An Open Letter from Indian Cricket Fans to Indian Team

[chainsmoker1985]

To whomsoever it may concern. To Team India who it ought to concern. ItÃÔ summer-time in January in Australia but this year, the heat just got a little too unbearable. We thought you will win, you lost. Fine. We thought you will fight, you didnÃÕ. Fine. We eventually reconciled thinking one of you will stand up and fight but none heard us screaming our support from the stands. That is not fine. No it is not. That you lost a Test is part of the game. That you lost the next two is bearable too, perhaps. After all, we took our own time to adjust when we came to this country. But we stuck our guts and refused to give up. Even when reports of Indian students being targeted cropped up, we held our own and made it through. What did your lot do? When you were targeted by bowlers, all of you ran back to the pavilion in a hurry. When the batsmen took you on, you trembled by bowling short and wide. We know because we were there in Melbourne, we were there in Sydney and against all rationale, some of us even went to the WACA. A year back when you defeated Australia in the World Cup, we walked the streets with our heads held high. When you won the tournament, we wore our blues with pride. Now, we have taken all our clothes with the slightest hue of blue and stored them away. We are bleeding but not blue for sure. Do not get us wrong. We are called fans for a reason and we are not criticizing you. This is more of a question than a judgment. Could none of you stand your ground here? Could not just one of you say enough is enough? We are not talking of a rare Virat Kohli 50 or a heartening but fruitless 5-wicket haul from Umesh Yadav. We are talking in terms of qualitative consistency. The joke last March here was that Australia go down under in India. We know because some of us came up with it. The joke now is that the only way Indians can get a wicket is by raising their own fingers rather than making the umpires do it. We know because all of us have (over)heard it. The other day, we were walking in our university campus and some locals came up to us and asked if we were from the country that just lost 0-3 or the other which is having a political turmoil again. Here, India is now known as much for the cricket played recently as Pakistan has always been known for itÃÔ political crisis. It is defining us and our country! Winning and losing is like passing and failing. Both happen from time to time. We get it. But the worst of students among us study at least a day before the exam. CouldnÃÕ you? And remember, when/if we fail our first exam in foreign colleges, none of us get up and say we failed to adjust and acclimatize. Keep this in mind before you make statements, let alone go out to play to lose again. See you in Adelaide (yes, we will be there). With dwindling love, Indian Cricket Fans from India and Australia. http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/blogs/shubhodeep-chakravarty/item/184114-india-vs-australia-open-letter-from-indian-cricket-fans-in-australia

[EnterTheVoid]

To whomsoever it may concern. To Team India who it ought to concern. ItÃÔ summer-time in January in Australia but this year, the heat just got a little too unbearable. We thought you will win, you lost. Fine. We thought you will fight, you didnÃÕ. Fine. We eventually reconciled thinking one of you will stand up and fight but none heard us screaming our support from the stands. That is not fine. No it is not. That you lost a Test is part of the game. That you lost the next two is bearable too, perhaps. After all, we took our own time to adjust when we came to this country. But we stuck our guts and refused to give up. Even when reports of Indian students being targeted cropped up, we held our own and made it through. What did your lot do? When you were targeted by bowlers, all of you ran back to the pavilion in a hurry. When the batsmen took you on, you trembled by bowling short and wide. We know because we were there in Melbourne, we were there in Sydney and against all rationale, some of us even went to the WACA. A year back when you defeated Australia in the World Cup, we walked the streets with our heads held high. When you won the tournament, we wore our blues with pride. Now, we have taken all our clothes with the slightest hue of blue and stored them away. We are bleeding but not blue for sure. Do not get us wrong. We are called fans for a reason and we are not criticizing you. This is more of a question than a judgment. Could none of you stand your ground here? Could not just one of you say enough is enough? We are not talking of a rare Virat Kohli 50 or a heartening but fruitless 5-wicket haul from Umesh Yadav. We are talking in terms of qualitative consistency. The joke last March here was that Australia go down under in India. We know because some of us came up with it. The joke now is that the only way Indians can get a wicket is by raising their own fingers rather than making the umpires do it. We know because all of us have (over)heard it. The other day, we were walking in our university campus and some locals came up to us and asked if we were from the country that just lost 0-3 or the other which is having a political turmoil again. Here, India is now known as much for the cricket played recently as Pakistan has always been known for itÃÔ political crisis. It is defining us and our country! Winning and losing is like passing and failing. Both happen from time to time. We get it. But the worst of students among us study at least a day before the exam. CouldnÃÕ you? And remember, when/if we fail our first exam in foreign colleges, none of us get up and say we failed to adjust and acclimatize. Keep this in mind before you make statements, let alone go out to play to lose again. See you in Adelaide (yes, we will be there). With dwindling love, Indian Cricket Fans in Australia. http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/blogs/shubhodeep-chakravarty/item/184114-india-vs-australia-open-letter-from-indian-cricket-fans-in-australia

Awww, must be the Swami Army

[chainsmoker1985]

Awww, must be the Swami Army I wouldn't bother honestly, not at $100 a ticket.

So you will still go there in Adelaide and watch the match, Right? Even I'd have gone there and watched the match no matter what

[Dhonuts Dhoni]

Do not get us wrong. We are called fans for a reason and we are not criticizing you.

If there was ever a time where open criticism would be acceptable, it's 7 straight losses away. Very touching though. Maybe they'll show something in Radelaide

[EnterTheVoid]

So you will still go there in Adelaide and watch the match' date=' Right? Even I'd have gone there and watched the match no matter what[/quote'] Probably not, I have already seen plenty of tests at Adelaide. No incentive to go this time. I will go for the ODI tho.

[Needforspeed]

Is anybody listening?

