The celebrated Indian batsman and then captain Gundappa Vishwanath in a solitary one off cricket test match did something strange. Following the dismissal of England’s wicketkeeper Bob Taylor, he rushed to the umpire and had Taylor call him back to the crease, as he believed he had not taken the catch neatly.
Taylor was involved in a record partnership with Ian Botham which sealed India’s fate in that particular test match. Decades later, the illustrious batsman said in an interview, ‘Do you know I am still jeered for that?’ referring to that decision of recalling Taylor which subsequently cost India the test match and the series.
Vishy is not a solitary example, but his instance is a rare one in the history of any sport. In today’s cricket, digital camera ensures the right verdict, courtesy the third umpire. Yet we find so many batsmen gesticulating their displeasure following their dismissal, or several bowlers appealing repeatedly knowing fully well that the ball must have been missing the leg stump by yards. So much so for cricket. The doping tests in the Olympics, the Asian or the Commonwealth Games provide a routine source of embarrassment for several sportspersons and their countries.
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In today’s world of stiff competition and hard-earned success, sportsmanship, per se, has taken a back seat. Nothing succeeds like success. In today’s professional world, a sportsperson would go to any extent to ensure success. Come what may, it is success that matters and sportsmanship is secondary.
What does one mean by sportsmanship? Sportsmanship does not only imply the act of participating in a game or a sport, it comprises the entire gamut of attitude and conduct befitting participants in a game. Fair play, courtesy, striving spirit and grace in losing are some qualities. Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 football world cup, John McEnroe’s tantrums on the lawn tennis court, or Trevor Chappell’s decision to bowl underarm in the Ashes series—sports has seen its fair share of unsportsmanlike behaviour.
At the arena of contest, it is only winning that matters, at whatever cost. This attitude needs to change. The paradigm must shift from winning to striving towards excellence. It is the society and the mindset at large that defines winning or losing. It is imperative to remember that there will be winners and losers in a game the important thing is to accept victory or defeat gracefully.
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Sadly, the pressure of public expectations and overambitious yearnings ruin the clear vision of logic. The lure of financial contracts have converted playing fields into killing fields of stress and anxiety. Bribing and match fixing are charges that have cast a slur on a gentleman’s game like cricket. We hope to see better and more competitive sports in the future, where sports would be enjoyed for their own sake, with decreased importance being given to winning and losing.
