Brilliant, brilliant writing Sarthak! So many bits saved to Readwise. The line about India not having a turkey population made me laugh out loud, what an astute observation.
Sarthak, you've articulated something many of us feel but struggle to express - that India-Pakistan games aren't what they used to be. The manufactured rivalries and guaranteed group stage meetings have drained the mystique that once made these encounters unmissable.
That post-match announcement in Dubai felt particularly out of place. Sport has enough inherent drama without turning cricketers into political props.
Your point about civility being another casualty rings true - we can disagree with fixtures or policies without demanding everyone else perform their patriotism to our exact specifications.
I remember reading about the non-handshake in the papers and feeling so sad. This is not how any sport should be played.
This sentence, “You can even boycott, if conscience demands, without demanding everyone else perform their patriotism to your composition” and the last paragraph are absolutely brilliant.
Thanks for this. What you said about Pakistani cricket team becoming a shadow of its former self really hit me. It’s nice to know Indians old enough to remember the old days remember this at least. For years now I haven’t followed cricket, but moments like this one - the snub followed by the strange press conference by the young Indian boy - really make you feel even more detached from the game. It’s like it’s just not worth it anymore.
Thank you for reading, Sophia. And I couldn't agree more. It has turned very churlish. Didn't need to. And it truly makes the cricket barely feel like a sport.
Wonderful read, thank you. Feel so much of your ‘naivete’ as well, and mostly want to cling on to it, all the noise around me be damned.
“Neither protest nor principle, but pantomime” is so apt, and brilliantly put. Also exactly the kind of thing which bring indignant and fiery reactions.
And lastly- play or don’t play, take a call then be graceful about it. But like so many of us keep bemoaning, the field is an extension of jingoistic boardrooms and digital nationalism.
Superb writing that conveyed common sense. Something that Surya Kumar Yadav lacked apart from grace. Neither Rohit Sharma not Virat Kohli would have allowed this nonsensical dross called handshake gate.
I feel the no-handshake act is dehumanizing the opponent team. It is particularly jarring how the batsmen jauntily walk away after scoring the winning runs as if the balls were being hurled at them by a bowling machine.
I wonder what the cricketers would face in case they had lost at least one match to the arch enemy!? That sense of excitement and waiting for nail biting finishes and rueing losses but looking forward to the next match is just not there anymore. And I know I'll be lynched for saying this, but my heart bled for the Pakistani cricketers. It was a certain sense of loss, unexplainable. Why do sportsmen have to pay the price for the follies of politicians and fall prey to politics? I wonder how Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri feel, sitting in the commentary box and trying to not wear their heart on their sleeves.
100% Renuka. It hurts to see good cricketers descend to the petty gestures. And lesser said about Pakistani cricket - I mean just the cricket, hah - the better.
Thanks for writing this, Sarthak. The drama enacted was as obvious as it was sad. If we feel so strongly about not playing them, we should have the conviction to face the consequences of that (I.e., losing the revenues) but to snub the opposition with no acknowledgement of their part in the game was pathetic. But I think the transformation to where we are is perhaps irreversible. All that is left is spaces like this to express our disgust at what is happening.
If seen in the larger context of economic stagnation and geopolitical troubles, cricket is the one unquestionable flex for India right now (given that they are so good at it). Therefore, for the rabidly patriotic segment of the society, the Indian men's cricket team is the most favoured vehicle for aggressive nationalistic posturing and jingoism. Notwithstanding the degree of willingness of the individual cricketers for participating in such performative patriotism, the sad fact remains that these cricketers are the most prominent role models for India's young population.
If the Indian team has sought permission from the govt on the matter, I wonder about the role of the current coach in this. He has aired his views publicly on the matter. Is his the unseen hand that is making these moves? The players, much like celebrities putting out congratulatory birthday messages for the PM, seem like mere pawns.
GG could well be involved, but we don't know that for sure. I'm not trusting anything Boria says. Either way, the cricketers have definitely been used as pawns. You expect a little bit of resistance from them, but their hands are tied too, with a board/coach like that, and a fanbase ready to turn you into an enemy.
Brilliant, brilliant writing Sarthak! So many bits saved to Readwise. The line about India not having a turkey population made me laugh out loud, what an astute observation.
Haha thank you, Amrita! :D I'll confess to checking Google to see if we do before adding that line 😂
Just loved reading this piece. Thankyou
Thank you, Joe :)
Sarthak, you've articulated something many of us feel but struggle to express - that India-Pakistan games aren't what they used to be. The manufactured rivalries and guaranteed group stage meetings have drained the mystique that once made these encounters unmissable.
That post-match announcement in Dubai felt particularly out of place. Sport has enough inherent drama without turning cricketers into political props.
Your point about civility being another casualty rings true - we can disagree with fixtures or policies without demanding everyone else perform their patriotism to our exact specifications.
Thank you so much, Sid. Glad the essay conveyed what I wished it to.
