The Leakingate Scandal

Presenting India's latest blockbuster...

THE LEAKY ESTABLISHMENT
(based on a true story)
Sourav Ganguly Jagmohan Dalmiya Greg Chappell
... now playing on a TV Channel near you

I remember an old Tamil cartoon in which a politician advises students to keep away from politics. Says he, "Dear students, don't dabble with politics. Have we ever dabbled with education?" How immensely would Indian cricket benefit from such wisdom! Indian cricket and politics have been as inseparable as... politics and crime. As Kishore Bhimani said on NDTV last night, "The sad thing is that our politicians are playing cricket, and our cricketers are playing politics." Of course we can't wish away politics from anything. There are easier things to do, clothing Mallika Sherawat fully, for example.

The problem is that the Leakingate (or Leakygate, whichever you prefer) scandal has gone just too far. To use a Shastrism, whatever happens the game of the cricket is the loser. We cannot expect Ganguly and Chappell to kiss and make up, because that wouldn't happen anyway. If they do, that would be disaster. None of us would like a Changuly or a Gappell. They are two headstrong individuals, and neither should (and will) give an inch.

As it stands, Leakingate seems like the end of the road (at least a diversion) for India's most successful but equally maligned captain. Ganguly might feel that he is being singled out by a fickle public, but even he would accept that it has been a long time coming. But will he ever accept that given his poor form, he would never have found a place in the squad? Will he ever realise that he was deadweight?

The Leaky Establishment hits theatres on the 27th.