On a rocky pedestal

M.S. Dhoni spoke about how negative attention made him feel like a ‘murderer or terrorist’ after the 2007 World Cup. (Photo: PTI)

The typical Indian sports fan is seeped in passion, from head to toe. While you get to see a horde of them in the middle of the night, waiting with fresh garlands and dhols to welcome a winning contingent of sportspersons, you also get to see the same bunch pelt stones, burn effigies, and protest against losses. M.S. Dhoni, India’s swashbuckling limited-overs captain is no stranger to the turning tide of favour of the Indian sports fan.

While promoting his upcoming biopic, M.S Dhoni: The Untold Story, the wicketkeeper-batsman said that the debacle made him feel like a ‘murderer or terrorist’ because of the attention it gathered from the media and the fans alike.

Dhoni reminisces that the team had received a highly negative reception when they got to Delhi, with irate fans and media personnel adding to what had already been a crushing loss against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the Carribean.

He recalled being taken directly to the police station from the airport, amidst heavy security. “At that point of time, we had to get out in a police van,” he recalled. “I was sitting next to Viru Paaji (Virender Sehwag) And, you know, media cars around us with their cameras and big lights on top, it felt as if we had committed a big crime, maybe like a murderer or a terrorist. We were actually chased by them.” He added that the incident left an indelible mark on him, and he learned to channelise his aggression to become a better cricketer and human being. This commotion, however, did not stop angry fans from pelting Dhoni’s Delhi residence, just a few days later.

Dhoni’s is hardly a new story in India. Former Indian batsman and wicketkeeper, Nayan Mongia too has been the victim of public aggression after a bad day in office. “There have been times when we have lost to Pakistan or Sri Lanka in the semi-finals, and had to face a lot of negative treatment from the fans,” he recollects. “Sports — especially cricket — is not just about fun and games; it’s a religion in India. Expectations are always high but people need to remember that it depends on who plays better cricket and that there are wins and losses in any game.”

International badminton player, Jwala Gutta, says she can relate to Dhoni completely, especially since she had to face the public wrath after the Rio Olympics. “Indian fans are very passionate about their sports stars,” she explains. “We get a lot of adulation, but on the flipside, things can get quite ugly too. Ever since I have come back from the Olympics, I have had to face comments about how I have wasted the taxpayers’ money and how I just lazed around as if I were on holiday.” Understandably irate, she adds, “It is alright to talk about taxes when your road has potholes or you have water shortage—not when an athlete loses a match after giving it their all. It is sad that people can be so insensitive, because, it is the sportsman, who wants to win much more than all of them.”

Nayan reiterates that it’s after a loss that a sportsperson requires the most support. “At the end of the day, no fan can want to win as much as the people out there on the field. So, when they lose, they beat themselves up more than any hurt the fans can deal them. A positive attitude is what’s needed for such times,” he says solemnly.

Former Indian test cricketer, Balwinder Sandhu says that ultimately, it’s essential for a sportsperson to not depend on the fans too much, since the ups and downs will affect the player harder. “It’s up to the players how not to get affected by the fans. One must understand that today they might be worshipping you, but tomorrow they will be rebuking you. A player, who thrives on fandom, will get affected the most when he wont be able to perform,” he asserts. The former medium-pace bowler also adds that it’s probably a lack of understanding about the sport that leads people to hero-worship athletes blindly. “The problem in India is that it lacks a sporting culture,” he sighs. “Here, people do not understand sports. They are hero-worshippers, and when their heroes fail, they pull them down.”

While Jwala agrees with Balwinder’s point, she also thinks that it’s best for people to refrain from commenting on what they don’t understand. “If I do not understand something, it’s not right for me to criticise it blindly,” she says. “There are a lot of people who work behind the scenes to help a player prepare for a game and when you criticise the athlete, you are essentially dragging the whole team down.”

— With inputs from Somudra Banerjee