Munaf Patel who has never been able to make waves with his performances is in news for abusing Virender Sehwag on field. The news comes as a shocker, since not only Sehwag is one of the senior most players of the team but also since this is yet another instance of intra-team on-field aggression this year. Earlier this year, Bhajji slapping Srisanth and the latter breaking down in public grabbed lots of eyeballs. So what exactly is happening to the Indians who were once renowned for their patience and tolerance towards sledging and opponent’s aggression?

The Indian players had always been the meek, silent sort who used to believe in replying to aggression with their game. Whether the verbal remarks by the Aussies or the Pakistani beamers and bouncers, Indian players retained their cool and retorted with stellar performances by bat and ball. The younger generation, however, believes in an eye for an eye. They not only believe in giving a fitting reply to a hostile gesture but also give a piece of their mind to their opponents every now and then to maintain the mental pressure. This new-found aggressive streak can be attributed to recent successes the team has tasted in past few years.

A young team brimming with fresh talent gained an unbeatable high after winning the ICC Twenty-20 World Cup beating the big bullies of cricket. The realization which came with the victory was that you not only need to be good at the game but also need to build the psychological edge on your opponent. The gentleman’s game thus turned into a boy’s sport that saw soaring tempers, heated exchanges and animated gesticulations.

The arrival of IPL into the cricket scene pushed up the adrenaline and aggression quotients alike. Being ferocious and high on adrenaline weren’t a vanity anymore; these became indispensable for a victory in a game that’s all about slogging. Then, the ill-treatment which the senior players have received from BCCI of late has also contributed to the superiority complex in the minds of young players. Ganguly and Laxman who are often kept out of team for no reason give an excuse to the youth brigade to treat them like no-good-no-more people.

Aggression, attitude and attacking instincts are vital in today’s cut-throat competitive cricket. But our youngsters must remember that these weapons should be used against the enemy team and not to create disharmony and disunity within the team.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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