I don’t do much news these days. With the every-day management of RevSportz taking priority, completing the studio and the next round of fund-raising, it is impossible to do the daily grind of news. Also, we have a very good team of reporters in Subhayan, Rohit, Shamik and others. Having said that, I have done a few pieces over the last few days based on conversations I had. Each piece was a revelation, and resulted in multiple conspiracy theories floating around.
Shubman Gill: I had written some basic facts. That Gill is a fantastic all-format player and yet his Asia Cup position wasn’t a done deal only because the selectors might opt for continuity with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. And if picked, it would be for his batting, and vice-captaincy wasn’t really a talking point. Tilak Varma too has done well and can bat at No. 3. Gill’s selection could be the focal point on August 19, and there are arguments both ways.
I was either labelled a Gill PR or a Gill hater! Also, Shreyas Iyer fans jumped in and accused me of discrimination. Why was I not speaking on Iyer?
Truth is, I am neither Gill PR nor hater. I am stating my opinion, and will continue to do so.
As for Shreyas, I did a piece saying he has done enough to merit discussion and is a very good player of spin, which makes him relevant in Dubai conditions. Having said that, India has an abundance of white-ball talent and his position too isn’t a done deal.
Yet again, I was accused of backing others and discriminating against Shreyas!
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Suryakumar Yadav is the T20 captain and will continue to be till at least the World Cup of 2026. No one else is being considered in that role and it is only fair to state it.
The moment you do so, fan clubs will jump in saying you are trying to discredit Gill.
Really? How is stating Surya that will continue as captain till the World Cup discrediting Gill? Where is all this toxicity coming from?
After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20s and Test cricket, I had hoped that this toxicity would go down. After all, the biggest fandoms revolved around these two legends. But then, I was mistaken. There are these newer fandoms, smaller kingdoms if I can label them as such, which have now started to take over. Toxicity, whether we like it or not, will continue.
Whoever you write on, fan groups of another player will come and label you PR. And if you are critical or just state facts, you are labelled a hater and accused of discrediting that particular player. It is actually a catch-22. Conspiracy theories sell – Rishabh Pant not being made captain because he wanted Kohli and Rohit in the side is one such!
Finally, we need to accept that these things will not change in the near future. Rather, the toxicity will grow with social media becoming all-pervasive. We will continue to be labelled PR or haters. I only wish that for doing such PR, one could make millions. Truth is, we don’t get a dime. Never did, and never will.
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