India’s approach to cricket has changed in recent years. The bowlers display a confidence and sure-footedness that has been a feature of their World Cup campaign. Likewise the batters too. Yet one element of the cricketing ecosystem does not seem to display such self-belief. The deathly silence in our stadiums whenever a batter hits a boundary against India is embarrassing.
Even after India had qualified for the semifinals, scored over 400 runs and claimed early wickets, when a Netherlands batter played lovely cover drives to the fence, fans reacted in silence. Surely they could have been charitable?
And this in Bengaluru which, alongside Chennai, traditionally had the most knowledgeable of audiences.
