Indian cricket team and its fan following

Indian cricket is fortunate to have a massive fan following (“Unpredictable Indian team needs to be consistent to be called great”, Gulf News, Aug. 27). All fans have their own strong views and thoughts about each game and player.

At the same time, there are many past cricketers, especially some commentators, who prefer promoting players from their state. If the player

clicks, they praise him for a wide range of strokes and say that he can tackle the best bowlers in the world.

However, if they poke balls going outside the off stump and get out, they say it was an “unplayable ball”. If players from other states make the same mistake, these commentators criticise them.

Yes, there have been many disagreements between the captain and some players, right from the Pataudi era (when Indian cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi became the youngest Test cricket captain in 1962) to date.

The Indian team is looked up to as one that has the courage and determination, of brave warriors of the past. However, those captains never dropped a performing player during their time.

The current structure is different. They select only the yes man, and the ultimate result is the loss of the Indian cricket during Test matches. Ironically, even the cricket board tow in line with the captain and coach, and it is always a different stroke, series after series.

■ N Mahadevan

Tamil Nadu, India