The Final Frontier on Sunday

One of my nephews who’s a Corporate Executive, doesn’t discuss current affairs and the latest ‘breaking news’ however sensational and juicy it may be. Hefollows a non-partisan practice of not watching any TV channel irrespective of it’s content, and company policy regarding what the ‘nation must or wants to know ! ’. This he says helps him to lead a tension-free life, focus on family and job without losing too much sleep over burning national/global issues presented in hot debates, views and counter views of various parties concerned !Worthwhile subjects disseminate to public domains and can be sourced on-line, if one wants.

Like him there’s an increasing tribe slowly drifting away from what generally gets dished out ad nauseum as ‘News’ sans expected objectivity in reporting and often intended to influence the viewers to a particular way of thinking. We have certainly come a long way since the Door-darshan days of the 70s where news-readers unemotionally read the news and never offered their comments unlike where certain anchors of debates start acting as the spokes-persons. Another change is the number of ads, campaigns and sponsored shows along-side prime-time news – there arefrequent breaks from discussions apart from disconnect by technical glitches.

However, if one is a sports lover or more specifically a cricket afficionado, then fortunately in last three weeks or so, ‘News’ purveyors haverelegatedmany ‘breaking’ events into smaller spaces and global affairs into single page (live coverage from Gaza are seen on channels) and have been carrying healthy doses of the exploits of Rohit the ‘Hitman’ and his band of amazing men who haven’t dropped a single game this WC, to the absolute delight of a billion followers. Standing tall is ‘Emperor’ Virat (with magical fifty ODI 100s) but the latest sensation is ‘Shami’, highest wicket-taker now, who mightn’t have played but for Hardik’s (unfortunate?) injury !

While the few critical of this cricket frenzy as being quite over-the-top, there’s ‘method to this madness’ for the fans. Besides those who have planned months ahead to watch the Finals live at Ahmedabad’s Motera and afford the ‘luxury’, others have ensured that all Sunday activities have been cancelled for 2 pm onwards – eyeswill be glued for grand spectacle of India taking on the Aussies in some say, a grudge match for the ‘2003’ defeat that they landed Dada’s 11 !

But as one sports commentatorsaid ‘There’ll be two teams out there, let’s also clap for good shots from the other camp’. India is tops, let’s also lead in being the most sporting audience !