Team India and Captain Kohli must get it on with the game
It's one long break Holi break for the Indian cricket team after the outstanding win against Australia in the Bengaluru Test.
Having scripted a fine win on a difficult turning track, much of the sheen had been robbed by incidents off the field where the Australians were alleged to have used DRS (decision review system) illegally.
One would have thought in the heat of the moment close to the 22 yards inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a lot of stuff happened.
It could have been handled with great maturity by Indian captain Virat Kohli who stopped just short of calling the Aussies cheats.
That the Indians have not learnt to use the DRS well is a known fact.
At the same time, to suggest the Aussies use the DRS (dressing room review system) frequently is an allegation that needed to be backed by proof.
To be sure, just after the win in Bengaluru, it would have been best if Kohli had just spoken on the great comeback and looked ahead at the remainder of the series.
 |
| At the end of the day, to impute that the visiting side was indulging in sharp practices needed to be backed by substantive proof. Photo: Reuters |
Instead, the press conference turned out to be a spicy one, where there was some kind of an uncharitable reference to the Australians. Luckily, he did not call them "cheats".
The way cricket is played today, much of the gentleness from the gentleman's game has been tossed out of the window.
Yes, when Steve Smith was caught leg before in front of the wicket, he was flummoxed. His reaction was one of frustration but to suggest he was signalling to the dressing room was carrying things a bit too far.
These days, thanks to technology, almost every inch of the cricket ground gets mapped.
From dirt in the pocket to possibly scruff the ball or using something unfair to fiddle with the seam, it's near impossible as prying cameras pick up everything.
Then again, today when cricket umpires in the middle are under greater pressure to perform and have the luxury of taking help from TV umpires, they do not leave anything to chance.
Kohli imputing that the Aussies use the dressing room for referrals could never have been proved.
At best, it may have been a statement in the spur of the moment. It's not just Kohli who possibly says things in haste.
Today, social media wastes little time in latching onto such things and famous personalities are quick to join Kohli in slamming the Aussies.
Emails sent from the Australian Cricket Board, the BCCI, ICC and finally one more from the BCCI to close the chapter could have been well avoided.
It did no good to cricketing relations between the two countries and any attempt at mocking Aussie skipper Steve Smith for "brain fade" was in bad taste.
Here is a series where the Aussies stole the thunder in the first Test in Pune.
If anything, the comeback in Bengaluru should have been used to throttle the Aussies purely from the cricketing point of view.
Rather than spending more time and space in newspapers for savouring the Indian bowling performance led by R Ashwin, focus has been on trivial stuff.
When the two teams assemble in Ranchi, one may well see Kohli and Steve Smith shaking hands and getting on with cricket.
For India, it's a far more easy job to focus on the task ahead. All efforts should be on forcing a 3-1 series verdict.
For their part, the Aussies are dealing with many problems with Mitch Starc's injury an untimely one.
Having lost the Test and momentum in Bengaluru, to come out firing in Ranchi will not be easy.
These are the times, when cricketers from both sides have to show they are hardcore professionals and will not let past incidents haunt them.
To sledge and get under the skin of the rivals is one thing and to allege cheating altogether a different game.
If at all Virat Kohli and the side have problems with what the Aussies on the field in remaining two Tests, they should go to the umpires.
And if there is anything to be done beyond that, there is a match referee and eventually the ICC.
At the end of the day, to impute that the visiting side was indulging in sharp practices needed to be backed by substantive proof.
The Indians did not have enough.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)