Once again the focus shifts from what should have been an enticing encounter to unsavoury incidents that have become the highlight of the sad ending to the much touted tournament.
So much is being said and speculated about Virender Sehwag making a quick and early exit in the midst of the Irani Trophy, that one is confused as to what is the real truth. When pestered for a response yesterday, a few officials told media persons that Sehwag had “prior commitments”. But it is unfathomable what kind of commitments Sehwag was running to keep when he was already committed to leading the Delhi team in the Irani Trophy tie. After all the captain stays even if the ship is sinking, does he not?
Another reason being stated for Sehwag’s absence is his discontent over the facilities provided being a player of international repute. Perhaps the reason Indians fans would rather hear and satisfy their curiosity would be the fact that Sehwag was suffering from a migraine and taken leave of absence to take care of it before joining his Indian team mates for a preparatory camp at the NCA in Bangalore. What is the real reason behind Sehwag’s absence is hard to decipher given that the board officials themselves alluded to Sehwag’s prior commitments.
The more probable theories suggested that Munaf Patel was the reason behind Sehwag’s miffed behaviour. The tall fast bowler managed to get under the skin of the Delhi skipper when he tried to taunt Aakash Chopra and ended up with a spat with Sehwag instead. Munaf is not doing the team or himself any wonders, having already incurred the match referee’s wrath once in the recently concluded tour to Sri Lanka. Now with Delhi not holding back on lodging a complaint officially with the match referee, Munaf is making himself another dubious reputation, one that both, he and India, can do without.
It is even more unfortunate that it is coming on the back of another very perceptibly embarrassing incident that involved Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth. That this should even happen now even as the Australians are keeping a close watch on the Indian proceedings given them further opportunities to drive wedge into the Indian team through sledging on the field. Just when this series was being billed as a revenge series for the false allegations over misbehaviour by the Indians on the field, once again the Indian players are shooting themselves in the foot.
