Edgbaston: Demolition of Cricket's Superstar Culture

As in life, so in cricket, success and humility go hand in hand. It’s better to remain grounded, be humble as that’s the stuff true legends are made of, writes Arun Bhatt

- Arun Bhatt

ONE of the reasons I consider Test cricket not just a game but a metaphor of life itself is because of the multiple opportunities it gives for those who work hard and display a never say die attitude.

The Edgbaston Test, where India beat England in all departments of the game, stands testimony to this. It was a game where not just India won but more importantly Cricket won. It was Cricket that shouted from rooftops that hey I don’t need superstars and their paid bots in social media to boost my standings.

When first Rohit and then Kohli decided to quit the game all hell broke loose. Jokers in social media decided to go ballistic against BCCI itself for not handling the issue well. So far so good. But soon they began saying that it was Test cricket that needed the brand power of Rohit and Kohli. Without such big names people will lose interest in the game itself. They warned that tickets will remain unsold, viewership will drop, sponsors will back out and Test cricket will eventually fade out and die!!

Nothing could have been more ridiculous than these claims.

During the last few seasons, especially in Test Cricket, the egoistic duo could hardly justify their place in the team on the basis of their performance. For the first time in India’s cricketing history New Zealand thrashed us on home soil. Forget defeating us, they whitewashed us brutally. This is a blot which generations of cricket lovers will never forget. Yet these shameless superstars brazened it out and even arm twisted BCCI to toe their line. Subsequently, no major changes were effected in the Indian team.