Atha Gregogangly Katha

My Daughter rang up to ask what would be the end to the end to the Ganguly-Chappell spat.

Looking at it from the point of view of our TV news channels, it is exciting times in Indian cricket. Ganguly-Chappell spat and the Board’s AGM could not have come at a better time in this silly season. Sensex was turning stale and boring, the colourless monsoon session of the Parliament was already over, Lalu from Bihar was not providing any exciting fodder, even in the crime world smaller than the smallest fry like Tarrannum (hope I got the name right) were left for the headlines and in the film world they were being made to do with some Madurwho. Things were as bad as they could be, perhaps I am wrong, the situation was even worse, and the channels were reduced to see a potential Rita Katrina every time it drizzled in the Bombay. In this state of affairs Ganguly’s confession came as godsend and to that has been added the now distinct possibility of Dalmia losing his grip over Indian cricket, the bosses of Indian news channel are beaming of course. In a way it is good for ordinary people like us. We don’t have to bother, the channels will do all the thinking and concluding for us. Thank you all of out there, thank you for making our life so comfortable.

One of the channels wants me to tell them whom I support. Thanks for making me feel so important, thanks for making me feel that my opinion counts, that it is my view that is going to decide who stays to live another day in Indian cricket and thank you for letting me know that, at the end of the day, it is me who is responsible for the mess that Indian cricket is.      

My Daughter rang up to ask what would be the end to the end to the Ganguly-Chappell spat. She is a Ganguly fan. (She is also a Sachin fan, a Dravid fan and a Kumbhle fan) She was not always a Ganguly fan this is something recent. I think she turned into a Ganguly fan a little at a time. The more the press, the TV, the man on the street (except the ones walking on Kolkata’s street) turned against Ganguly, she turned into a Ganguly fan. Ganguly is a strong personality, you have either to like him or hate him an in between feeling is impossible to nurse. So, will he stay or wont he?

In the Indian context finding an answer is not difficult. If Dalmia stays Ganguly also stays, if Dalmia goes so does Ganguly, period. Chappell? Well, be it Dalmia or Pawar the response will be identical. In typical Indian fashion Chappell will not be given a straight forward answer, he will be given to understand that the Board understands him perfectly and everything will be sorted out. Chappell will be happy, he will continue to be tough with the players, with the selectors, with the petty administrators and with the Board believing all the time the Board President understands him. All suggestions from Chappell will be patiently heard with vigorous nods of head and ‘yes, yes you are right, you are absolutely right’ thrown in liberally. In practice nothing will be done to implement those suggestions. Ultimately, a frustrated and a bitter Chappell will resign and left to wonder why did the BCCI select him and why did he take up the job.