Published: Mar 05, 2015, 03:10 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 05, 2015, 03:23 PM (IST)
Virat Kohli’s abusive rant directed at a journalist is only a reflection of the deteriorating relations between the media and the Indian team. The authorities have been successful in keeping the media away during the last few years and the big wall between the two sides has only compounded problems. Nishad Pai Vaidya writes about the whole scenario and how the lack of communication is affecting both sides.
India are in the middle of a very good ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 campaign. Their performances thus far have exceeded all expectations. But an unfortunate incident on Tuesday has come as a dangerous hurdle in Team India’s victory run when Virat Kohli showered a senior India journalist with the choices of abuses. Eye-witnesses confirmed Kohli use of abusive language during his ill-tempered rant. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
Predictably, the news soon became the talking point in the Indian media. But what became a bigger talking point was the response by Indian media manager Dr RN Baba. A terse email from him to the media contingent said, “Dear all. There was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used. Virat has spoken to the concerned gentlemen immediately and matter ends…” ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
It was clear that Dr Baba was intent on defusing the explosive situation. However, his unapologetic mail has only fuelled the raging fire. For two reasons:
1. Several journalist witness to the episode confirmed that Kohli used abusive language.
2. Kohli did not speak to the journalist directly. Apologies were routed through another journalist.
That Baba has chosen to twist the facts has understandably not gone down well with the media.
The Kohli incident has widened the gulf between the Indian team and the Indian media. There is very little interaction between the team and the players. The mandatory pre and post-match press-conferences are the only time the players get to speak to the media. After every game, the media gets a schedule with the familiar words, “No media activity” marked for all days except the eve of the game. Even friendly interactions have been discouraged. You may have known some of the players for a few years, but have to be wary of exchanging pleasantries with them, for “Big Brother” is watching! Ashwin ready for West Indies’ big-hitters in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match
Kohli was apparently irritated about a story about him done by another journalist and mistook his victim for that journalist. The fact that an Indian cricketer does not know some senior journalists, who are on tours quite often, also speaks of how successful the authorities have been in keeping the media at bay. Mohammed Shami bowls in the nets ahead of India vs West Indies World Cup match
Dr Baba’s mail does not surprise as India’s media management has been historically poorly handled. Perhaps, they have not had the right men for the job — Baba, for example, is a doctor by profession. Some of his prescriptions may have been longer than the emails he sends the media. When Duncan Fletcher was flying back to South Africa to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, Dr Baba only sent a single line.
On the eve of the game against the West Indies, Ravichandran Ashwin attended the press conference and carefully dodged the questions about the incident. He did say, “Media here are here to support us. It’s very heartening to see the media turn up in so many huge numbers and try to support us. But, I mean, this is my take on it. I think the media has a responsible way of taking cricket back home in a responsible fashion, taking cricket to the public in the way it needs to be taken. There are times when I’m not happy with that, but that’s my opinion. But there are other times when you support the players and it’s very important to take the game forward.” India vs West Indies, ICC World Cup 2015 Pool B match 28 at WACA, Perth: Preview
The breakdown in communication is clearly not doing any good to Indian cricket.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