[BERGKAMP]

Is anybody listening?

no they are too busy counting their rupees/dollars/pounds.

[chainsmoker1985]

They again decided to take a 3 days break off practice after 3 hour practice today at Perth. They were SO tired after 3 hours practice today that they decided they can't practice anymore for next 3 days and will rest.

[Needforspeed]

They again decided to take a 3 days break off practice after 3 hour practice today at Perth. They were SO tired after 3 hours practice today that they decided they can't practice anymore for next 3 days and will rest.

I think they have already surrendered Adelaide. Probably just going thru the motions. Morons.

[chainsmoker1985]

I think they have already surrendered Adelaide. Probably just going thru the motions. Morons.

Yes, this is the sad part. They have already surrendered Adelaide. We all know that they will again fail in Adelaide if Australia prepares even a slightly spicy wicket. Yet the fans will still have hopes fro them. We will again be supporting them. But they are shameless

[chainsmoker1985]

I just heard Harsha's views on all the 7 losses recently, I have come 2 a conclusion that India needs a complete generation gap change. These oldies got defeated all throughout their lives in Australia and SA and in some other fields too. They somehow went on to win the WC in the sub-continent flat tracks. Whatever we had achieved earlier before these legends, we have achieved only the same things during the tenure of these legends. I mean, we won in England earlier in 70s and 80s, and we won in England with these legends too. Then, we never won a series in Australia and SA before, nor did we won with these legends too. Our 70s and 80s legends used 2 struggle on overseas pitches, so do these legends too. So what kind of mental attitude they can pass on the youngsters. We need a completely fresh team with fresh captain who have tasted more success than failures in his career. That will be the ideal way to move forward IMO

[Sidhoni]

nicely written

[chainsmoker1985]

^ Thanks :--D

[Needforspeed]

Aussies Celebrate after Perth Win

[chainsmoker1985]

Aussies Celebrate after Perth Win

This would had been my Facebook profile pic if I was an Australian or If there were Indians in that pic

[Chandan]

I just heard Harsha's views on all the 7 losses recently' date=' I have come 2 a conclusion that India needs a complete generation gap change. These oldies got defeated all throughout their lives in Australia and SA and in some other fields too. They somehow went on to win the WC in the sub-continent flat tracks. [b']Whatever we had achieved earlier before these legends, we have achieved only the same things during the tenure of these legends. I mean, we won in England earlier in 70s and 80s, and we won in England with these legends too. Then, we never won a series in Australia and SA before, nor did we won with these legends too. Our 70s and 80s legends used 2 struggle on overseas pitches, so do these legends too. So what kind of mental attitude they can pass on the youngsters. We need a completely fresh team with fresh captain who have tasted more success than failures in his career. That will be the ideal way to move forward IMO

That is very harsh of you to say that. Series win is not the only thing. It comes after you win tests. And if you do not win series, that test victory does not go down the drain. So how many of our previous legends had won on the bouncy tracks of Perth, Jo'berg, Durban and Jamaica? How many victories had been achieved at the swing aiding grounds of Headingley and Trentbridge? Why had we not won at NZ too? You should understand that all your expectation from this Indian team has come because they've achieved much more than what the earlier Indian teams could do and that proves their ability as with such a non existent system and terrible administration, they achieved this much. Be assured that you'll NEVER see players like these during your lifetime as all these players : Dravid, Laxman, Sachin, Sehwag , and earlier Kumble, are once in a lifetime players!!

[rageaddict]

Yes the Indian team would read it and act accordingly meanwhile Pigs would be seen flying at the same time around .

[chainsmoker1985]

That is very harsh of you to say that. Series win is not the only thing. It comes after you win tests. And if you do not win series, that test victory does not go down the drain. So how many of our previous legends had won on the bouncy tracks of Perth, Jo'berg, Durban and Jamaica? How many victories had been achieved at the swing aiding grounds of Headingley and Trentbridge? Why had we not won at NZ too? You should understand that all your expectation from this Indian team has come because they've achieved much more than what the earlier Indian teams could do and that proves their ability as with such a non existent system and terrible administration, they achieved this much. Be assured that you'll NEVER see players like these during your lifetime as all these players : Dravid, Laxman, Sachin, Sehwag , and earlier Kumble, are once in a lifetime players!!

I agree with you that they have achieved much more than our expectations. And I know these legends have achieved much more than their ability. But they are now on the decline and there is not much time left to them. All of them are near retirement or some of them should have retired by now. So, I thank them for the entertainment that they have given throughout their careers and they have served their country pretty well. But, now it is time to look beyond them and groom the youngsters.

[chainsmoker1985]

Yes the Indian team would read it and act accordingly meanwhile Pigs would be seen flying at the same time around .

Pigs can still fly but Indian team is still enjoying holidays from practice and no 7 or 8 defeats can change their holiday plans and fun activities and start concentrating on improving their game

[Chandan]

I agree with you that they have achieved much more than our expectations. And I know these legends have achieved much more than their ability. But they are now on the decline and there is not much time left to them. All of them are near retirement or some of them should have retired by now. So' date=' I thank them for the entertainment that they have given throughout their careers and they have served their country pretty well. But, now it is time to look beyond them and groom the youngsters.[/quote'] That is fine. All good things come to an end. But to say that they didn't achieve anything special apart from the WC, and that too because it was on the flat tracks of subcontinent, is not only insulting them but also insulting your own knowledge of the game. They are in decline. Yes. We should have changes in the team, yes. But they deserve credit and respect for their past achievements not harsh judgement and crass dismissal of their ability! At least we the fans can do that much for them, or even that is difficult? PS: Not justifying their poor show in last 8 months AT ALL!!