'India's loss against Zimbabwe was more than just a loss of a cricket match'

Zimbabwe match: snatching defeat from the jaws of victoryIt's a shame that in a nation so obsessed with cricket the national team should let the country down so badly. It is only reasonable to expect our team to play at a certain minimum at the level of the World Cup.Undoubtedly, there was disappointment about India's loss to South Africa in the first match but there was no feeling of shame. It was well played, hard fought, and the better team won. But the loss against Zimbabwe was more than just a loss of a cricket match. It was a public display of a country's character. And it was not a pretty sight. Here was a team which despite its earlier blunders (51 extras) could have won the match if it was disciplined, level-headed and thought of the larger good. But no. We had to have batsmen who wanted to be instant heroes by scoring a winning boundary or six. The result, to reverse the metaphor, we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Isn't that typical of India? A country perpetually poised for take-off, always a country which almost makes it.If that weren't bad enough, cricket highlighted our other great national trait: over-dependence on individuals rather than a team. The unfortunate death of Sachin Tendulkar's father robbed the Indian team of its miracle worker. His absence showed how the team was crippled.So it is with our politics, the subject of our cover story this week. Sonia Gandhi's sudden resignation as Congress president has created a panic. Many in the party cannot visualise a political future outside the dynasty. It is the same in the BJP where Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee has a standing larger than the party. There are few substantial issues involved, only emotive questions of individual worth. It's sad this has become the sum total of politics.When will we stop relying on individuals and grow up as a nation?.preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Published By: AtMigration Published On: May 31, 1999--- ENDS ---

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'India's loss against Zimbabwe was more than just a loss of a cricket match'

It's a shame that in a nation so obsessed with cricket the national team should let the country down so badly. It is only reasonable to expect our team to play at a certain minimum at the level of the World Cup.

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