Conquering the world appears to be an easier task than winning the World Cup. The way Indian Media has gone gung-ho about the whole affair sends some straight messages. This, that the script is already laid out, it's only the matter of time. Results are known, figures only are awaited. Team India has already won, only details are to follow. The mere thought of losing has no place in the minds of those who have invested not only money but sense too in the market of slogan-selling.
There is no doubt that Indian sport, like other political and social institutions, is becoming a formidable force. In many forms of the game India counts. Cricket, especially for its mass following in the sub-continent, is getting fans crazier than ever. Cricketers have been projected like gods to be worshipped by their disciples. Players are presented as warriors as if they die defending the honor of a country.
That makes an industry of its own whose elements are spread everywhere. Those who watch, those who show, those who buy and those who sell – all make a market which, with every passing day, grows in strength and scope. In the process it generates a hysteria which denies to be defined within the parameters of sense. Here the sanity and idiocy make a pact. Sermons apart, madness of cricket crazy fans (we included) knows no limits.
All Indian channels have joined to buck up their boys who, as if they know for sure, will bring home the trophy. Given the depth of Indian side it does not appear too distant a goal to be achieved. They doubtless stand as favorites and the feat of winning a world cup for them comes well within the realm of possibility. But what people at large are fed with is not the mere hope that India can pull it off. Rather the cup has already been copyrighted against them, as if other eleven nations have only been invited to fill up the formality and to help India win. It all seems to be like a fixed interview of a particular candidate where others are invited only to fill up the space. Here it seems that all other teams, except India, have willfully applied as losers.
Moreover the treatment such event is given never sounds professional. They say one Dhoni represents one billion people. Different issue that half a billion don't have a pot to piss in. The entire country has been taken a hostage to a handful of men who, they think, are defending the honor of a nation. Accepted a triumph will mean an honor to India as a country, but then a defeat too demands a definition. Will that mean a shame, an ignominy, a collective disgrace which every Indian can't hide if it happens. If by winning the world cup, India wins the world, will India be lost as a nation if they don't. Will it spell the doom for a presumed billion?
A game is just a game. Winning it sure does a nation proud, but losing it  never marks an annihilation.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST