Gripped by IPL controversies, Indian cricket needs a sparkling show in West Indies from Dhoni & co to bring the focus back on the game
Gripped by IPL controversies, Indian cricket needs a sparkling show in West Indies from Dhoni &u00a0 co to u00a0bring the focus back on the game
The ICC World Twenty20 kicks off today and the stakes are much higher for the Indian team than any of their competitors. The Indian cricket board officials, the IPL officials and the beleaguered Lalit Modi will all be hoping that Dhoni & Co put up such a sparkling show at the tournament that it deflects the negative publicity that Indian cricket has been getting in the wake of IPL-gate.
"If the Indian team flops in the West Indies, then the focus will be back on the IPL controversies. If Dhoni's boys do well, then there will be some respite and the focus will be on the action in the West Indies," said a concerned BCCI official during a chat on the current situation in Indian cricket following the dramatic events led to the suspension of the Modi as IPL chairman.
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The game has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, as cricket has taken a backseat because of the off-the-field controversies surrounding the IPL. The headlines have all been about the financial irregularities, backhand deals and political games.
An early exit in the Caribbean will spell disaster for the game in India.
People relate the current situation to the end of the 90s when match-fixing had thrown Indian cricket into turmoil. And, then how the Indian cricketers lead the revival with some fine performances on the field.
The first major tournament after the match-fixing scandal was the ICC Knock-Out tournament (Champions Trophy) in Kenya. And it acted as a shot in the arm for Indian cricket as the Men in Blue put up a super show.
Former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad, who was the coach in the tournament, has vivid memories of the period.
"Fixing controversy was going on, a lot of other things were happening too, frontranking players were banned, but it all picked up again after our performance in Kenya, and when we beat Australia in the 2001 test series (under John Wright)," said Gaekwad.
Gaekwad had been sacked as the coach after the 1999 World Cup, but was sent an SOS by the BCCI to take over the reigns as a stop-gap arrangement. He looks back at the responsibility with a great deal of satisfaction.
"BCCI asked me and I refused for a long time, but ultimately I thought of cricket. It was going through a turbulent time in the wake of the match-fixing allegations, and I thought it was my duty towards Indian cricket (to take up the job). The Board felt I would handle the press and the cricketing part of it well. We had good results in all three tournaments (one Test against Bangladesh, the ICC knock-out and the ODI tri-series in Sharjah) and it had a positive impact. There was no talk of match-fixing. It's about how you handle the situation." said Gaekwad.
Debutants to the fore
"In the Champions Trophy, we knocked-out favourites Australia where Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh, both playing their first tournament, were amazing. It set the tone and we reached the final (India finished runners-up)," he added.
Gaekwad expressed confidence in Dhoni's team being able to get the focus back on cricket. "We have a well-balanced team and they are all in form, and their performances in the IPL has shown that. If you look back at IPL 3, it is the Indians who did well and not the overseas players."
Will MSD & Co. be able to live up to the former Team India coach's expectations, and bring back the shine on Indian cricket?
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