It is their cities fans cheer for

shared by Anil Singh on Friday, April 02, 2010

The last post here took Sehwag’s 'take it easy' attitude in this IPL.

The post asserts Sehwag’s casual attitude to his elevated status in his IPL team.

And if some casualness has indeed seeped in some established players; then they should mend their ways before it's too late.

So not only Sehwag but none should take their positions too casually. And instead, try their best. If they perform below their potentials then contemplate on the deficiencies; so that next time no one points a finger at them.

Why I can say so, and how this extends the debate SP started in the last article?

My notion behind the assertion is simple: It is their cities fans cheer for
And any shouting support for individual player emanates from the same.

But on the opposite the criticism for a bad shot or a directionless ball goes to the individual player.

Players should keep in mind that in IPL, basically it's their cities that people love, and players come second. Fans affiliation for players emanates from their affiliation for their cities. So if a player changes the team the next season, people will stop cheering for him.

On a casual glance this seems very small observation, as most spectators are aware of this, but unfortunately players with weight either don't know or don't want to know. Keep aside Sehwag, even Yuvraj doesn't seem to acknowledge or is ignorant of this simple fact. And a rumour in this context proves this. Renowned blogger Soulberry recently said that if sources more informed are to believed then Yuvraj may be contemplating to move on to Kochi, the new IPL team for IPL’s next season.

If the rumour proves out to be true, then I think Yuvraj unfortunately is taking his position too casually or; mistaking the roaring support of the fans to his individual popularity.

So rather than sulk non-performing players should start contributing to their teams’ win, in whatever way they can; and should always remember, if they sulk and make it a reason for their departure from their current teams; then fans will pray for their bad form to continue and cheer for someone who either lives 1000 kms away or has to cross seven seas to play for their cities.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

i dont agree....in the away game for MI, the crowd in Delhi loved Sachin Tendulkar more than the Delhi lads. when it comes for Tendulkar ppl forget its IPL or India....

straight point said...

interesting little observations anil... and thanks for carrying the debate fwd...

yes once a player dons the jersy of a team it cease to matter from where he belongs... so we cheer nannes getting wicket of sachin... (to give u an example)...

sachin demands that respect but i think you look at other direction when his dismissals are being cheered!! :)

raj said...

Ok sachin is the exception that proves the rule. Mumbai are arguably more popular than csk in chennai - catch tamil forums and you"ll see mi fans outmuscling csk fans. Why? One word. Sachin.
I tell you, chandler, for once, is right. When it comes to sachin, we are all "indians". Yeah.

straight point said...

raj... i have nothing more to add than, as u said, exceptions only proves the rule... :)

Anil Singh said...

@Chandler i think it's wrong to prove the point by putting Sachin as an example, as not only in India but cricket lovers all over the cricket playing nations respect him and cheer for him. But any game is more about winning; so people in Australia can cheer Sachin for some exceptional shot or for his cricketing genius in general; but when his performance starts devoid Australia of a win; majority will pray for Sachin to get out the very next ball.

So although I respect your opinion, I still stick to my pov.

Thanks

Anil Singh said...

@straightpoint Actually the notion takes the cue from English football clubs as well. If Allen Shearer plays for Sunderland and Rooney for Liverpool; fans of both the players take the sides of their cities, in EPL.

When the two adorn the English cap, whole England cheers for them.

The same argument can be extended to foreign players playing for English clubs.

Anil Singh said...

@Raj I agree with you.

Mahek said...

Alright, so what team does a person from Ahmedabad or Patna root for? Having been to a couple of games in Ahmedabad I can safely say there was no home advantage for Rajasthan in terms of crowd support. Heck people were celebrating and waving Royals flags even when Kolkata took a wicket.

It's a bit presumptuous to say people of a city only root for the team based in their city. I would still root for Delhi even if I stayed in Mumbai or any other city. Then there are others who root for a team because their favourite player happens to play for it.

In a nutshell, I think different people have different reasons for supporting a team. While I agree players shouldn't make it about themselves, most of them really don't care about regional affiliations.

