The Third Edit: In Rohit Sharma’s 100, a message for fans (original) (raw)

Stalwarts of the game are conscious of their image and legacy. They also know who to listen to and when to go.

Feb 12, 2025 07:02 IST First published on: Feb 12, 2025 at 07:00 IST

In a matter of a month, India captain Rohit Sharma experienced the contrasting emotions and extreme reactions of the famously fickle Indian fan. At the start of the year, because of weak Test-match form, he stepped aside as captain for the final Test of the series against Australia. There were questions about the 37-year-old’s place in the ODI team too. The rock of the team not too long ago, he was now seen as a roadblock for youngsters waiting in the wings. That’s when he scored a sparkling ODI hundred — a 90-ball 119 with seven sixes against England at Cuttack. Overnight, Rohit was back on the pedestal. In this volte-face is a lesson for die-hards following cricket. Show patience before passing verdicts on the game’s greats or hyping the young.

Sports fandom offers the pleasures of tribalism. It is easy to get carried away while being part of a passionate crowd. But the supercharged mob environment forces misjudgments that hurt the game and its stars. Over the years, the kangaroo court has moved from the stadium to social media, where agents and fan clubs pit one superstar against another. Rohitans never miss a chance to undermine Virat Kohli and the Viratians wait for their chance to hit back. Unlike any time in the past, this toxic fan culture has created a bitterness that threatens to spill onto the field and dressing room, too. Wrong calls that can hamper Indian cricket in the long run can be taken because of outside pressure.

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Back in 2010, when Indian batting great Rahul Dravid was out of form and fans wanted him out, he received unsolicited advice from Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Ignore the critics, just score runs like you have always done, he said. Dravid did take a U-turn and had his best England tour ever after that. Stalwarts of the game are conscious of their image and legacy. They also know who to listen to and when to go.