Not sending our Top 6 to Windies is an insult to cricket

In ’71, when we were defeating the Windies in the Windies – with a team which was a combination of fresh blood – Gavaskar, Vishwanath, Solkar -  and seasoned mettle – Sardesai, Wadekar, Venkat, Durrani - I remember the big board up in front of the row of newspaper offices on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in Delhi. It read: ‘Windies hold India to a draw.’

The mere thought that one day we would be so good at cricket that the Windies would hold us to a draw – that for once it was not us holding on for a draw, that it was not us collapsing, that it was not us losing by an innings on the third day – so excited me, that I stopped the taxi, got out in front of the board, and stood there in total awe and silence for several moments.

The Windies in ’71, when Indian cricket changed forever, when we proved to the world, and - much more importantly - to ourselves that we were second to none.

Hazare battling single-handedly, Umrigar hitting his ‘palm-tree’ sixes in solo defiance, Contractor hit on the head by Griffith with Pataudi the next in and about to become the youngest Indian captain ever – the three W’s, Sobers, Hunte, Kanhai, Hall, Gibbs – these were what the Windies meant before ’71 – and then we went and defeated them in the Windies. Indian cricket was born that summer.

And now we send a team with six of the World Champion side of only two months ago not in it – and all six were ready with gusto to play in the IPL – and did.

We are the World Champions, and this the first challenge since the World Cup, and we treat it as if it meant nothing.

Dhoni, Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj and Zaheer – just two months ago they were our gods – and deservedly so.

But why are they not going to the Windies?

It is an insult to Indian cricket, to world cricket, to West Indian cricket – and to the very spirit of the game.

It is an insult to what a tour of the Windies has always meant.

What example are we setting? What message are we sending forth? Yes, youngsters need chances – but we are the World Champions – we must behave as World Champions. We must treat the West Indians with respect. We must treat ourselves with respect.

I am shocked and saddened.

All those who were – are – injured, played in the IPL.

We have to raise our voices – it is not a question of ‘club versus country.’

It is a question of the very future of not only cricket, but whatever is left of true value in our world.

And I am weary of hearing the arguments in favour of this depleted side – that they need rest, that the Windies are weak, that the England tour is to follow, that Sachin can pick and choose when and where he wants to play.

Does this include Test matches as well?

IPL is obscene – it is as simple as that. Greed is not a motive for art of any kind. Cricket does not need IPL – the people running cricket, who already are making crores, need IPL to make more crores.

How many more greedy people have to end up in jail before we realise that greed is wrong?

How many more players will drop out of the national side before they realise it is the national side that made them what they are?

I wish the younger players all the best – I will watch – and if they win, let the ‘super-six’ take permanent rest and retirement. We do not need them.

And if they do not win, let us not go running back to the ‘super-six’ – let us win or lose without them.