It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last, that an Indian cricket captain has clashed with the press. But like in every scenario of this nature, in hindsight both sides will be left ruing mistakes made by them because the confrontation will seem not only regrettable but also one that could’ve been easily avoided.

The facts of the case from the team’s point of view are simple enough. They believe a wrong report was published in a newspaper about a rift within their ranks, and because they “value their unity” more than anything else, the entire squad marched in together for a press conference, issued awritten statement, refused to interact with the press save the mandatory briefings, and decided to react sharply at any hint of agitation.

For them, the media has all but ceased to exist on this trip. And though there will be cross-border discussions on an individual level, nothing official or unofficial is expected to pass from the India camp even to their friends and long-time acquaintances on the other side.

From the reporters’ point of view, the situation has more than one dimension — if the story of a discord in the team, however unlikely, was correct, they believe they had every right to highlight it; and, if it was incorrect, they’re frustrated with the team because they consider the blanket ban a gross over-reaction almost bordering on childishness.

The problem is how this has become a clash of personalities along with being a clash of issues. Hardly surprising considering what’s been happening over the last few years both in cricket reporting, which is slowly deteriorating to either sensationalism or reverence, and in the team, which has transformed into an assertive, closed group where every outside query is treated as an unnecessary intrusion.

... contd.