The terrible tragedy unfolding in Bengaluru with the death of cricket fans in the stampede outside the Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday has cast a pall of gloom over the victory celebrations following RCB’s (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) victory over PBKS (Punjab Kings) in the IPL final at Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The shocking incident shows a woeful lack of planning on the part of the Karnataka state government in managing the massive crowd.
The RCB lifting the trophy for the first time after 18 seasons means Virat Kohli has now won all the white-ball titles that count both at the international and domestic levels.
Having last month announced his retirement from Test cricket and last year from T20 Internationals, he will now only be seen in India colours in ODIs and apparently not too long in that format either, which appears to be on its last legs.
Now that he has achieved his long-cherished desire to win the premier domestic T20 title, it is anyone’s guess whether he will announce his retirement from all professional cricket, being just five months short of his 37th birthday. If so, it will be the end of a glorious career, and he can then decide to ply his trade in the lucrative ‘Legends’ circuit like his icon Sachin Tendulkar and other former greats.
It is a tribute to his professionalism, fitness and commitment that Kohli remains the only player in IPL history to stay with one franchise from the inaugural season in 2008.
There are a couple of inescapable ironies following RCB’s victory in Tuesday’s final against PBKS (Punjab Kings). Foremost among these must be Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announcing winning the title “has ignited Karnataka pride”. Ironical because their captain, Rajat Patidar, is from Madhya Pradesh, icon Kohli is from Delhi, and coach Andy Flower is a Zimbabwean. In fact, only one of their playing XI was born in Karnataka: Ranji Trophy captain Mayank Agarwal. Now, the CM will be answerable for this disaster.
Secondly, the team is named after an iconic whisky brand and is owned by an alcohol company, its former owner and founder being one of India’s most notorious financial fugitives. This, when alcohol and tobacco sponsorship of sporting events and teams is banned in India and worldwide, is surely ambush marketing at its best (or worst).
Among the endless list of sponsors’ awards, a special one is due to commentator and MC Harsha Bhogle for keeping his voice through the interminable closing ceremony. Perhaps Strepsils can be roped in to sponsor this award. As for commentator and former Test opener Navjot Singh Sidhu, he maintains his inability to allow the spotlight to be on anyone else except himself even in the moment of triumph for RCB and Kohli.
But the tragic loss of lives in Bengaluru has overshadowed all else. It is indeed a dark day in the history of Indian cricket
