India’s abominable performance against arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday, 18 June, could be described as utter annihilation. The whole India team of eleven could not match the amount of runs which just one player of the opposite team made.
This begs the question. Why did India choose to field first rather than bat even after winning the toss? Could things have turned out different if India had batted first? Besides, perhaps hockey, the only game in which India has so far dominated the world of sport is cricket.
Cricketers, like film stars, are venerated like demi- gods in India. Indian diaspora all over the world had their eyes glued over their TV sets last Sunday. Many India supporters in England spent hundreds of pounds to watch and cheer India play and in return they got nothing but disappointment.
In the vast continent of India, their must be other better players who could be given a chance to prove themselves. As it was a hot and sunny day, our family had settled down in the back garden of our house enjoying a barbecue of roast “mogo”, makai (corn on the cob) and potatoes together with long cool drinks watching the game on ipad.
We had hoped to raise a glass or two of cold lemon drinks to cheer India’s win but in vain. We, like Indians all over the world, were utterly disappointed. Next to warch is tennis at Wimbledon. But why is there no Indian player of any merit taking part?
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
