Forget the gloves and get on with the game

We Are Like This Only. Cricket is religion. It is more than the opiate of the masses. And Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an icon. He is possibly playing on the biggest stage on cricket, for the last time, before bidding goodbye at the cricket World Cup.  And what does the nation want to know?  Why has the ICC objected to Dhoni sporting the Balidaan insignia on his glove?

There is so much hoopla leading to the big match with Australia on Sunday. But it is not on whether Team India is well prepared or whether the rather subdued victory against the South -Africans has given the trajectory to go all the way? Whether the team composition should remain the same and winning combination not upset? Nothing of the kind, but on why BCCI goofed it up? Why has ICC picked on India and Dhoni? Is there a conspiracy? And why cricket superstars like Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev silent?

The Balidaan symbol depicted usually is on maroon background. MS Dhoni is a Lt. Colonel with the Territorial Army and has sported the insignia, aware of the sacrifices of the armed forces and the bravery displayed by them. It was noticed big time, as Dhoni is a big name, and the stage is big, and a billion pairs of eyes are on focus.

Questions are raised over how BCCI has failed us when it mattered by not obtaining prior permission from ICC to sport the insignia. It is not a commercial or an endorsement. But it is different and distinct and worn only by Dhoni. ICC has its rules in play with regard to prohibiting any symbols/insignias with political, religious or racial overtones. Now, there is a hue and cry why ICC has picked on Dhoni and India for carrying a patriotic Balidaan insignia which does not fall foul of the banned descriptions.

But pray stop this nonsense. It exhibits our depraved state of mind and discloses how silly we can get on the emotional front. Last time one heard India was a mature nation 1.3 billion strong. Now this imbroglio over such an issue is thoroughly distracting and probably may impact the players too, unless they are dismissive of it, as it deserves to be.

ICC is the reigning body. They are running the show. Their imprimatur sells and is enforceable. They may have specific rules in play. But they have the generic and residuary power to enforce what they feel is opposed to their ‘’practices’.

Let us get real. ICC is not opposed to patriotism of Indians. Even those who seek to wear on their sleeves or gloves as the case may be. They have no objections to the Balidaan insignia or seek to belittle the symbolism behind it. They may simply not be aware of all this, until the ‘nation wanted to know of it.

How stupid can we ever get on our emotional attachment to this game? And the World Cup build up is so huge it seems as though each one of us has to succumb to the tensions that is raised perforce. Sorry, it is a simple game. Where the best performers  match their wits. And we love it for we have been born and grew up with it. And we would love to see Virat Kohli lift the world for the third time for India.

But that does not mean that we need to make a fool of ourselves by crying hoarse over a totally insignificant issue as if the removal of the insignia was an insult to 1.3 billion of us. Thank heavens, Modi 2.0 is already in office. Imagine the elections were on. Politicians may have happily eased into it and ‘nationalism’ over Balidaan may have become a hot battleground. And Mamta Didi vs Amit Shah & co would have been intolerable.

For heaven’s sake, let us grow up. ICC is lord of all it surveys during this World Cup. Their word is last word. We need to respect it. Our men have been at the helm. BCCI must know better. Okay, they sent a letter to defend Balidaan retention. Let’s stop with that and not dissipate our energies and focus in demeaning ourselves as not a mature nation. Surely, MS Dhoni will not be furious. He may feel disappointed as he may have worn it with love and passion. But bowing to the rule of law would enhance his image and India’s too.

The players’ focus must be where it ought to be. Nation wants to know why are we like this? Stupid and foolish as if the ICC’s mandate to remove the Balidaan badge was an insult to our armed forces and infringement on our patriotic fervour and instincts. It is not. Our response alone is insulting of our intelligence. Or rather those cacophonous voices looking  to expend energy through their vocal chords. Stop this nonsense. Let us get on with the game.

(Author is practising Advocate in the Madras High Court)