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.
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.
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.