And lesser said about the discourse the better, I swear to god lol. Players making fighter jet gestures. A lot of people need to touch grass.
Haha, exactly! The fighter jet gesture moment was peak cringe.
I remember reading about the non-handshake in the papers and feeling so sad. This is not how any sport should be played.
This sentence, “You can even boycott, if conscience demands, without demanding everyone else perform their patriotism to your composition” and the last paragraph are absolutely brilliant.
Indeed, Binu. So embarrassing what it's become now.
And thank you, as always, for being so kind :)
Thanks for this. What you said about Pakistani cricket team becoming a shadow of its former self really hit me. It’s nice to know Indians old enough to remember the old days remember this at least. For years now I haven’t followed cricket, but moments like this one - the snub followed by the strange press conference by the young Indian boy - really make you feel even more detached from the game. It’s like it’s just not worth it anymore.
Thank you for reading, Sophia. And I couldn't agree more. It has turned very churlish. Didn't need to. And it truly makes the cricket barely feel like a sport.
Wonderful read, thank you. Feel so much of your ‘naivete’ as well, and mostly want to cling on to it, all the noise around me be damned.
“Neither protest nor principle, but pantomime” is so apt, and brilliantly put. Also exactly the kind of thing which bring indignant and fiery reactions.
And lastly- play or don’t play, take a call then be graceful about it. But like so many of us keep bemoaning, the field is an extension of jingoistic boardrooms and digital nationalism.
Thank you for reading, Abhishek! And couldn't agree more. Whichever way, pick a lane and don't make the players your pawns.
Insightful and dispassionate analysis! Kudos to India for being the sore winners of Asia Cup.
Indeed. Thank you!
Superb writing that conveyed common sense. Something that Surya Kumar Yadav lacked apart from grace. Neither Rohit Sharma not Virat Kohli would have allowed this nonsensical dross called handshake gate.
Thank you for writing this Sarthak.
Thank you for reading, Rakhi :)
I feel the no-handshake act is dehumanizing the opponent team. It is particularly jarring how the batsmen jauntily walk away after scoring the winning runs as if the balls were being hurled at them by a bowling machine.
Indeed, Karthik. It was quite jarring, and set into motion everything that followed.
I wonder what the cricketers would face in case they had lost at least one match to the arch enemy!? That sense of excitement and waiting for nail biting finishes and rueing losses but looking forward to the next match is just not there anymore. And I know I'll be lynched for saying this, but my heart bled for the Pakistani cricketers. It was a certain sense of loss, unexplainable. Why do sportsmen have to pay the price for the follies of politicians and fall prey to politics? I wonder how Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri feel, sitting in the commentary box and trying to not wear their heart on their sleeves.
100% Renuka. It hurts to see good cricketers descend to the petty gestures. And lesser said about Pakistani cricket - I mean just the cricket, hah - the better.
Agreed. I meant the cricketers. It's like seeing a boat sink slowly into oblivion. Sigh!
The Indian Cricket team is being tasked to uphold double standards - as cash 'cows' and as Protectors of National Pride. Well written.
Thank you!
On point as always, Sarthak. The last paragraph was pitch perfect.
Thank you, Rohan!
Thanks for writing this, Sarthak. The drama enacted was as obvious as it was sad. If we feel so strongly about not playing them, we should have the conviction to face the consequences of that (I.e., losing the revenues) but to snub the opposition with no acknowledgement of their part in the game was pathetic. But I think the transformation to where we are is perhaps irreversible. All that is left is spaces like this to express our disgust at what is happening.
From Mukul Kesavan on this topic: https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/hand-in-glove-when-cricket-yields-to-the-nations-political-script-prnt/cid/2124169
Thanks for reading, Mohan!
Couldn't agree more. If we don't want to engage, pull out. It's been done before.
If seen in the larger context of economic stagnation and geopolitical troubles, cricket is the one unquestionable flex for India right now (given that they are so good at it). Therefore, for the rabidly patriotic segment of the society, the Indian men's cricket team is the most favoured vehicle for aggressive nationalistic posturing and jingoism. Notwithstanding the degree of willingness of the individual cricketers for participating in such performative patriotism, the sad fact remains that these cricketers are the most prominent role models for India's young population.
These cricketers are, indeed. And it's unfortunate that SKY, such a wonderful cricketer and clearly a friendly man, would be the face of this snub.
If the Indian team has sought permission from the govt on the matter, I wonder about the role of the current coach in this. He has aired his views publicly on the matter. Is his the unseen hand that is making these moves? The players, much like celebrities putting out congratulatory birthday messages for the PM, seem like mere pawns.
GG could well be involved, but we don't know that for sure. I'm not trusting anything Boria says. Either way, the cricketers have definitely been used as pawns. You expect a little bit of resistance from them, but their hands are tied too, with a board/coach like that, and a fanbase ready to turn you into an enemy.