New Zealand’s easy win in the second ODI has showed how this country, of low-profile sportspersons, keeps pulling off performances out of the ordinary, time and again
New Zealand players celebrate the dismissal of India captain Shubman Gill during the second ODI in Rajkot on Wednesday. PIC/AFP
New Zealand’s easy win in the second ODI has once again showed how this country, of low-profile sportspersons, keeps producing champion players. Rugby is the number one sport in the country, and the players are feted more than any other sportspersons. Yet, that isn’t a dampener for other sports as they go out and keep producing performances out of the ordinary, time and again. None of the non-rugby sports point a finger at rugby as getting all the publicity and accolades in the media and the public sphere and simply go about their business trying to get better at what they play.
If only that was the case in India. Here the moment another sport finds itself at the crossroads, the finger is pointed at cricket getting all the attention, corporate funds and crowd support. Even when it comes to National Awards, when a person doesn’t get an award he / she will go to court to complain about it and at the same time invariably put the blame at cricket’s door.
Cricket in India is self-supporting and does not need Government funding unlike all other sports, which depend greatly on the Government for the financial backing. Yes, some individual sportspersons do attract corporate sponsorships especially during the Olympic year. However, these are few and far between. So, it’s understandable to an extent the angst felt by other sports about the way corporates go out of their way to back cricket and cricketers. That said it might do well for other sportspersons to stop and think how their sport has been also helped by what cricket has done.
Lots to learn from IPL
Today, thanks to the enormous, unprecedented success of the Indian Premier League a lot of other sports also have their own leagues based on the IPL model where individual players are bought by franchise owners in that sport. Now that is additional income which, prior to the success of the IPL was unheard of. Most of the leagues don’t always succeed, maybe because the rigorous screening process for franchise owners is not the same. Also, if the timing of the games in the league is not correct then the eyeballs on TV which translate into more commercial gains for the host broadcasters, the franchise and the players are not sufficient. Still, it would do well for those participating in some of the better leagues in other sports to remember that it was cricket’s IPL model which has given rise to their leagues and extra income for them too.
Cricketers are avid followers of other sports too and when India or an Indian player is playing a tournament there is excitement and hope that the player covers himself / herself in glory. Moving on to the ICC Under-19 World Cup, there’s plenty of hopes on the Indian lads, having won five times earlier, to win the trophy once again. While there’s no doubt about the potential of the youngsters, it’s their temperament which is going to make the difference in the crucial games. What was seen in the recent final of the Asia Cup was a disastrous disappointment. Not because of the loss, for in sport you win some and lose some too. It was the margin and manner of the defeat that was disappointing. To be dismissed in 26 overs didn’t do justice to the potential and it appeared as if there didn’t seem to be a care, as batter after batter batted as if it was a 20 overs match and not a 50 overs game.
Mentor’s input vital in U-19
It is too early to call anybody a sensation, as time and again it has been seen that there is a huge gap between Under-19 cricket and first-class cricket, not to speak of international cricket. Some of the batters playing IPL and those picked for this season’s IPL batted as if the opposition attack was nothing and tried to hit straightaway and lost their wickets. Yes, it’s a young group, inexperienced too and that’s why it’s important for a senior player and mentor to tell them that however ordinary the attack, one mistake can mean you are back in the dugout. Let’s hope that they forget thoughts of IPL and focus on the job at hand and that is to win the Trophy once again. Go for it youngsters.
Professional Management Group
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