Crushing defeat

Sir — After the massive defeat in the inaugural World Test Championship match, Virat Kohli tried hard to defend the indefensible (“Not a test for the best: Kohli”, June 24). The Indian men’s cricket team is overhyped by the media and by Indian commentators. They consider Kohli to be the best batsman in the world while his approach to batting is nothing compared to the likes of Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Devon Conway.

India’s batting is as brittle as a pappadam and a far cry from the line-up that was presented by Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman. Instant money and stardom owing to the Indian Premier League are creating a batch of cricketers who are upstarts and not dignified players who know how to keep their heads down and focus on the game. Fans are not expecting anything better in the games against England.

Kalyan Ghosh,
Calcutta

Sir — There is no denying that Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen in the world. He is a successful captain who has taken Indian Test cricket to great heights, triumphing over teams like South Africa, England and Australia on their home grounds. After the result of the WTC, there is talk about a change of guard. But as an ardent lover of cricket, I hope Kohli continues as captain. This cricketing legend will bring the Indian team success in the future.

Phanseng Singphoo,
Jorhat

Sir — The Indian men’s cricket team’s defeat at the WTC against New Zealand is heart-wrenching for fans. The media and cricket pundits had predicted India possibly winning the tournament. Arguably, the Indian side looked better than before and the expectations of the general public were feverishly high. But Kohli and his team have let them down. The brash attitude of the Indian captain was in complete contrast to his New Zealand counterpart. Kane Williamson was a picture of calmness.

It must be noted that the present Indian men’s team has failed to deliver the final winning punch at a crucial juncture many times in the past as well. India’s reputation as a great cricketing nation has now been dealt a severe blow. Compare this with the situation in the Uefa Euro Cup. Portugal — the defending champions — got a drubbing at the hands of Germany. But they bounced back against France, the world champions. The team and its captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, delivered when it mattered the most. Portugal did not let their nation down and dash the expectations of millions of fans.

Tapamay Lahiri,
Calcutta

Sir — Virat Kohli seems to think that a ‘one-off’ championship is not a ‘test for the best’. But one would have to ask why Kohli did not object when the International Cricket Council came up with this format. Why is Kohli voicing this opinion after India’s decisive loss to the Black Caps? Would he have said the same thing had India won?

Facts speak for themselves. India have lost four one-day internationals and three Test matches consecutively and convincingly to the Kiwis. The outcome of the WTC is thus not a ‘one-off’ by any stretch of the imagination. It cannot be denied that New Zealand has a better-balanced team than India. While the Kiwis are a group of unassuming achievers, the Indian team comprises highly overrated stars.

It might not be out of place to mention here that the last time India won an ICC tournament was the 2013 Champions Trophy. Team India ought to cast a searching look at the composition of the team before the five-Test series against their old foes, England. As cricket lovers, we fervently hope that our beloved team proves itself soon.

Dipak Banerjee,
Calcutta

Tit for tat

Sir — A matrimonial ad — it later turned out to be a prank — that has Indians in splits asks for a ‘handsome’, ‘well-built’, ‘non-farting’, ‘non-burping’ groom strictly between 25 and 28 years of age. Other requirements include an established business, a bungalow or at least a 20-acre farmhouse. While it may seem amusing at first, it reveals a deeper problem. Feminism — the woman in the advertisement claims to be a ‘feminist’ — is not about imposing the unrealistic expectations that patriarchal society has of women on men. In fact, this kind of attitude is quietly exploited by patriarchy to counter actual feminism.

Ria Ghosh,
Calcutta