Indian Cricket Team leaves the time traveller baffled

LONDON – AUGUST 12: Sourav Ganguly (L) and Rahul Dravid of India run off as rain falls during day four of the Third Test match between England and India at the Oval on August 12, 2007 in London, England.

Once upon a time, in the early 2000s, the Indian newspapers were talking about the Indian team’s batting strength and the four pillars on which it stood. These players had proved themselves over time and had cemented their places in the side. But as one knows very well, the biggest religion in India, cricket, undergoes perpetual scrutiny.

Very soon, people had started talking about how the average age of the team was going up, proving to be detrimental to the teams success. Experts were also talking about infusing new blood into the team and retiring some of the veterans. Amidst all this, there was a time traveller who watched from the sidelines. He scrutinized the situation but wasn’t vocal about it. He knew that the same issues were being raised and same points were being reiterated.

Guarding the sidelines, his interest in the game started wearing off and he decided to evaporate to some other time. He went on a sabbatical and maintained no contact with the cricketing world. He wasn’t watching any sport, he just went into a completely ‘non-observing’ mode. He wanted to come back, but he knew that change took time.

He mustered all his energy and forwarded time by almost a decade. He jumped in and hoped for the best as he stood on the sidelines again. But he was left surprised and shocked!

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 16: VVS Laxman of India and Sachin Tendulkar run between the wickets during day two of the International Tour match between India and the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI at Manuka Oval on December 16, 2011 in Canberra, Australia.

“Deja vu!” he mumbled to himself and shook himself up to see if anything was wrong but no! A few things had changed but the talks were the same. “Young blood needs to be infused within the team. There should be a balance between youth and experience. It is about time the youngsters stood up and took responsibility.”

It went on and on.

He was dazed and sat down to think. “Is it still the same? Are we still only talking about balance and how we can improve our bowling and how some people should retire? Haven’t we moved an inch forward? he asked himself. “I think we even won the World Cup recently,” he wondered.

Reality took time to sink in but then it finally did. Yes, it was still the same.

He evaporated again.