Your World Cup Special Issue was comprehensive, with so much for every cricket fan (‘India pioneered the all-rounder concept with 1983 win’, October 8). India’s chances in the World Cup are bright, as the team is laden with talented players. I also feel there is a good mix of experience and young blood out there. The batting line-up has been our strength. All said, I hope none of our players get injured from here on.
Let me wish our Indian cricket team the best. I look forward to seeing Rohit Sharma & co. play with masterly finesse. I am more excited about the India-Pakistan matches—hope there will be more than one match. I am sure we will continue to maintain our record as Pakistan has never beaten India in a World Cup game.
Rahul Saxena,
On email.
The advent of the IPL has produced a crop of young daredevils. Your curtain-raiser to the World Cup was a timely reminder to players to walk a tightrope across formats.
The festivity of sports—with India’s stellar performance in Asian Games and the start of the ODI World Cup—pushes the nation into a spirited mood with high hopes.
Sachidananda Satpathy,
On email.
It was nice of THE WEEK to dedicate a major part of the issue to cricket. But, it has added to the already existing hype over the game.
The country is addicted to cricket, and players have become celebrities and multimillionaires. This, according to me, is a major imbalance in our sports policy, resulting in less focus on other sports. Parents want their children to become cricketers and not athletes or hockey players. It is time we gave more attention to our athletes who have done us proud in the Asian Games. Let us also give impetus to rural sports. That is where our talent and strength are. Why should only one sport rule the roost!
R.P. Singh,
On email.
Yuvraj Singh should have continued to play for the country for more time. The selectors were not fair to him. Same is the case with Virender Sehwag. Both are among the top six-hitters in the history of cricket.
Jasprit Bumrah has, time and again, showed why he remains one of the best fast bowlers India has ever produced. Bumrah should play in select matches from here on as he is prone to injuries.
Rama Gupta,
On email.
Imagine the kind of pressure that the Indian cricket team will go through when they play Pakistan at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14. The Indian team just cannot afford to lose a match to Pakistan at a stadium named after the prime minister. Pakistan has a very good team, but they crumble in high-pressure matches.
If India wins the World Cup, the Union government will go around and blazon that it was only because of a stable government, a very strong leader, and a booming economy that a confident India and her cricketers could win the coveted trophy!
Anjana Arun,
On email.
Roger Binny said, “Being a sportsman, you have got to acknowledge the other person.” It is a very practical tip for all sportspersons. I expect the same from our cricketers in the World Cup.
Sudarshan,
On email.
Don’t mess with India
India’s stand against Canada is correct, and that is how it should be (‘Man with a long shadow’, October 8). There is no need for 42 Canadian diplomats to be stationed in India. It was the right decision to ask them to leave the country. And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did a terrible mistake by accusing India for a crime in his country.
The Canadian government should curb anti-India activities on its soil. The majority of Sikhs are peace loving, and they love and respect India. It is only a small group that is demanding Khalistan.
R. Sairam,
On email.
Economic support
India is one of the biggest countries that has a fast-growing economy (‘A passage for India’, October 1). The cover photo of the Haifa Port in Israel shows how India and Israel are unanimously growing stronger—commercially as well as sustainably. After the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, there is a growing demand for strong currencies. I hope that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will take off in a big way.
Stephen Kunchala,
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
Credibility questioned
‘Prize that crashed’ (September 24) covered the reasons why Mahatma Gandhi did not get the Nobel Peace Prize. It is surprising that so much bias is involved in bestowing the coveted prize.
Nobel Prizes are not devoid of paradoxes. To cite a few, Thomas Alva Edison and Guglielmo Marconi have not received the prize. Henry Kissinger, former US secretary of state, who persuaded President Richard Nixon to bomb the peaceful people of Kampuchea (modern day Cambodia) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973. As a protest, Le Duc Tho of Vietnam, who was to receive the prize with Kissinger, rejected it.
It is also true that these awards are often delayed for years. Even Albert Einstein had to wait for seven years before getting the Nobel Prize. No wonder that Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, two leading crusaders of peace in the previous century, did not get the peace prize. The credibility of the Nobel Prize is surely under question.
S. Shashidhar,
On email.
Why a Deepika cover?
Deepika Padukone is a well-known actor, and a big star (‘The business of being Deepika’, October 15). Agreed that she is a good human being as well. But what was the need to do a cover story on her? As a news magazine, there are so many important issues you can cover.
V.K. Nandagopal,
Bengaluru.