Gaurav Sethi said...

Anil, some random thots: thinking of Bhajji who's more Punjab than Yuvi and the whole lotta them Kings XI put together, and who does he play for?

If Sachin moved to Kochi next year, you know who will accompany him.

Talking of moves, if Sehwag were to move from DD, I'd back DD, not Sehwag - but I'd still like to see him smash Nannes.

MI vs DD, was looking fwd to SRT smash Nannes.

Reckon the whole backing bit is still very warped, at least for me - Then there's the perverse backing - which team do you want to lose. Y'day wanted DC to lose more than KKR, couldn't care less who won really.

Mahek said...

Come on NC, Harbhajan is a Mumbaikar now. He even dedicated a win to his family - The Ambanis.

Anil Singh said...

@Mahek Friend , I agree with your points that a section of fans support their fav players and their likeness for a team emanates from their love for their idol.
Equally true is the fact, that immigrants have always a soft corner for their native places.

But I think the support for home cities is primary; as if that not be so:

Then how come, IPL chose for teams based on cities rather than on Idols.

For the simple reason, geography can accumulate more support than an individual. Also, although this doesn't pertain to my write-up, but cities are eternal unlike a mortal.

Thanks

Anil Singh said...

@Mahek Haha dedicating a win to family. Great quote man.

Anil Singh said...

@NakedCricket I agree with you that for players it's more about money than city affiliation. And as a spectator we too adopt a warped approach when it comes to support.

In addition I also agree that a section of fans support their fav players and their likeness for a team emanates from their love for their idol.
Equally true is the fact, that immigrants have always a soft corner for their native places.

But I think the support for home cities is primary; as if that not be so:

Then how come, IPL chose for teams based on cities rather than on Idols.

For the simple reason, geography can accumulate more support than an individual. Also, although this doesn't pertain to my write-up, but cities are eternal unlike a mortal.

Thanks

straight point said...

nc... mahek... anil...

when ipl started ppl doubted whether that club culture can be replicated to cricket and more importantly how fans respond to the sachin getting out to say nannes... or dilshan hitting ishant outa park...

but by and large it won't be exaggeration to say that now by ipl3 polarization of fans to the concept of team rather than individual has taken place... they root for their local teams more... they follow their local teams more...

having said that... i also believe the biggest challenge will be at ipl4 after the auction will take place... coz it will kind of break this polarization as presumably lot is going change...

the franchise will have to work a fresh to create the team fan following... and its going to be even harder than earlier IPLs...

Anil Singh said...

@straightpoint You have put the crux of the article very well:

by ipl3 polarization of fans to the concept of team rather than individual has taken place... they root for their local teams more... they follow their local teams more

But I think, with each passing day, what you said regarding polarization will become more pronounce.

And to the contrary i think fans will find it easy to say audious to thier fav player, if he opts for some other team. As by then one thing that will be get better rooted in their minds will be that players are playing for money and unlike the spectators, they don't have city affiliation.

With this the city affiliation will strengthen and people will say only one thing remains permanent that is the city the support; players are in constant transition.

Regarding the teams have to work on the new buys; I think that will limit to presenting the new player as the city's child; just like CSK did with Dhoni (showed him with Tamil Mustache and mundu) and once the IPL will begin, the game itself will take care of the new players.

Mahek said...

Still doesn't answer who fans from cities that don't have a team would support and why.

straight point said...

Still doesn't answer who fans from cities that don't have a team would support and why.

mahek i sincerely believe this is rhetoric question...

coz its obvious most of them would either follow nearest geographic team or the team(s) that have most of their favorite players...

Anil Singh said...

@Mahek i mistakingly deleted the earlier response to your comment. So here's my earlier comment as your response to your comment. As now the comment is based on my memory, so pl excuse me for a slight word here and there :

"Actually didn't ask this very clearly". And I admit I missed the point. and that too when I don't have my city team.

Sorry if I dragged the point unknowingly."

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