19th November:
IND vs AUS, ICC CWC FINAL, 2023.
“Jeetenge na?” I get a text from my friend while we’re deep into the first innings of the final. Surya has just come in to bat and I’m hoping he pulls off a blinder. He does pull, but he pulls one to deep mid-wicket and exposes Kuldeep Yadav for the remaining 5 balls of the over.
“Jeetenge na?” was a question that was just meant to be replied with the reassurance of “Aaram se”. This wasn’t arrogance, this was just the faith that so many Indian fans had in the campaign we had till then. “Jeetenge na?” was also an unknown sense of supposed acceptance that- Yeah man, this WC has been rigged enough for us to escape this horrible batting performance.
It’s been a month, cricket honestly doesn’t feel the same to me. I’ve grown detached and us winning the coveted IDFC trophy doesn’t excite me anymore. I haven’t been able to watch any game of cricket without being reminded of the final. I think I should surely try to take a break from watching the sport. You see, I’m trying to move away from the sport for a while, for my sanity.
Of course, there’s a stern test coming up for our cricketers this month. Nope, not the Test series vs South Africa. The IPL Auction.
There have been tectonic movements in the trade window. Jerseys have been burnt, JIO SIM cards have been broken, slander names have been created. Now that I think of it, Virat & Rohit suffered similar fates.
Virat during his prime India captaincy days, got a lot done according to his wishes, rightfully so. But most of these wishes weren't wishes that the BCCI was happy with, they were just complying because he was too strong a force to go against. It’s always interesting to remember that most BCCI administrators are of political backgrounds. Pleasing someone who they don’t get along with, when they’re in power and waiting for the right time to strike the sword doesn’t come new to them. They waited for his runs to dry up, let him chase a few more balls outside the off-stump, lose more ICC events and they pounced on him to take an account of everything that he had got on his will.
Maybe Rohit getting captaincy was a by-product of BCCI just wanting to have a shot back at Virat. When Rohit became captain, he too was provided everything he asked for, including a bonus red ball captaincy. He messed up at ICC events and his godfathers at MI decided to pull strings as well. After all, they had their patience running out in him as a batter, too! But to think that Rohit would be sacked even if we had won the WC on the 19th is a little laughable. Mumbai Indians and its owners are- well, they need no introduction. MI would never lose out on the Brand Equity of having a WC-winning captain as their leader. He’d easily stay.
What goes around, comes around. Nothing is permanent and glory in sports, especially cricket in India - is not achieved by just being a record-shattering, immensely loved player. You need to be a well-networked tactician for your off-the-field battles as well.
Anyway, it’s an irony that we have the IPL auctions tomorrow, on the 19th of December. A very funny choice of date indeed. Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc who were all but borderline verbally harassed on the internet this time last month, will suddenly turn into RCB, MI and CSK blood overnight. The nightmares of the last 19th will be forgotten, albeit temporarily for the dreams they will show their fans on this 19th after they get picked up at the auctions
It’s been a month, cricket honestly doesn’t feel the same to me. I’ve grown detached and us winning the coveted IDFC trophy doesn’t excite me anymore. I haven’t been able to watch any game of cricket without being reminded of the final.
Anyway,
What time does the auction start tomorrow and where is it streaming?
After all, you see, I’m trying to move away from the sport for a while.