Related Link : ICC Twenty20 World Championship 2007
A billion people’s emotions rise in hope. Then a billion people’s hopes die. And then a billion people get angry that they have been let down. Why can’t they play better? They only play for money? Coach has been bought off? Sack the coach? Sack the captain? Sack the senior players? Sack the selection committee? Parliament in uproar? And then, we can repeat all this again.
The Indian team reflects our consciousness. It is our punching bag with our faces on it. Look at it closely and you will see yourself.
We can never forgive ourselves. We can never let ourselves and our team do better because then we will have to renounce our victimhood. And accept responsibility to who we are and what we do. We cannot blame someone else then. We cannot let our people have enough freedom to perform because then we would be totally free. If we did that we would be happy. We would win.
It is not about the team. It is about ourselves. What can the will of twenty people do against the collective will of a billion people who under the guise of being supporters actually drag the twenty down because they represent their own hopes that they are scared to fulfill, they represent the billion who are scared to own responsibility, to shun criticism and resentment, to actually get themselves to wholeheartedly say – yes, we are proud of you, we are one. We give you the freedom to be yourself.
But no, we have to be that draconian father we could never get approval from.
A team with the best names in world cricket, phenomenal players, names that represent honesty, commitment and integrity of the highest order – is struggling. And then, a team of complete newcomers under a new skipper wins suddenly. Why?
The Indian consciousness took its foot off the pedal and relaxed for just a moment and guess what, the team won. Give yourself a break fellows. You don’t have to push yourself so hard to be victims. Give yourself a bit of freedom. You will achieve. Easily and effortlessly.
And our team will take everyone to the cleaners as well.