For India fans, who make up perhaps the greatest cricket fan base, the 2023 World Cup ended in an anticlimactic manner as they watched the best side on paper falter at the last hurdle before Australia won their sixth title the previous week.
India statistically continued to be the most successful team in the most recent World Cup, winning ten straight games, even though the tournament winners themselves only claim one less victory than the Men in Blue.
Over 100,000 boisterous spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad were obviously not prepared for that dominant run end in the final stage against a side they had already beaten in the group stage.
And while the Australians won by six wickets, keeping the sea of blue silent, India supporters made their presence known almost immediately after the game ended, generally in an unfavourable way.
The most recent outburst came from an RTI activist who lodged a formal complaint in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, against Australia’s Mitchell Marsh, an all-rounder, for keeping his foot on the World Cup trophy while the team celebrated the victory in the dressing room.
When Cummins posted a photo of Marsh on social media with his feet on the treasured trophy, fans and the media rightfully accused him of demeaning the greatest cricket prize ever.
“I’m wounded. The highest wicket-taker in 2017 World Cup with 24 scalps, Mohammed Shami, an Indian pacer, said on Thursday, “keeping a foot on that trophy did not make me happy. It’s the trophy that all the teams in the world fight for, the trophy which you want to lift over your head.”
Shami’s criticism makes sense because it was contained in a brief statement expressing displeasure.
Marsh’s actions were obviously wrong, but it’s still unclear if they called for the opening of a criminal investigation.
The 32-year-old all-rounder is reportedly the target of a complaint alleging that he purposefully embarrassed 140 crore Indians with his gesture. According to reports, the police officers acknowledged the case and lodged a formal complaint on the same.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also forwarded a copy of the FIR, pleading with him to forbid Marsh—who frequently competes in the Indian Premier League—from playing in India going ahead.
The boos directed at Australian cricketer Richard Kettleborough when he was collecting his medal after the match, the cries of “Kohli, Kohli” when Cummins raised the trophy, and—above all—the deplorable remarks made on social media about their wives may also require classification if Marsh’s actions in the chaotic aftermath of the victory were “deliberate” attempts to “humiliate.”
Indian-born Vini Raman, Glenn Maxwell’s wife, responded to the hate mail by writing on Instagram, “Aaaaand cue all the hateful vile DMs.” Remain sophisticated. It’s unbelievable that this has to be mentioned, but you can be Indian and still support the nation where you were born, raise your family, and—above all—the team that your spouse and the father of your child play in #nobrainer. Take a deep breath and focus your fury on more pressing global concerns.”
It is evident that the Indian fans were unable to understand the reasoning behind the FIR event, which occurred three days after Maxwell’s wife pleaded for the “outrage” to be directed somewhere significant. If the “outrage” is warranted at all, then perhaps it is time for them to begin acting on it.