For every sportsperson, their swansong moment is an extremely emotional one and Kumar Sangakkara would vouch for that.
When the Sri Lankan great retired this week, everyone from the cricketing community, from Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli to veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, paid rich tributes to him.
For retiring sportspersons, there can be no greater feeling than being acknowledged for their contribution to the game by their peers.
However, Team India ODI captain M.S. Dhoni’s message, if there was one, has not surfaced in the media. And this has raised many eyebrows.
Badminton champ Jwala Gutta always makes it a point to congratulate her colleagues for their achievements in the game. “It’s very special to be acknowledged from your peers. After all, only a sportsperson knows the sacrifices he/she makes for their professional life. And if your colleague doesn’t laud your efforts, how will anyone else understand your achievement? Whether it’s a cash prize or an award, it feels good to be appreciated,” Jwala says.
But MSD is known for being the quiet one on social media.
Etiquette expert Bina Bhandari says, “It’s surprising that Dhoni didn’t. He should have because appreciation is sportsmanship. Everyone knows that quality sport raises the bar for the game. Healthy competition has to be encouraged. If you know someone personally, it’s minimum courtesy to praise them on important occasions.”
Media consultant Latika Khaneja says, “It’s your responsibility as a public figure to felicitate your colleague. Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are known for being politically correct at all times and that’s how they’ve built their image. Such instances reveal a person’s generosity of spirit and large-heartedness. In the end, it’s a personal choice. Not praising someone at such an important occasion is just bad manners.”
