An Open Mail for Mr Sridharan Sriram

Dear Sriram,

At The outset Hearty Congratulations on the convincing win that Australia posted against India. We heard that you played a very critical role in scheming India's downfall. Well done Indeed. Let me make a few points very clear before I set about asking you a few pointed questions. I am a die hard cricket fan and a fanatic supporter of the Indian Cricket Team. Secondly, I am totally against the concept of foreign coaches, even though we have had a few in the past with a great deal of success, John Wright and Gary Kirsten just to name a few. Let it not be said that Grapes are sour just because India lost.. I in fact do not like the concept of IPL, for one reason that players of foreign origin mix with the native players and in the process you get to know each others strength and weakness as well, which comes in very handy when in the larger picture you are representing each others country. Now I can venture forth asking you a few questions:

As I have told you I am a Die hard Indian Cricket team supporter. I cannot fathom that a fellow Indian can coach a foreign team against your own home team. For me country comes above everything else. Each time the National Anthem is played I have goosebumps, and I stand up out of a feeling of a different kind which is called patriotism.

For me each time Ashwin goes out and represents my country, it is a matter of national pride, each time he grabs a wicket, we feel elated. How can you Mr. Sriram decide to coach the Australians how Ashwin bowls and how their batsman should stack up against him. Is it not a case of taking off your Indian shirt and donning a foreign one. It smacks of professional ethics as per me.

Money being a factor-Yes, but would you do anything for that including selling your countries interest? Just for a few dollars more would you sell yourself to the Aussies? Is Money the biggest motivation for you to have taken up this assignment.

Agreed that you nay have that talent as far as coaching is concerned, not too sure about your playing days. Why have you not approached the BCCI for any coaching assignment? Given the fact that you have represented India, there will be many takers in the country for your coaching skills. Indian Cricket has given you name,fame and money so it it not your responsibility to give back to the game in the country before you sold your services to a rank outsider?

How does it feel when India loses and you are credited to being the success behind India's downfall? I would personally feel sick and miserable.

There have been illustrious cricketers before and after you. Lets take an example. Rahul Dravid has taken to coaching the India Junior team. He is one who sports the India jersey proudly now when He is the junior team coach and in his playing days or for that matter Anil Kumble,Venkatesh Prasad or even the Iconic Sunil Gavaskar. They would have had plump offers to coach any nation, but have never done so. Dhoni for instance travels by train to represent his state Jharkhand, This is as recent as yesterday. Have you not taken any lessons from what your peers or colleagues have achieved. Is the interest of the Yellow more enticing than the one in blue?

Somehow, I could not digest the news article in the Times of India, crediting you an Indian by birth,nativity and residence to India's downfall. According to me a matter of great shame. How about this article:  http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/250217/steve-okeefe-credits-sridharan-sriram-for-incredible-spell.html. Clearly you have set up the Aussie spinners on how to bowl on Indian soil. How bad is that? Need I say more?

In conclusion I would only implore you to do some amount of self introspection on which suits you better, a mindless money making machine and a foreign paymaster or a proud Indian with a smaller bank balance, the choice is yours my friend.