16 September,2025 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Sunil Gavaskar
India captain Suryakumar Yadav (left) and teammate Shivam Dube after their win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Sunday. Pic/AFP
India cricket is blessed that it has fans all over the world who follow every happening in the game minutely and have strong opinions about the same. In the days before the internet, it was virtually impossible to keep a track of what was happening not just in Indian cricket, but also in the world game especially if you lived in countries which didn't have cricket among its Top 10 sports. The diehard fans would tune in to the radio commentary, but that was quite strenuous as not only one had to stay in one position to ensure the shortwave radio connection wasn't lost, but also the commentary wasn't always clear and that added to the frustration. Now, it's just a matter of switching on your TV, phone, laptop, and you can get to know what's happening in the cricketing world in a moment.
This love for Indian cricket means that everybody has an opinion and a view on this and what is right and what is wrong in Indian cricket. So immediately after the first game of the Asia Cup which India won with ridiculous ease, the Indian cricket fans in the USA had their questions and comments. I was in the USA trying to create awareness of the major problem of children born with Congenital Heart defects and also trying to raise funds for their surgeries which by the way are done totally free of cost to the patient.
Why didn't we bat first and get some batting practice for the match against Pakistan? Why did we not pick this one in the playing XI? Why not send this batter up the order? And such like. While it is exhilarating to see the avid interest and love for Indian cricket, it actually tells you of the pressure of expectations from Indian cricket and its cricketers. There's little or no room for failure and every match has to be won and if it's a Test match then if not a win then draw is the next option.
In a scenario like this, there will always be some criticism about the team. The team of course with their designer earpieces shuts out the âoutside noise' as it is called. That said, their supporters do keep them informed with a lot of mirchi masala added about the not so complimentary comments about them. In recent times with so many avenues to cover the game, what is seen is that for the commentators it is like being a wicketkeeper or an umpire. Just like for a wicketkeeper, missing a chance is remembered and talked about even after taking several brilliant ones and an umpire getting nine out of 10 decisions correct being criticised for that one error of judgement so also for the commentators today. They can praise a player and team nine times out of 10, but that one time, when they point out a deficiency, they are held to account only for that, forgetting the earlier phrases of praise.
Not every commentator has a facile way with words like the one and only Richie Benaud had. He was known to hate criticising players and even if he had to, he would find the best words to soften the blow like the touch of a feather.
There's never been another like him and probably never will be. He was also remarkably detached from the Australian team and so was able to keep his emotions in check if the happenings on the field were not to his liking. Ian Chappell is another one who was also fairly detached from the Australian team, but all round the world, all the former players who are in the commentary box are still deeply attached to their country's team's performance and that reflects in their commentary. There are some who can call a spade a spoon while there are some others who will call it a shovel.
Funnily enough, almost all the touchy players when they finish playing the game, turn to commentary and then dish out the same advice to those playing now, which they hated when they themselves were playing. That's when they realise that there are no personal agendas for the commentators, and if one speaks frankly, then one speaks what one sees on the field. That is the job of the commentators and while some can dress it up and make the bad look good, most others having given their hearts out while playing for their countries aren't able to hold back their emotions.
There is not a single commentator that I have come across in my career who wants his country to lose. After all, like cricket fans all over the world, he too is first and foremost a fan of this beloved game of ours.
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