Sunday 23 November 2008

Mind the thorns Mahi!

He could grow a flower on stone, make a stuffed cuckoo sing and evoke rain at Thar. The sea would split to pave his way, the wind would change course to propel his sail and the world would conspire to fulfil his wishes.

First time since his coronation, a thorn in his bed of roses pricked him and Dhoni still can't believe it!

Welcome Mahi, to a world of leak and lies, suspicion and subterfuge, clique and cartels, malice and malevolence.

Dhoni didn't like it but this was surely not the first occasion when confidential selection debate made its way to the pages of a daily. Unfortunately, this won't be the last either. For his own benefit, Dhoni should learn his lesson from the stumble to avoid an almighty fall.

BCCI head honchos, teammates, selectors, media, fans -- it requires a tremendous balancing act. Man management has to be spot on. Board mandarins with kingsize vanity and non-existent love for the game have to be kept in good humour. Selectors would go into a huddle with an agenda on mind and an axe to grind but Dhoni has to grin and bear it.

And then you have Team India, an assortment of fragile egos of different size, from the miniscule to the monstrous.

Dhoni clearly revels in company of fellow back street boys. But such prejudice has to wed pragmatism to avoid a strife. Presence of former captains bogs him down but Mahi would do well remember that Tendulkar is 'The Untouchable' and Dravid, though no more a Holy Cow, is better left alone.

Among the next generation teammates, Sehwag is a force of nature, not to be messed with and Yuvraj, a weapon of both mass and self destruction, needs utmost care all the time. To ensure the bowling unit keeps firing, Dhoni will have to pamper Zaheer and protect Ishant. Harbhajan is a proven match-winner but he needs to be constantly reminded that. At the same time, the Amit Mishras should not feel unwanted.

There is something reassuring in Dhoni's brand of captaincy that promises the marriage would last. But as Mahi himself would admit, the honeymoon just got over.

17 comments:

Soulberry said...

"He could grow a flower on stone, make a stuffed cuckoo sing and evoke rain at Thar. The sea would split to pave his way, the wind would change course to propel his sail and the world would conspire to fulfil his wishes.

First time since his coronation, a thorn in his bed of roses pricked him and Dhoni still cant believe it!

Welcome Mahi, to a world of leak and lies, suspicion and subterfuge, clique and cartels, malice and malevolence."


Excellent beginning and end. Fine description of loss of innocence - the boy must one day also become papa.

Why does Indian media play dirty with its own? Especially when the going's good.

Can't they sit back and enjoy it for a while? The dominance which they always wailed out for? Why?

Or is it some Boardie who felt he wasn't obliged enough by MSD? How does it work?


You must know better than us Som, about all these things. We are all ears! :)

Anonymous said...

Sex, lies and videotapes part 2.

Bring it on. Special show in India only please.

Anonymous said...

Soulberry, media would always play dirty. At least I don't see them/us changing. In the cut-throat world of professionalism, getting the tip-off hat Dhoni wanted to quit is akin to striking gold. It's just too good a story to suppress. Such stories raise thatn particular journo's stake in the circle too!
I heard, not sure though, that Yashpal Sharma let the cat out of the bag, even though I doubted Raja Venkat because he comes from east and the scoop appeared in ABP. I don't expect media to be responsible or doing anything other than what suits its need.

For 24x7 channels and dailies with four pages of sports news, they have to keep the pot boiling. The spicy, the better.

Anonymous said...

Scorpicity, Lalit Modi took note of the event and is reportedly planning to float tender for exclusive rights of those videotapes.

Gaurav Sethi said...

propose another BCC! meeting, bored members. this time with plenty of leaks.

Sharp shooting Som. Why do i feel the stakes were far greater than RP - even some SRT chitchat? And the leak is just to keep MSD in check.

Anonymous said...

NC, highly possible. MSD already aquiring a cult aura and it could have been another deliberate
'leak'. MSD should learn his lesson and tread cautiously.

Anonymous said...

right Som, This can happen only in India.... Poor Mahi.... Can't afford to play cool nowadays.

straight point said...

my first impression on this report was that what the heck? will savvy dhoni do this for a 'millionaire' bowler like RP...? no way?

and i agree with G that there is more to it than meets the eye...

i also believe that this has happened just in time for dhoni...and so early...now he can expect how dirty things can be and would react accordingly...

Anonymous said...

Anony, so far it was too good to be true. I think MSD's real test starts now.

Anonymous said...

SP, I too hopes MSD learnt the lesson. You can't really trust anyone in this murky water.

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Welcome Sam and you are blogrolled too! Happy blogging.

Trideep said...

I suspect RP was just made a scape goat. Actually the talk must have been abt SRT.

Anonymous said...

Trideep, I too feel so. After all RP is not worth picking up a fight with the selector, is he?

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