Instead of getting reformed, Indian cricket seems to be heading for more chaos. First came the shocking information that Virat Kohli is having problems with coach Anil Kumble, and now the news that Ramachandra Guha has quit as member of the panel of administrators appointed by Supreme Court.
It is nothing short of a miracle, that in this age and time, when it is extremely difficult to escape media scrutiny, how did the world not know that Virat was having problems with Kumble? Hard to believe that this could be true, especially given that Indian cricket has done so well in the one year, these two have been together and expressed nothing but praise for each other. However, the sad fact is that the rift between the two is not a figment of the TRP-seeking media and has now become a greater soap opera than the impending India-Pakistan Champions Trophy clash.
Why BCCI officials or the CoA did not intervene in advance and sort out this issue, which could have been even minor in nature, while the IPL was being played, is itself a bit baffling. Ego clashes if left unheeded can explode and destroy the very foundations of an edifice that has taken a long time to build. Are the repercussions of this tiff going to be serious, or can the relationship between the two still be mended so that it does not leave Indian cricket badly bruised? It is strange that the BCCI chooses to deny any story of a rift and yet we find a stalwart like Virender Sehwag applying for the coach's job.
Game behind involving Sehwag
Where does Ramachandra Guha fit in this squabble, which does no credit to Indian cricket? Well, a detailed letter in which he has explained the reasons for his resignation, makes it very clear that Guha was unhappy with the manner in which the CoA was handling the mandate it had got from the Supreme Court.
Important issues unaddressed
There may have been other issues as well, the more pressing ones being to get cracking in implementing the Lodha panel reforms and not get too involved with running day to day affairs. The CoA did not set a good example by being visible on IPL prize distribution platforms that should have been left to the BCCI officials or former players.
Guha, who has his own reputation and integrity to protect, must have thought the best thing to do is to dissociate himself from the goings on. An honourable thing to do, given that the much promised reforms are nowhere in sight. Instead, we are witnessing board intrigues on full display.