Royal Challengers

Blame game - Franchise Cricket royally challenging?

Dravid is bearing the brunt of disappointing performance by the Royal Challengers team. After CEO Charu Sharma was fired, Mallya has taken potshots on Dravid.

Mallya said: “I had a separate list of players that I wanted. But since Dravid is such an iconic player I trusted his judgment. And Charu Sharma also backed him. After seeing the final list, my friends told me it looked like a Test team. But I backed both of them thinking that they advised me properly. Unfortunately in cricket, unlike in any other sport, the captain is the boss.”

“At the end of the day, people need to understand that the IPL has a corporate side to it, and a very definitive corporate side. It is not at all cricket in the traditional sense”

Now the media also seem to pose some tough questions for Rahul Dravid. At a press meet in Mohali, Dravid was asked how it felt to be termed a ‘good Test team’.

Dravid said: ‘‘We have not played good cricket, so such comments will come. It is disappointing for the team, for all who are part of it including the franchisee. But we still have six matches to go and will bounce back with a good performance’’

On the choice of players’ right as the auction?

Dravid said: ‘‘Well, there were lot of variables at the auction. The players we picked are all quality players, it’s only that their performances have dipped. The big names are not doing well. We have not got the combination right. All this as magnified after we did not start well and lost some close matches.”

Does franchise cricket bring in additional pressure of delivering assured performance by the team members as the owners have poured in tonnes of money? Is such pressure good on cricketers?

I feel sports should treated as sports and should not be run like a business. Else the fun and spirit vanishes! Lets see how Dravid and Co. respond to such media and owner pressure in their upcoming matches.

For a second think of Deccan Chargers - The best star studded team and players who can play T20 to the best. However, that team is also not coming through with flying colors. It is a combination of good cricketers, attitude, bonding and several other factors which lead to a good performance on the field. A little bit of luck too…

Your thoughts?

More:
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=442535&sid=ARC
http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dravid_resigned_to_teams_fate/articleshow/3030644.cms