India V Australia Test Series 2008 - Media Hype-Pressure

The upcoming India-Australia test series is getting all the media hype that you would expect but it seems the Indian press is putting unwanted pressure on the Indian team and certain players in the team. The inclusion of Sourav Ganguly was surprising for me and most everyone around India. The debate that is causing all the debate is that it is time for Ganguly, Dravid, Tendullakr, Laxman and Kumble to retire. I do believe the players do know that they have to retire sooner then later and with the selectors they have to decide the right time for them to go and also for Indian cricket and its future.

With such a big series ahead for the Indians all this pressure that is applied by the Indian media is this really going to benefit the Indian team and there challenges against the Australians. The media are doing there job getting the best stories around with such a big series and getting cricket fans to read there newspapers or watch there TV channel but there can be more of a constructive approach. The current media hype and pressure is not going to be putting in faith in the Indian fans who are going to have much confidence in there team with all the debate that has been prior to the series. How will this affect the Indian team you would be hoping that the players and the team are strong enough not to take notice of the media with there preparation mentally and physically perfect and are ready for the challenges that come there way. If the 1st test and the 1st innings do not go the Indians ways with them struggling at lunchtime 90/5 with all the big players not performing the media will have a field way with headlines such as OAP’s down and out. This is only going to give the media even more incentive to criticize the player’s performance and the team which is all expected and with all the hype and pressure even before the series this will only cause morale to be low.

What ever the squad is selected rightly or wrongly it is still a squad of players that are able to compete with the Australians and ultimately are able to beat them which is what everyone in India wants. You would hope that the media hype and pressure will calm down with just under a week to go and that they will back the Indian team. If it were to continue it could damage the Indian team and spoil the test series that the cricket world has been anticipating for a long time.