MS Dhoni, the media and the fickle Indian fan

Indian cricket supporters hold posters and bats as they stand outside the home of team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Ranchi, 24 September 2007, ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup final against Pakistan in South Africa.

The curious case of the fickle Indian fan

The Indian fan is always known to be a case of the extremes. They can love you or hate you with equal passion. Hate is perhaps too strong a word in this case but not many Indian fans were willing to back Dhoni when controversies engulfed him. Easily swayed by what they see, many Indian fans readily jumped to conclusions and lapped up whatever our mainstream media fed them. The social media especially was overboard with numerous criticism of the Indian captain.

One would think that a captain who has brought such an extensive amount of glory to the nation would get a lot of respect from the general public. But the fickle Indian fan chooses to go by the ‘sheep theory’- of following what the popular sentiment is- rather than using their own intellect.

The anti-Dhoni brigade were gleefully enjoying the stones being thrown at the captain. For them the ‘lucky captain’ who got a ‘set-team’ made by someone else had flashed his last smile. But the shock that greeted them after the Champions Trophy victory has been rather interesting to observe. There is a shocked silence in those quarters today. This time the blow has been so severe that even their torrent of excuses to belittle Dhoni and his achievements seems to have run out.

A closer look at their ranks would make one understand that they are biding their time until India’s tour to South Africa arrives. They are hopeful that it will give them a reason to shine again.

As for the other fickle Indian fans, Dhoni is a hero yet again. No praises are enough for ‘captain marvel’. But for any sane Indian fan these epithets wouldn’t matter much. Indian fans have to realize to be patient and reasonable. One does not mind criticism where it is due but going overboard with anything, praise or criticism, is never good which is exactly what majority of the Indian fans indulge in. It is high time that the Indian fan shows some maturity and not get influenced by outside elements. They need to show some love and understanding when our players need them the most, and not just in victories. The time has perhaps come for them to draw a line somewhere between love and hypocrisy.