‘India won the match, but lost its dignity’: Veteran journalist tears into cricketers’ ugly on-field conduct

In a strongly worded commentary, Sridhar, who spent a significant part of his journalism career covering cricket, said he had stopped watching the sport years ago despite once being passionately associated with it.

“There was a time when cricket was my bread and butter,” he recalled, describing how the game had dominated his professional and personal life.

Sridhar said his association with cricket had continued even during difficult periods marked by match-fixing controversies, spot-fixing allegations, favouritism, nepotism and internal rivalries. However, he believes the deterioration in on-field behaviour has increasingly distanced the sport from its traditional values.

Referring to highlights of the Asia Cup final, in which India successfully chased eight runs in the final over against Pakistan, Sridhar said the celebrations that followed left him disturbed.

He alleged that some Indian cricketers were seen using abusive language, making offensive gestures and displaying confrontational behaviour towards Pakistani players.

According to Sridhar, what should have been a celebration of sporting achievement appeared to turn into an exhibition of hostility and personal confrontation.

He questioned whether such behaviour was appropriate for international cricketers representing India on a global stage.

“Come on, BCCI! Get your act together,” Sridhar remarked, urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take greater responsibility for maintaining discipline and professional conduct among players.

In a pointed suggestion, he said the Indian cricket team's support staff might need an additional specialist dedicated to player behaviour, discipline and sportsmanship.

While acknowledging that aggressive behaviour among Indian cricketers was not entirely new, Sridhar warned that allowing such conduct to go unchecked could damage the reputation of both the players and the country.

His observations also raise broader questions about the increasingly intense rivalry between India and Pakistan, where sporting contests frequently attract political emotions and enormous public attention.

Sridhar maintained that victory should be celebrated with grace rather than hostility, arguing that cricket must remain a contest of skill, temperament and character.

“Winning a match is certainly worth celebrating. But how one conducts oneself in victory is equally important,” he observed.

Concluding his commentary, the veteran journalist delivered a reminder about the values that should define international sport.

“Cricket is a game of skill, temperament and character. Winning the contest should never mean losing one's dignity.”

His criticism has brought renewed attention to the importance of sportsmanship, particularly in high-pressure international encounters where players' conduct can influence millions of young followers of the game.