An Open Letter to Times Now

Dear Arnab,

You and your channel people must have been the only one rejoicing yesterday when Dhoni & Co. were shown the exit door at SCG last night. There anyway was not much happening on the political front these days. At least not big enough for your channel to garner the TRPs, especially with the World cup going on. So what better than wait for an opportunity for the Indian team to faulter once and just pounce on that opportunity to feed the viewers with your channel's hallmark - Sensationalism. 

How I wish that sometimes you were on the other side of the camera. I would be surprised if you would last the entire length of NEWSHOUR (read Noise Hour). To make things worse, other journalists of your channel (Siddharth Vaidyanathan) have started following your suit. I don't blame them. Since they must have seen that the only way to put across your point in front of the audience and become famous, to hell with for right or for wrong reasons, is when you shout at the top of your voice, interrupt your panelists, enforce your opinion on others, and make a mountain of a mole. 

It was no surprise that the most trending topic on twitter last night #shameontimesnow. Your personal "Crusade" did no favor to your viewers or your channel. Because all of you were busy ridiculing the efforts of the Indian Team, to it no one was giving even a minimal chance to reach that advance stage of the tournament. I wonder if your channel covered their heroics in a similar manner when they defeated Pakistan or South Africa or West Indies etc. Or whether there was a panel to celebrate Virat Kohli's feats in Australia when he scored more than 700 runs in Test Series. Where you were when the same team won the Champions Trophy in England only two years back? When they qualified for the World T20 last year? Oh wait!! That wouldn't have been enough for you guys, because we didn't win the finals - merely reached the finals. Undefeated though. 

As a passionate follower of the game, the defeat pinched me too. There were far too many frustrating moments during India's batting. At times I felt that we were back in 90's - Kohli gone and the rest follow. But your coverage through the post match analysis was not only demeaning but annoying at the same time. I wondered if these cricketers committed a crime or were part of some SCAM and got away with it. In sports, and I wonder if you have ever played one, there is only one winner. It is very easy for you and your team to sit in their AC rooms and blabber away to glory by criticizing the men who were playing for their country with full honor and pride. Talking about a team which has been on road for the last 4 months, away from their families, tirelessly pouring their hearts out to RETAIN the World Cup. This was a team which had only 4 players who had previously played in a World Cup. This was the same team which had been written off, fought the ghosts of a horrible tour, and got their act straight when it mattered the most. Worse, by the time they heal their injuries and reconcile themselves, they will be playing in IPL again. Oh.. there was a player there, one of the greatest modern day cricketer cum captain cum wicketkeeper, who is yet to see the face of his new born daughter. Ridiculing a man who has changed the face of the Indian cricket, has 2 World Cups, Asia Cup, CB Series, Champions Trophy and has been the greatest finisher of our times. This could have been done only and only by your channel. Actually we are a nation, which craves for Heroes and when you find them, ridicule them, forget about their achievements and step over their shoulders to find your moment of glory. 

My only appeal to your channel is, spare us from unwanted crusades of yours. And especially when it comes to sports, do not even attempt to do what you did last evening. Stop living in a world of your whims & fancies, where everything works according to your way or rather should work as per your way. Go and pick up a bat. See if you can differentiate between a fuller delivery or a bouncer, an in swinger or a yorker. Check for yourself who's in a more comfortable position. Kohli facing Mitchel Johnson or you giving a thumbs down for his effort. 

Nation does not want to know, unless of course your other name is 'Nation Goswami'. Take a break. Breathe. Remember your donkey days. When you would have prepared a 2 page report on a subject only to see it going into the bin because your Editor didn't like it. These men had right intentions too. They just slipped at the wrong time. Right now, WE as the lovers of the game stand in solidarity with our Team. Would request you to join the gang. 

Yours Truly

A Passionate Fan

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