As much a case of “hit wicket” as slamming Indian cricket’s superstars “for a six” is the letter from noted historian Ramachandra Guha resigning from the Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the apex court to excise the spectre of corruption, nepotism, misgovernance etc from the money-spinning game that has been an integral part of Indian culture. There would have been valid cause for applause had he been forthright when informing the Supreme Court of his decision to step down, rather than cite “personal reasons” ~ only to subsequently fire a broadside. Those who “love to hate” the most successful of Indian sportspersons will certainly find much to salivate over in his letter, in which he has blasted men with very popular images, along with members of that favourite whipping-boy, the BCCI.

What is likely to be lost in the thunder is his point about the CoA’s “silence and inaction” when the Kumble-Kohli pot was allowed to boil over, and little was done to eliminate persons with conflicting interests from various positions of authority ~ though it must be asked who does not have a vested interest in something as passionate as Indian cricket? Critics might accuse Guha of having his own interests when recommending his replacement in the CoA: we reserve comment on that “specific”.

The seemingly sensational revelations from Guha are all “old hat”. The Kohli-Kumble clash was preceded by the Ganguly-Greg Chappell affair (and if anyone cares to remember, Ashok Mankad also had a tough time) because Indian sport has never accorded the “coach” due importance. It is unimaginable that an Alex Ferguson would send a boot flying David Beckham’s way in an Indian dressingroom. Guha is right in trying to cut superstars down to size: he would have been more than right had he taken on other members of the CoA for compromising their positions even as he served on the panel ~ stepping aside is an easy way out. It may be lapped up by the media for a while, no lasting remedy will emerge. For members of the CoA, like all the others Guha has blasted, appear to have fallen victim to the same temptations: none of them “play cricket”.

Looking further down the pitch, questions must now, reluctantly, be asked about the sagacity of the judiciary trying to take over the administration of cricket. What have the Mudgal and Lodha panels actually “delivered”, they punctured some egos but inflated others. Sure the management of sport in India requires drastic overhaul, the electoral processes need cleansing. Yet, as events now confirm, the judiciary has no magic wand. Sparks could fly against the functioning of the CoA, Guha’s charges will not go unanswered by the many he has flayed. A “veil” has been lifted.