The BCCI seems to believe that it is perfectly fine to behave in the most ungentlemanly manner while running "The Gentleman’s Game" in India.
Another India-Sri Lanka contest, another final in which these teams meet and yet another Indian victory which has sent the Indian fans into raptures. For die-hard Mahendra Singh Dhoni fans, it was a cause for double celebrations. But one has to question the timing of many things in the entire tri-series.
The initial matches in the ongoing tri-series in the Caribbean have brought about a few facts. First and foremost, this is one of those series where even the most die-hard cricket fan will find it difficult to follow. The timing of the series is poor, and the time zone difference does not do any favours to office goers in the subcontinent.
If one has to pick a single star in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2013 campaign, the popular choice could well be the flamboyant Shikhar Dhawan. His purple patch was key to India’s successful campaign. In the entire tournament he had only one score below 50 (48 at that), not counting the curtailed 20-over final.
Indian cricket was in a siege when Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived in England. The team built a protective wall around itself to insulate itself from the negativity arising out of the spot-fixing and betting issues in the Indian Premier League (IPL). But adversity brings out the best in champions and India have unmistakably shown that quality thus far in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Ravindra Jadeja is certainly unique in the cricketing world. For someone who was purchased by the Chennai Super Kings at an astronomical $ 2 million, he has flattered to deceive on most occasions.
After India beat Australia comprehensively in the Delhi Test, the fireworks began in the heartland of Chennai with boisterous celebrations in the Chennai Super Kings camp. The mood was buoyant and leading the pack with a big smile was none other than the owner of the Chennai Super Kings, N Srinivasan himself.
The final nail has been hammered into the Australian coffin. India have comprehensively beaten what is being dubbed the worst Australian side in 34 years, in every aspect of the game.
The much anticipated India-Australia series gets under way in the sub-continent with the first Test match being played in Chennai. The rivalry acquired a new meaning altogether after the epic 2001 battle at Eden Gardens, which will forever be talked about when India-Australia series are discussed.
The past year has been a tumultuous one for Indian cricket. Substandard performances, a much- maligned captain, a newer breed of cricketers who are unable to match the charisma or the performance of the superstars they replaced and an overdose of cricket, are all contributing to a creeping indifference towards cricket in general.