of Indian cricket. Twenty four years ago, on a lovely English summer day, a bunch of one-day cricket minnows from this land beat one of the greatest sides ever to take the field in a World Cup final — Clive Lloyd's 1983 West Indians.

7. Let us resolve, too, that we won't dismiss this team as a bunch of no-good incompetents should they fail to return with the Cup. Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly and Kumble...none of them might play in another World Cup, which means it won't hurt to turn your gaze to history and check a few details regarding their contributions to Indian cricket. It is a shame that many of us choose to literally live in the here-and-now these days.

8. Let us resolve to revel in the glory of every great performance in this World Cup irrespective of the nationality of the performer. Let us not be prisoners of our passions and become sorry losers. It never did matter to me that Shane Warne wasn't Indian; nor did it matter to me that Pete Sampras and Roger Federer were unlikely to get goose-bumps when the Jana, Gana, Mana is sung. Tendulkar apart, these are the men who have given me the greatest sports-watching pleasure in recent times.

9. Let us resolve not to be swept away by all the hype and hullabaloo. This is probably going to be the most boring World Cup in history for some time to come — maybe three weeks. Agents of corporate greed might want you to believe otherwise. But, the truth is, cricket doesn't have the strength in depth to feature 16 teams in the World Cup.

10. Finally, let us resolve not to over-estimate our own powers of inspiration. If the Indian team does win the World Cup, many of us will want to take a little bit of credit as the team's supporters. But, believe me, we make very little difference. This Cup, as every other was in the past, will be won on talent, character, the ability to rise to the occasion and a spot of good luck.

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