Cricket: The drama of Indian opinions

India is a country of diverse opinions. While we are slowly escaping the strong societal divides based on religion, food, culture, language and a million other characteristics of oneself that many dont really know of, the societal divide based on cricket might never set India free from its control.

While the Mumbaikar (and most Indians) believes, there has been no better cricketer to have lived than the little master, Sachin Tendulkar, most Bengalis would put their lives on the line to argue about the Ganguly supremacy. Most Delhities have already started comparing, the man in form,Virat Kohli to the likes of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (Delhi doesn't see beyond Delhi). 

In this entire clutter of some knowledge driven opinions and many emotional opinions, the responsibility of the Indian selectors becomes all the more difficult. Harbhajan Singh decides to pick up a few wickets and Rohit Sharma decides to slaughter the bowlers for once and again India comes together to support the stars they had once ignored and probably witten off as the ones that need to retire NOW!!!!

These situations force me to wonder whether the public opinion of a player effects the decision of an Indian selector. At the end of the day, the BCCI and team management are also  human and being influenced by mass emotion is not something that is unheard of. 

However, we have seen some controversies in the past around inclusions and exclusions that stirred great controversies in international cricket. There might be a few more to come. Here are 3 decisions that if selectors ever commit to, there public reputation might just be tarnished forever :

• Dropping the great Sachin Tendulkar - If such a situation arises and the BCCI do manage to gather courage to take such a decision, chances of public unrest outside the offices of the BCCI can be expected. The little man is the face of cricket in India and the harsh reality of his retirement/dropping will be a truth to bitter for most to swallow.
  
  
• Sacking Dhoni from captaincy - While many may critic the way Dhoni's been batting lately, his captaincy has helped India achieve cricketing victories that many might have lost the hope for. The man has given the talented Indian team the head that had been missing for a while.
  
  
• Dropping Bhajji and including Ashwin in his place - The confidence the selectors showed on Bhajji did pay off but it also further created some complications post his tremendous bowling against the English. Picking Ashwin over him might not go down to well with the selectors.

Well, India is indeed a land of opinions, some knowledgeable some emotional. For the sake of cricket in India, lets hope selectors and the team management dont get swayed by the beliefs of followers of the cricketing religion. 

Understanding the Fall of Brand Sachin

A story in today's Times of India talks about the little mater, Sachin Tendulkar's dipping brand value going to his major slump in form. While the story goes on to talk about how imaging brand, Canon has already decided to do away with him as their ambassador, it also talks about how his other brands including Adidas and Toshiba may follow suite. Manish Porwal, MD,  Alchemist, a talent management agency did highlight the possibility of this little rough patch being the lull before the storm. He believes that this could be a result of the uncertainty around his decision to retire.

The story was insightful but a quote from Dr. Alok Bharadwaj, Vice President, Canon India did open up possibilities of the Sachin Tendulkar brand dying owing to multiple reasons apart from Sachin his not so great performance on the field.

Brand Sachin is heavy on the pocket: Being the second highest paid cricketer in the world next to India skipper M.S Dhoni, the man commands a huge sum to share his reptation with any other brand. At a time when organisations are finding it a task to feed their own people, affording the little master may just be completely out of reach.

Brand ambassadors don't work anymore: Many experts believe that brand ambassadors are not worth the money that is spent on them. They believe that the culture of having a celebrity face associated to a brand doesn't work anymore. The possibility that Sachin's brand value is not the highest could be a factor of the dying culture of brand ambassadors.

He isn't 17 anymore: With the majority of decision making powers moving to the youth, many brands have employed strategies that give them a fresh and young positioning. With the little man's age tipping age tilting towards 'the not so young,' creating a youth appeal through him is far harder for a brand who has the option of signing a young and glamorous star from Bollywood.

Sachin Tendulkar has been the face of Indian cricket for over the past 20 years and writing him off as a successful sportman, a team player or a valuable brand is highly unfair. With cricketing greats including Ganguly and Dravid backing him, it is imperative for the Indian sports fan to support their favorite star at a time when  he needs it the most. After today's fine innings of 76, Sachin has shown clear signs of returning to form and for the sake of Indian cricket may this be just one of the great knocks that are still yet to come.

Trailer : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

Sports is full of stories that inspire and motivate people to battle all odds to live their dream. While, many have heard of stories relatively popular personalities including a Sachin Tendulkar or a Kapil Dev,  very few know about the heroics of Milkha Singh. Popularly referred to as the 'Flying Sikh,' Milkha Singh represented India in the 1960 and 1964 summer Olympics held in Rome and Tokyo respectively.Milkha Singh is one of the very few Indian athletes to have bagged medals in the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a movie directed by Rakyesh Mehra captures the life of India's most respected athlete. With Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor playing the lead role, the movie is all set to be a must watch for all Sports fans in India.

            

VVS Laxman : A test for cricket

VVS Laxman decided to bid adieu to international cricket and what is even more heartbreaking is that he didn't give cricket fans another opportunity to watch him play. Laxman's retirement has not only brought an end to one of the greatest cricketing careers but also marked the fall of 'stylish' and 'temperamental' cricket in test match history.

As a child, I still remember the Eden Gardens test against Australia where the 'Very Very Special' Indian batsman took the crease with India following on and on the verge of a humiliating defeat. Laxman walks onto the pitch somehow knowing exactly what to do. Assuming his responsibility, the stylish right-hander takes control of the opposition and scores an outstanding 281 to not only save the test but to create a platform for Indian victory. Laxman has on many occasions set the base for Indian victories that seem impossible or improbable.

The retirement of one of the greatest test cricketers has now set major responsibilities for India’s next generation of players. However it might sound, the shocking retirement has now exposed India's vulnerable test cricket play even further. In my opinion, very few Indian cricketers were ever able to manage extreme international venues the way Laxman did.

The brand Laxman engraved its mark in to the books of cricketing history. The cricketing genius was hardly seen promoting anything else but the cause of cricket itself. While we salute the cricketing 'grand master,' there have been questions raised on why he actually did say 'goodbye.' There have been things that have been said and will be said in the next few days. However, a few heart warnings farewell comments include the following :

When i walk out to play in Hyderabad i will feel a deep void. A void that can never be fulfilled. My dear friend, VVS Laxman...

Sachin Tendulkar,Indian Batsman

Laxman has given a strong and clear message to selectors
Sourav Ganguly,Former Indian Cricketer

It's been quite shocking, to say the least. I was prepared to join him in the dressing room at Hyderabad, I was convinced so even this morning. Then I realised that I wouldn’t have the joy and privilege to share the dressing room with him. Yes, I will certainly miss a friend in the dressing room.

 Zaheer Khan,Indian pace bowler

a man of great dignity says good bye with great dignity. that is how vvs laxman has always been #vvs

Harsha Bhogle,Cricket Commentator 

That Laxman press conference was just like the man- dignified, classy and graceful...they don't make 'em like VVS anymore!

Gaurav Kalra,Sports Editor,CNN IBN

 As a part of my little tribute for the test legend, I would like to sign off with my favorite Laxman knock of all time.