Jhakas | Sanjay Jha
Kolkata and it's famous denizens are angry. You would think that John Buchanan, former Oz coach with the Midas touch, is the lost first cousin from Down Under of erstwhile US Prez George you-know-who. Effigies are being burnt with wild abandon, global warming be damned, as smoke rises into the summer sky from the embers of Buchanan's not-so-smiling expression hoisted on a long wooden stick. The tall lanky fellow with a wow track record as a coach, has invited massive public ire for his novel experimentation; a four-captain theory. That means the local Dada (pun intended) Sourav Ganguly, introduced everywhere as "India's most successful captain", is now not likely to lead the IPL T20 team from his home-town for the entire tournament, and will instead share the crown with multiple heads. Kolkata looks more furious than Mamta Banerjee on a bad stomach, and this is no Nano-matter either; it can dominate and drown the speeches of Mr Prakash Karat himself. Serious stuff, this IPL T20.
Frankly, I was surprised that the mishti-doi loving junta was so indifferent to their city name Kolkata being dropped from Knight Riders, now almost sounding like a historical brigade from some British province. Whatever be the franchise compulsions (probably to make merchandise sales and brand-building more pan-India than city-specific), I thought the pride of the Kolkatan would surface like a lava eruption. Not at all! Instead, it was the human icon's stripped captaincy that got them to an implacable boil! Kolkata never ceases to surprise. Continue reading below
That Ganguly would be extremely miffed at the peculiar game-theory of Buchanan is hardly a surprise, anyone would. It is a perfectly logical human reaction, so the body language of the Prince at the press conference which was subjected to split-second scrutiny was highly unwarranted, and typical of modern-day paparazzi slant of the Indian media. But in the one year since the summer flood-lights came on and the IPL space-ship descended on TV screens, things have indeed changed. Completely and forever. And Ganguly will perhaps have to just reconcile to the altering face of GenNext cricket. It is an inexplicable truth, no matter the accidental co-incidence of a captaincy controversy with an inscrutable Oz coach, reminding us of those dark days of Greg Chappell.
The truth is that IPL T20 is sauce and spice-entertainment, period! The stakes are singularly absent compared to any official international game, which is why Rahul Dravid has contumaciously ignored his being dumped as skipper by the bearded millionaire playboy or whatever, the owner of Royal Challengers. In fact, by giving no response to that much-touted and flogged decision, Dravid has sent a silent but well-oiled sharp message to his franchise owner; he has utter contempt for his cricketing genius, even if he admires his ability to import artifacts. So far the Bangalore team has made more headlines for heads rolling after a surprise crucifixion and some late-night launch parties with Barbie dolls in oomph glory.
Ganguly must now just tell himself that the classical age in which he blossomed wearing spotless white now has to co-exist with a three-hour night-life of cricket played in shimmering black and gold. T20 is like a fast-food take-away counter, you want a quick result, there is no time for connoisseurs sifting through esoteric appetizers, antipasti and a cheese platter to go with the bubbly. This is about creative commerce, lightning changes (a team of all 12 batsmen, some being all-rounders, cannot be ruled out), wholesome action , wild risk-taking and aggressive results. Nothing else matters. It is just pure bottom-line.
Shah Rukh Khan symbolises best perhaps the true-blue IPL DNA. He works at a feverish pitch, possesses manic energy, has infinite artistic genius, has amazing marketing acumen (apologies, Aamir Khan) and expects every film of his to be an extraordinary success. Guess what, he delivers, faultlessly, every time. I think Sourav will have to imbibe that infectious chaotic madness of his ebullient owner. And say good-bye to the old world strait-jacket norms of cricketing protocol. Things have changed. It is time to move on.
The perennial Knight in shining armor of Indian cricket need not fear the loss of his leadership. At least Buchanan has not yet talked about having him as a wicketkeeper and opening bowler at the same time! There is hope, yet, say the angels of the night.
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