|
|
|
|
|
Narain Karthikeyan, Sania Mirza and Pankaj Advani, among others, could end cricket's domination of India's mindspace. By Indrani Rajkhowa
Indian sport has, at least since 1983, been about a game that only 11 countries in the world play: cricket. And it seemed as if there was no end to the worshipping of Indian cricketers, which could truly be said to have commenced when India brought home the World Cup in 1983. Since then, sports in India has always meant cricket, and has reached the level of a religion, almost. When it comes to the game of the willow, everyone in India eats, sleeps and drinks cricket. It's the game of the masses, the game of the classes and pretty much everyone else's game. From politicians to film stars, from television channels to corporates; everyone wants a piece of the cricket pie. For the last 10 years, cricketers and cricket have been the sole medium of advertising that most large companies choose. The amounts have been staggering and the cricketers have been getting richer and richer. But, in the last couple of months, as the famous poet and crooner Dylan would have said: For the times they are a-changin'... Enter Narain Karthikeyan, Sania Mirza, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Anju George and Pankaj Advani. Two of them-Mirza and Karthikeyan- happened slam bang in the middle of the biggest (in terms of viewership and money) cricket series: India vs Pakistan. Suddenly, there was actually someone competing with cricket to be on the front page of the newspapers. That in itself was an incredible change. You could actually see as much of Narain Kartikeyan and Sania Mirza in the news as you could our beloved cricketers. Though they've only really knocked on the door yet, it is a good resonant knock and given reasonable performances (yes, they count), the door may just yield. Burdened with a cricket team where players badly need to pump up their batting and bowling averages and avoid injury, India's sporting followers have found new icons in Mirza and Karthikeyan and the rest of their ilk, akin to a breath of fresh air. Ironically, what may be eating at cricket's popularity is an overdose of cricket itself. When a boundary stirs just a smile from the spectators and when a master blaster manages to evoke just a cursory wave from the pavilions-it's time to acknowledge that there is big trouble. Team India has moved from clueless to helpless in nearly all the matches played since the away series in Pakistan, and if people are losing patience, they have every right to be. On the other hand, the new kids on the sporting block are solid back page achievers, not fluffy, superficial wannabes-their success has emerged out of toil, ambition, frustration and a toughness that marks out champions. The game of cricket has suffered; averages and aggregates have been devalued. And with it has gone the crazed following of the game's supporters. New icons, new superstars have to be found. Dare we say that the process has begun?
|
|
Issue Contents Write to us Subscription Syndication INDIA TODAY |
INDIA TODAY PLUS © Living Media India Ltd |
 |
 |
