Why has India been criticised?
The Indian cricket team players have been criticised for ignoring Australia's trophy celebrations following the final match of the recently concluded ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, lifted the trophy without the Indian squad on the field. It’s understandable that the Indian players were sad about losing, but many found their absence unsporting.
The Australian team got the trophy in front of an almost empty stadium because many Indian fans left before the celebrations. Indian fans have also faced criticism for not applauding Travis Head much after his century in the finals.
When Head got out, the Australian team clapped for him, but the stadium was quiet, and cricket fans worldwide didn't like it. The Indian fans even booed the umpires.
Why were the umpires booed?
During the medal ceremony, some Indian fans booed the umpires Richard Kettleborough and Richard Illingworth, TV umpire Joel Wilson, and fourth umpire Chris Gaffney as they received awards for overseeing the final. This surprised many because there were no wrong decisions during the game.
Some fans criticised Kettleborough on social media, saying he umpired in several matches where India lost. Some even think he's unlucky for the Indian team. Also, some Indian fans wrote hateful comments about Australian cricketers and their families on Instagram and other social media.
Due to these reasons, India has been criticised for unsporting behaviour following the World Cup final. Many Indians have also criticised these behaviours.
What did we learn from this article?
It's essential to be a good sport, even when we lose. Ignoring the other team's celebration after their win is not good sportsmanship. Losing is a normal part of any game, and it's important to accept defeat gracefully.
Feeling sad when you lose is okay, but controlling those feelings and being happy for the winners is also important. If you really love sports, you should cheer for good performances, even if it's against your favourite team.
Also, saying bad things about referees or anyone for silly reasons is not good and should be avoided. We shouldn't say mean things about the other team or their families, either. Being a fan comes with responsibilities, and we should never do anything that brings shame to our country.
