Why is BCCI watching the fun as Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli get roasted?

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Plugs, plants, and leaks, this is what cricket reportage has been reduced to in India. Nobody minds sensational news as long as it is credible. But to indulge in kite flying, put the careers of players and coaches, and indulge in slander, this is not on.

Since the time the Black Caps whacked India 3-0 in the Test series recently, all kinds of stories have been doing the rounds. The victims include coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Rohit Sharma, and, of course, Virat Kohli.

First things first, for social media to speculate is one thing. Fans are crazy, passionate, and intense. In fact, obsessed to such an extent, they can get away with anything. If social media were a kangaroo court, by now a few in Team India (red ball) would have been hanged.

No, this is no exaggeration, this is the price one pays for losing. When former cricketers also resort to sensationalism in podcasts, written pieces, and sarcasm on social media, it is a dangerous trend. The same thing gets picked up by more people, and the multiplier effect is devastating.

Agreed, bad performances deserve to be discussed. These people who have such power constitute the BCCI (Indian Cricket Board), where, at least, one is a dummy. Has BCCI President Roger Binny addressed the media as often as he should? No, never.

It is sad he has reduced himself to a puppet, not someone who was a genuine all-rounder in his heydays. If this is the way a cricketer turned Prez is going to keep quiet, it speaks volumes about his incompetence. The BCCI has seen powerful Presidents like Late Jagmohan Dalmiya and a few more.

It did not matter whether they belonged to a political party or not, or if they were businessmen or lawyers. At least, they did pass on the news to the media. Silence is a crime at this point in time from the BCCI since Gambhir, Rohit, and Kohli have been riled and ridiculed.

Add to it the way two of India's best spinners - R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - have been hauled over the coals, the mute mode from the BCCI is baffling. Why? Do cricket fans assume mocking players and coaches is par for the course? To label Gambhir as useless is crazy.

All of a sudden, he has become incompetent for red-ball cricket but is still good for white-ball cricket. Is this logic, that Gambhir does not know how to handle the Test team but will be a maestro/mentor with the T20 and ODI team? This news has gotten into print, in newspapers, and on digital platforms, because someone in the BCCI is feeding such stuff.

What has been even more galling is a purported six-hour meeting held by the BCCI where Gambhir, Rohit, and a few more were 'pulled up.' If there is veracity in this news, the BCCI should have at least put out a press release.

For whatever reason Gambhir kept quiet, his silence has been interpreted in many ways. This is his fault for sure since his PR team went into silent mode. These days, social media is a reliable tool. Gambhir could have used it and posted his thoughts. There is no gag order on him.

He, obviously, must be wondering how the wind is suddenly blowing the other way as he is subjected to ridicule. The Gambhir who was vocal perpetually has gone quiet. This is not his DNA and is quite mystifying to fans and the cricket world.

Then comes Rohit Sharma, who was honest enough in admitting he played poorly, did not score runs and his leadership was not up to the mark, in three Tests. Why is it that the BCCI keeps quiet and lets various versions do the rounds?

Again, Rohit had said he could miss the first Test in Perth, as he had applied for paternity leave. The latest narrative in the media is Rohit is under pressure to still go to Perth.

Is captaincy a matter of life and death for a five-star cricketer who has done more than enough for India and his IPL franchise? Again, the BCC has kept quiet. 'Silence is golden' does not always work. To mock the India captain is a shame and the BCCI is guilty.

Then comes Virat Kohli, who has not scored runs recently in Tests. He gets trolled, and his family is abused. Why is the BCCI not saying even for formality it backs its cricketers? Is this a reward for serving India? No way.

There is at least one person(s) in the BCCI who is feeding gossip to sections of the media. The damage that has been done is phenomenal. He must realise, one day, all this will explode on his face. Sadly, the BCCI has no functional media cell.

Definitely, it can learn lessons from a few international federations on the art of communication. The richest cricket board in the world cannot be a mute spectator at any cost. They are more guilty than the cricketers and the coach who 'failed' India in a Test series.