Thakela Dhoni: IPL's first victim

Will that rare declining species of honest journalism please surface from their deep slumber , deliberate pretensions of ignorance or paroxysms of amnesia and kindly troop to the most famous Indian face of this year ( sorry Aamir Khan , SRK, Salman Khan, Big B, Sachin Tendulkar, PM Manmohan Singh) so far; Lalit Modi, BCCI Vice-President. He has even overshadowed the silver-haired Prakash Karat of CPM who gets phenomenal media space for pouring the same threats over the last 18 months. Let's ask India's self-labeled creative cricket wunderkid , by gently placing the microphone in front of his exuberant countenance , " Sir, whatever have Indian cricket administrators done to their popular ODI/ T20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni? He has actually voluntarily dropped out of the Sri Lanka Test and ODI series citing " exhaustion?". Modi will probably reply; " Don't worry, folks. Relax. He will certainly play for the Chennai Super Kings in the next sequel of IPL. Just chill.".

MS Dhoni's seemingly well considered decision to skip the pristine beaches of the island paradise marks a remarkable first in Indian cricket. Sure, there are cricketers in the past who have voluntarily opted out due to certain compelling personal reasons, but Dhoni is the first to lodge a formal declaration citing " exhaustion" ---- read, "too much cricket". Compare this with the impregnable records of players like Rahul Dravid , Sachin Tendulkar , Ricky Ponting etc who would move heaven and earth and played continuous Test cricket over decades, without even a single break, for even fitness reasons. In fact, these guys would be thoroughly demoralized if they even sat out a single ODI game. Did you see Sourav Ganguly's ire at being dropped or VVS Laxman's monumental disappointment when dumped out ?

The Jharkhand man has evidently had enough and probably needs to catch some snore and sleep. He is also the first "official casualty" of IPL, that relentless in-your-face summer extravaganza which media pundits have trumpeted as the " turning point" of India's new emerging global cash rich power-status. Whew!

But the fact of the matter is that MSD just celebrated his 27 years young birthday , even as he announced the launch of his new sports management firm. So what has caused the wicketkeeper-batsman to be the early prey to the fatigue-factor? If you look at the atrocious cricket calendar , you will recognize that MSD is a visible syndrome of a burn-out case. Even the taciturn Anil Kumble, who calls a spade a spade, has rightly condemned the ridiculous playing schedule. The fact that Dhoni has pocketed a cool Rs 6 crore cash bonanza during the " summer holidays" will have certainly helped in his proposed planned rehabilitation though.

Dhoni is also the first player sending a serious message to BCCI; it's time for you to lay-off, guys! . It is also an indicator of emerging player-power. The truth is that the morally wobbly BCCI which has blatantly " milked" cricketers since time immemorial, is now receiving a resounding kick on it's ballooning back-side. The IPL franchise owner is now the real royalty to pay obeisance to, not the paunchy babu holding an honorary post busy arranging complimentary passes for his wife's third cousin. I think that is perhaps the only salutary effect of IPL. The players make a fast-and sizeable buck for playing flimsy cricket amidst fans clamouring for more sixes and sponsors indulging in Bollywood wooing , and care a damn for BCCIs capricious selection policies, mindless scheduling and overbearing attitude. In the long-run, of course, Indian cricket will certainly climb the lower ladders for sure , but what the heck, we will all make money , right??? Right, Mr Modi?

In fact, in the Asia Cup final, the Indians looked almost bored, terribly fatigued and keen for their return boarding tickets to desi shores . India lost. An official match. And I don't know about those who live in a fool's paradise, but I know it had a lot to do with IPL.

Sourav Ganguly. Harbhajan Singh. IPL. In all these high-profile controversial issues, there are many who have sniggered , made snide remarks and generally spoofed my contrarian view. I hate to sound egotistical, but I have still always had the last laugh. Alone.