Free-for-all in social media as Gautam Gambhir and Smriti Mandhana make headlines
Media versus social media, it’s a virtual war out there. Watching social media warriors roast a few men, from Gautam Gambhir to Palash Muchhal, nothing is verified, nothing is cross-checked. At least with Gambhir, his decisions on handling Team India poorly in Test cricket is verified through stats and data. But for Smriti Mandhana’s fiancée, Palash, to be ripped apart has become fashionable.
Living today in this age and time, unless you are in North Korea or China, where several social media platforms do not exist, the way Insta, X, Linkedin, FB are used, is very high. Today, nobody wants to wait till the next morning and read the newspaper, which still presents verified facts. Even sports news in traditional media, has been overtaken by social media. And why not?
Change has to be a constant, a change is an experiment and social media gives users enormous liberty and freedom. But at what cost this happens, one can some day ask Gautam Gambhir and rock star of women’s cricket Smriti Mandhana. The way the Indian Test team has performed, or perished, against South Africa, it is clear, not just acting captain Rishabh Pant, all those part of the playing 11 are ‘flop shows.’
Fine, if that’s true, at least wait till the match is over. Perhaps, this trend is now like wildfire. When England lost the first Ashes Test to Australia in Perth, Ben Stokes and company were hauled over coals. No, the celebration was not about Travis Head doing the star turn, it was about Ben and bowlers flopping. How myopic can it be! Well, one can understand social media, used by a large size where youth are part of it heaping scorn and pouring pure vitriol. But for former cricketers, well-known publications like The Times, London, also showing no mercy to the English cricketers, this is a new trend.
There is no nothing called caution or being considerate. It is like using the whip or cane, where punishment has to be given, instantly. There is no thought, no regret, in this act. Say anything you want about the cricketers, families and so on. Do not worry if they suffer mental health issues and so on. After all, social media is the new court which delivers justice, where there is no need for a hearing or cross-examination.
If Gambhir is being roasted, he has also used social media. He is at the receiving end even from cricketers on air and those who are YouTube content creators with a big name. The point is, Gambhir cannot duck, he has also used media, surreptitiously, to drive home a few points in the past. This has become a free-for-all and whether or not Gambhir faces questions from the BCCI, his coaching skills are now over. Frankly speaking, Gambhir was never a coach who will teach fundamentals.
He is being compared with his predecessors like Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. Do not forget, the damage which Gambhir had done to Team India in Test cricket in 16 months is like a world record. There are stats and data to drive home the point his decisions reek of bias and changing the batting order like a yo-yo is worse than punishment. Imagine, R.Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, soft guys, they are also not holding back. Steam is being let out and Gambhir can only watch or front an assistant coach as his shield!
This will go on, there can be no censorship for sure.
Coming to the wedding ceremony of Smriti Mandhana being cancelled, Palash Muchhal is now the target. It’s sad, nobody is talking about Smriti’s father taking ill and being admitted in hospital. The narrative is, Palash is a ‘cheat’ and Smrithi will not marry him. Proof for this is she deleting social media posts on Insta.
Indeed, the pre-wedding reels and photographs cannot be removed so easily. Screen shots are taken and posted. What pleasure, perverse that, social media handles get in celebrating someone’s sad moments or pain is ignored. There is zero respect for privacy, there is now waiting for an official post.
Palash has been portrayed as a villain, someone who has done wrong. Even if he has, then the decision to deal with him or not should come from Smriti Mandhana, not social media. Well, if you have been sensitive and prayed for her father’s recovery, then you are a maverick. From the time Smriti was just a cricketer to stardom, post the World Cup win, life has changed so much for the girl from Sangli, Maharashtra.
Zero privacy, zero respect for a woman. Do not forget, she is processing so much, her father comes first. Please treat her as your own daughter or sister, do not cause more agony by speculating about Palash, his character, and his purported misdeeds. Thank you, social media.
