Duncan Fletcher :: Our Scapegoat or Mascot?

Dear Mr. Fletcher,

      We, the Indian Cricket fans are highly obsessed with our team’s glory. Gary Kirsten has left a huge hole to be replaced in our cricket team.  It is a big void, which can never be filled by anyone else. I hope that you know your responsibilities to fulfill the legacy.

     In order to be an efficient coach, you must understand the sentiments and emotional quotients of our players. When compared with other teams in international cricket, you can list a million differences for Team India. In this team, you have been given a bunch of players who may not speak the same language, may not celebrate the same festival, may not eat the same food, and may not wear the same wardrobes. But, they are bunch of guys who will overcome all these diversities for making our nation a proud one. Not all the bowlers will bowl like Zaheer, not all the fielders will field with gymnastic techniques like Raina, not all the batsmen will bat like the great Sachin. But, we don’t really have to. Because, we have got Zaheer, Raina and Sachin! They know the limitations and specialties of each other, which makes them invincible.

     Being a coach of England is about managing 14 people, who are part of a single ethnic race. On the other hand, being a coach of India is a whole different scenario. It is about managing 14 people who came from the ultimate mixture of more than 2000 ethnic races; it is about managing 35,595 newspapers circulating all over India; it is about managing 515 television channels who broadcast to every nook and corner of the nation and last but not the least, it is about managing 1.21 billion people who never want to experience a Indian defeat!

     Till you come to Indian soil, you might wonder the part played by cricket on other sectors of life. Cricket might be responsible for both the happiness and sadness of our nation. Here, cricket will be given prominence over a visit from US President. Cricket will be the topic of talk from village tea shops to business conferences at presidential suites.

     A defeat in a single match can cause a middle-class husband to fight with her wife, a television channel to broadcast a counter attack talk show, twitter to become #overloaded, a Duncan to attract scathing criticism and so on. Unlike Zimbabwe or England, you will be forced to lead a ‘digital life’ in India. Either 1 or 0. Either mountainous accolades or self sacrificial altar. Either coach or no coach.

     Being an Indian coach means, you have to read the runes always and you must be able to chase the rainbows almost every time. Under your training, if the team continues its winning streak, then the above mentioned media and people will appoint you as the mascot of Indian Cricket. On the contrary, if the team loses, then you will be the first and foremost scapegoat we will sacrifice!

     Whenever you confront an achievement or failure, tattoo the following bunch of words in your memory cells.

      In India, it goes like this. Air, water, food, shelter, cricket!

Best Wishes From,

A die-hard fan(atic) of Indian Cricket.

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