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30 years ago, Ravi Shastri was chosen the Champion of Champions in the World Championship of Cricket held in Australia. He also got an Audi car.
The Team India director was in a foul mood after the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa. He told us: “Guys, this is the first time I have been faced with so much support for the visiting team. I can’t go on for too long at this rate.”
“Sir, we know it was difficult getting caned for 400+ runs. But defeats are not unusual, are they? I mean Indian crowds appreciate good cricket even if the opponent is Pakistan. So why are you so upset?”
“There has to be a degree of intolerance if you have to win matches. Let me give you 3 reasons.
1. Look at the umpiring! What is the point of having one Indian umpire, if he cannot help you at a crucial point? In the very first ODI if Kulkarni had given Duminy out, we would have started on a winning note. Instead we were always on the backfoot, even though Kulkarni provided us with a late equalizer. But where is Duminy and where is Behardien?
2. Look at the pitch laid out for the last match! Such a flat track that in half day they scored more than 400. In my times, we used to score that much in two innings. The groundsmen produce such pitches and our captain loses the toss promptly.
3. This AB De Villiers phenomenon is becoming unmanageable. One off instance is OK, but in grounds in the North, South and West people chant ‘AB! AB!’ as if he is Amitabh Bachchan. Poor Bhuvneshwar Kumar got hit for 100+ but the crowd has support only for De Villiers. Do you think I would have been able to tie the match at Chepauk in 1986 if the crowd had kept shouting ‘Mathews! Mathews!’?
I have analyzed and found that all this change has happened in the last 12 months. Ever since Modi became PM, the tolerance has increased in cricket. Not just on the field; Supreme Court orders are being followed and even a code of conduct is being proposed. How can any retired cricketer manage if he cannot hold 3 positions at the same time? We thrive on conflict!”
“Ever since Modi has become PM there is only tolerance and avoidance of conflict in cricket. I have decided to return the champion of champions award in protest,” Shastri declared.
“Sir, but that was for an old achievement given by Australia. What is the message you are sending out?”
“I am being sensible! All I want is that home umpires support us, associations give us spinning tracks and the spectators back us,” replied Shastri. “This is not for publicity. I don’t need it! Is it not far more legitimate than some forgotten people returning their awards because they have seen a big picture that most of us are not able to see?”
