Hysteria Won't Help Win The World Cup

The 30-day countdown has just started. The groupings are known, the squads have been announced and it is clear that the 2011 World Cup is round the corner. One has only to see the TV channels, the various websites and every publication be it news, sports or business to know that the cricketing world - or more specifically the Indian subcontinent - is going to be engulfed by the fever that comes around once every four years. This time the temperature is going to be even more 'hot' what with the mega event being held in the subcontinent. There is a feeling of deja vu as so many of us have been on this road before. In 1987 and 1996 we were witness to what effect the conduct of the World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka has on its people and the environs. Normal work is at a standstill and discussions at clubs and homes, offices and bus stops centres around the previous night’s fixture or the match to be held on the following day. Who will win?

How many runs will Sachin Tendulkar make? Will Brett Lee be among the wickets? Can Ireland pull off an upset? How did that run out happen? Why did the batsman make that ill advised heave?



And while the subject of discussion will be cricket the most intense debate will hover around India's chances what with the game being a religion in this country. The high expectations have already started with the kind of advertisements that one sees particularly on television and as the days go by there is likely to be a crescendo of such high profile ads thanks to willing sponsors who are ready to invest crores of rupees in the game - or more precisely in the Indian team.

At a time like this it is but natural that the mind goes back to 1983 when 'Kapil's Devils' as they were christened by a suitably impressed British media pulled off one of the greatest upsets in the game by winning the World Cup defeating the formidable West Indies in the final at Lord's. Some years ago in the course of a newspaper interview PR Man Singh the manager of that team spoke about how much things were simpler at the time. As he pointed out there was no coach, no doctor, no physio, no media hype. There was only one official accompanying the 14-member team and that was Man Singh. There were no nationwide signature campaigns wishing the team good luck, there was no contact with Bollywood stars, no corporate sponsors and no big money. Television was then in its infancy and only Doordarshan was available to a comparatively limited audience.

In this pressure-free ambiance with no high expectations the Indians were able to perform in a relaxed manner. As Man Singh put it "we were in a situation where we had nothing to lose but everything to gain." Today with all the media hype, the ridiculously high expectations and the unbelievable pressures the situation is reversed. Should the Indians' performance be even slightly sub standard the team has everything to lose and nothing to gain.

The scenario has certainly changed and is frankly quite unpalatable. Cricket fans displaying an unreasonable attitude put needless pressure on the Indian team. Over the past few years there are these ridiculous expectations built up by the media, the marketing gurus and the general public. These die-hards only want Indian victories and consequently there is an oppressive influence on the squad. This immature attitude should not be taken seriously for the instigators behind these lop sided campaigns are creatures of emotion and not logic. But the damage they are causing the team is irreparable.



The incessant ads particularly on television are of the eye rubbing variety. How can they put so much pressure and expectations on the team one wonders? These days there are numerous television programmes analyzing the team’s performance with newspapers and websites not being far behind. I have nothing against encouraging the team to do well and I am aware of the passion that the game generates in this country. But there is such a thing as crossing the line. On the eve of the 1999 World Cup a national magazine carried a lengthy cover story entitled "11 reasons why India will win the World Cup" arguably the most ill balanced piece written on Indian cricket. We all know what happened. It was the same four years later only the hype was that much more with TV having joined the bandwagon in a big way. This was clearly treading on dangerous ground and not unexpectedly when the team made a limp start to their campaign in South Africa, it sparked effigy  burning and stone throwing back home. And as is well known the team plumbed the depths four years ago in the Caribbean in the midst of another high profile campaign that ended in disaster, much ill feeling and the sacking of the coach.

When will the instigators who whip up this mass hysteria realize that it is putting unnecessary pressure on the team? The excessive publicity surrounding the players can only harm their prospects. Already in some quarters India has been installed as favourites when this is clearly an open World Cup with about half a dozen teams having an almost equal chance of winning it. When are we going to abandon emotion and see things logically and put things in a balanced and proper perspective?

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