India-Pak T20 World Cup: Why history may judge Suryakumar’s India harshly

Synopsis

When the toss happened, Surya had his hands firmly behind his back, or crossed, ensuring that there was no risk that his counterpart would imagine that a handshake was on the cards. It’s ridiculous that two teams will play each other for many hours and yet fail to show the common courtesy of treating the opposition with respect.

Cricket secured a huge win at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday when India beat Pakistan comprehensively to seal their place in the Super 8s phase of the Men’s T20 World Cup. The financial big match of the tournament had gone off without a glitch, and the right result had also been reached.

The broadcasters could rest easy that India was through to the next round, and, oddly enough, the loss did not mean that Pakistan were in trouble. There’s every chance they will go through to the next round too.

Overall, the spectacle was inch-perfect. Hanumankind performed when the crowd was still assembling, the rain stayed away, and a packed house was treated to a batting fest in the first half thanks to Ishan Kishan’s pyrotechnics.

Pakistan battled hard, but they were out of the game early in the chase of 175 when India’s quick bowlers made early inroads. But, this was technically an inconsequential game, in the tournament’s scheme of things, in that neither team would pay heavily if they lost.

That is an oddity given just how much the match was billed up to be. Financially, India vs Pakistan is the heart of this tournament, and enough has been said about the back-room negotiations that had to take place to ensure the game went on.

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Now, the overwhelming feeling is one of relief, not elation.

Cricket can take centre-stage once more. India play the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, but the result, once again, will be inconsequential, as the seedings for the next stage have already been decided.

On Sunday night, even while Suryakumar Yadav’s team took on Salman Ali Agha’s on an evening that was everything it was billed to be, there was much happening in the background.

When the toss happened, Surya had his hands firmly behind his back, or crossed, ensuring that there was no risk that his counterpart would imagine that a handshake was on the cards. It’s ridiculous that two teams will play each other for many hours and yet fail to show the common courtesy of treating the opposition with respect.

Since the Asia Cup, India have used matches against Pakistan to make a point. The cricket world wants the money from this contest but will not, or cannot, insist that it be played in the spirit intended. Anyone who has played sport at a competitive level, even well below international, knows that it is founded on respect for the opposition.

Anyone who has taken the field for cricket is aware that they are, at best, caretakers of traditions and conventions that have existed as long as the game has. Does Surya have any animosity against Salman? Not that we know of. Does this Indian team behave one way against all opposition and differently against Pakistan? Most definitely.

It’s unedifying to a significant proportion of India’s cricket crazy public, but the powers that be clearly think there is something to be gained by making a point in this manner.

As a sporting contest, India vs Pakistan is a mismatch. This Indian team plays a brand of T20 cricket that Pakistan cannot match at the moment, even in Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly conditions. The game still means a disproportionate amount to Indians, as evidenced by the money, time and effort spent just to be there for the occasion. That is not something to sneeze at.

But Surya, who is 35 years old and the leader of the team in the most-watched format, should pause a moment to consider what legacy he wants to leave. Does he want to be known as the 360-degree batsman, a la Ab de Villiers, who can take any attack to the cleaners, or as the captain of a team who would not shake the hands of the very opposition they engaged with?

The hype and hoopla around India-Pakistan matches are very real and not manufactured for financial gain. But in the process, players from both sides are, at best, allowing themselves to be used as pawns in a political exercise, and at worst, actively encouraging it.

The win against Pakistan was a box ticked, a stepping stone in India’s progress in the tournament, but it was robbed of real glory. At the end of it, the feeling was not one of euphoria, but of emptiness.

Indian cricket’s pride should come from how its players take on the opposition and triumph, as much as from the power that comes from being the biggest game in town. Sadly, yet another chance to be the bigger men, if you will, was squandered. Surya, the captain, is a winner, but as a leader, he stands diminished.

Showing respect to the opposition is not a sign of weakness. It is a demonstration of maturity, and on that count, the Indian team let itself down once again. They did not do so of their own volition, and the cricket board is squarely to be held responsible, but the team is the face of the nation.

And they have chosen a path to represent the country in a way that does not sit well with those they speak for. In this is a tragedy that history will judge more unkindly than any of them realise today.

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)

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