Last week, my
favourite actor had a few things to say about my favourite cricketer, putting
me in a tricky spot. Which side to choose? Many agreed to what Naseeruddin Shah
remarked. We Indians have had a long list of calm and composed captains. (I
know you are thinking of the one exception to that list. I am coming to him in
a bit). It's just not in our nature, they all feel. Well. Welcome to the world
of a 30 year old Delhi boy. That's essentially what Virat is, isn't he? A young
Delhi cricketer who exudes a potent amount of self confidence and passion for
the game! Now I know what those on Mr. Shah's side would argue. Was Dravid not
passionate about cricket? To which my reply is - this is the beauty of India
where a Karnataka lad's expression of passion is so different to that of a Delhite.
So, did Virat
cross the line? As someone who has witnessed Sourav Ganguly bringing that much
needed attitude in Indian cricket, I say he did not. Ganguly's attitude had a
context of what was going on in Indian cricket at the time. A complete overhaul
of the mindset was needed and Ganguly systematically inculcated that attitude
in his players. For Virat, it's just another day, doing what he had dreamt of
doing since his childhood. When you see him reacting to each and every ball
bowled by the Indian bowlers, you first admire his energy and the capacity of
his mind to handle such a deep sense of involvement in the game. He is there
every ball, cheering the wonderful bunch of fast bowlers he has got. He is
there in the dressing room balcony, giving standing ovations to his centurion
batsmen. He doesn't mind showing his annoyance when someone misfields. You
don't have to be a scientist to know how mentally exhausting it must be to do
that for 540 balls in a day. Seldom has Indian cricket found such a character
before. I won't be a fool to elevate him to the pedestal of an idol. He comes
with a lot of flaws as every one of us does. (I do agree that his remark of
leave India was distasteful.) What we must realise is that its part of his
personality and perhaps the key reason for his phenomenal success.
We as a society
are always quick to pass our judgments about others. It is important to note
how that one person who was appointed by the ICC in that position of passing
judgements handled the situation which has led to this conversation. Umpires
never (I first thought of using 'often' here but 'never' describes their
position correctly) get their dues in Cricket. It is the toughest and the most
thankless job on that cricket field. Consider Virat's dismissal in the first
innings of the Perth test. One of India's biggest bollywood superstars chose a
social media platform to declare that Virat was not out, essentially alluding
that the umpires had erred. He has that freedom to be emotionally charged to
make such statements but the umpires simply followed the procedures to arrive
at a decision. Interestingly, Virat's post match presentation answer to a
question on the dismissal presents a case on why his on-field behaviour should
not be a judgment on his character. "Umpires followed a procedure and made
a decision. That is that. Nothing further", he said.
Let's go back to how Chris Gaffaney handled the situation. His tone while separating the two captains, gentle but firm, made it evident that both of them had not crossed the line. As a spectator, the umpire’s actions indirectly told me that all was well; that it was alright to have enjoyed that banter. I will bite the bullet to go on to say that I enjoyed that confrontation, and his weird bhangra in Adelaide, his extravagant celebrations on fall of every Aussie wicket. It reminds me of a captain who never cared about what people might say. Test cricket so desperately needs such characters on the field. Virat and his antics (which seem organic than forced) make him the player he is. As Rahul Dravid had said - Virat's attitude is the reason for his success. Being who you are is a cornerstone of any successful person.
So to my favourite actor, I will say this. Remember Om Puri Sahab's role in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro? Take Virat's on-field behaviour in the same light. A tad over the top, sometimes slapstick, may seem arrogant to some but extremely essential to the overall picture.
Let's trust Virat's judgment on where that ever so imperceptible line between modesty and arrogance is. In the mean time, I suggest we sit back and be entertained by his extra-terrestrial batting and off course, by the drama of his emotional outbursts on field which, let’s be honest, we so dearly enjoyed 18 years ago from another captain.
