Jeev Milkha Singh is already an Asian legend.Although his purpose seems to have
recently drifted from being an Asian Golf superpower to a business brand he's made out of his name because of the stereotype association of luxury real estate and the imperial sport of golf,he's already a hero in his own right.Vijender Singh appears to have been created by the one up there with the rationale of giving the country-most associated with heritage muscle sports such as the 'Khusti' ,mud wrestling and traditional body building,the elusive 'Indian Mohammad Ali'.But with the amount of parties,talk-shows and ramp walks one could only wonder if the Indian boxing arena is headed the IPL way.
recently drifted from being an Asian Golf superpower to a business brand he's made out of his name because of the stereotype association of luxury real estate and the imperial sport of golf,he's already a hero in his own right.Vijender Singh appears to have been created by the one up there with the rationale of giving the country-most associated with heritage muscle sports such as the 'Khusti' ,mud wrestling and traditional body building,the elusive 'Indian Mohammad Ali'.But with the amount of parties,talk-shows and ramp walks one could only wonder if the Indian boxing arena is headed the IPL way.Could one blame over night stars like himself or the Karun Chandoks to have given into the lure of fame and gliterrati?A magnanimous superstar such as a Sachin Tendulkar or the cleanest, boldest face of Indian sports such as an Anil Kumble is looked upon to take over the mantle of chief damage controller.Kumble's gone.Sachin is almost done but with the exception of the 2011 World cup and tests.Dravid's fading.Who now?
Not every Irfan Pathan picked off rural Vadodara or a Sushil Kumar spotted toiling hard in the alleys of Najafgarh can be expected to prize fame and adulation in a positive,heart warming manner every time it arrives knocking on their door frames.
Not every human being is a Tendulkar.Not every wrestler,a Sushil Kumar.
In the last 8 years of International cricket,India has not won a single important global tournament but with the exclusion of the T20 World cup in 2007.In 2002,we were joint winners of the Asia Cup with Sri Lanka.If you go back further still,since 1995,when we last won the Asia Cup,it has been more than 15 years since we won any major tournament in a global event neglecting a tri-series here,a quandrangular there.
The rise to No.1 in the Test rankings has been devised with toil,guile and sweat over the last decade by some of the most head strong of champion campaigners in the form of Sachin Tendulkar,Rahul Dravid,VVS Laxman,Virender Sehwag,Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh under the belligerent leadership of Saurav Ganguly and Dravid and in the latter stages of Kumble himselves.Ganguly converted warhorses and emerging talent into hounds capable of destructing anything.Dravid seamed the unit into a tireless,professional unit leading by example or merit of track on most occasions while Kumble made brilliant statesman and transition captain.
The platform has been ably utilized and a marvelous 'super-scraper' seems to be evolving from it under skipper Dhoni for whom,the last 6 years has been nothing short of an abstract work of art and panache to the top.Like the ones at the top have said and maintained,it is always easier to reach the penthouse than put up tent there.
Countless debates have ensued of what would happen to this team after the 'big-uns' departed.Dhoni seems to have an answer for that with the ice cool head and the 'will never quit for nothing' demeanor.The No.2 in ODIs having being achieved too,why is it still a predicament for the fans,selectors or the team tank itself to promise victory with the supreme confidence that should ideally emanate from a country that boasts of the richest boards,bodies and players?We lack of nothing.Still every time a group of cricketers heads out,there is more than just apprehension.
There's fear.
There is despair.Negativity.An aura of self-destruction.Seemed to have brought upon the team 
by itself.With flash,drama,glamor and self proclaimed invincibility.When was the last time someone watching a telecast of an ODI or a T20 really feel the attitude in the body language of the athletes of the descending order of importance of a game of cricket,that being of Country-Team-Unit-Self.
by itself.With flash,drama,glamor and self proclaimed invincibility.When was the last time someone watching a telecast of an ODI or a T20 really feel the attitude in the body language of the athletes of the descending order of importance of a game of cricket,that being of Country-Team-Unit-Self.Does the team deserve it?The very 'spirit' of the team always being of supreme most importance appears to be left back in the huddles preceding an innings or before the ride to the ground from the hotel.Sometimes,as Dhoni pointed out,even that hour long ride on a fully air-conditioned bus following business class tickets on air,and being paid gazillions of currency to represent your country also boils down to being a mere chore.
Comparisons with boards and cricketing/sports units outside of 
this country would not be fair.Does this not happen elsewhere?In other sports?With other athletes?If someone like a Tiger Woods could be reported on record saying that he thought he deserved the perks that came along with being the No1 in what he did best,how could we be of any capacity to question the ethics and morals of people from far tougher and humbler backgrounds not anticipating the F of Fame or the P of Paparazzi,only to run into it all at once,head-on?
this country would not be fair.Does this not happen elsewhere?In other sports?With other athletes?If someone like a Tiger Woods could be reported on record saying that he thought he deserved the perks that came along with being the No1 in what he did best,how could we be of any capacity to question the ethics and morals of people from far tougher and humbler backgrounds not anticipating the F of Fame or the P of Paparazzi,only to run into it all at once,head-on?All the adulation of the No.1 ranking in the commander of all formats of the game wilts with the disgrace of the shambles that is Team India in other formats.It wouldn't be correct to blame the glitz and allure that accompanies success in an International sport for miserable failings on the field.Who wouldn't like a little good time?But at what cost?
Had Dhoni's remarks on the parties and the candor of righteousness come a little early,say the beginning of the tournament,his views would've been taken in a different light.Then,it would've made for a bold leader calling a spade a spade.Now it reeks of self-pity and cowardice.
The flaws of a system that made the people what they've become cannot be utilized as cover for failing in a game,for which the team's collective responsibility seemed zilch.
Yuvraj Singh was by no possible stretch of imagination fit to be present in the team representing the country in a world tournament.He was grossly overweight and his field presence itself was demotivating and miserable.Ravindra Jadeja could barely make it to the local Deodhar trophy with the skills he's equipped with on current form while for some reason unfathomable,Robin Uthappa was ignored over Murali Vijay and Dinesh Karthik.
If the current disaster that was the T20 cup results in Dhoni being axed as skipper,Krishnamachary Srikanth should be be sent to the gallows,Lalit Modi should be gunned down and the entire BCCI headquarters should be burned down with all its occupants,so desperate a blame deflecting stunt would it seem.
It's up to the management to look forward and get their heads out of places not suitable for mention in public forums,or we could keep having internationally un-recognized money enriched tournaments with all the melo and curry that is Indian cricket while we,the fans,watch India play 2 tests a year and start our descent into being slightly above the West Indies on virtues of home and away victories against Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh or the WI itself twice in a single calendar season.
