Indian cricket's darkest hour - The Greg Chappell saga

SaiSrini

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With Tendulkar's latest sensational revelations about Greg Chappell in his upcoming autobiography 'Playing it my Way', felt the need to open this thread and talk about the massively negative impact Greg Chappell had on Indian cricket

India Cricket News: Tendulkar slams 'ringmaster' Chappell | ESPN Cricinfo

Its surely a big thing even today that a man of Tendulkar's stature has chosen to be outspoken when talking about the issues he had with Greg Chappell. This shocking revelation that Chappell asked him to take over captaincy just a few months before the 2007 World Cup, is pretty surprising. The words "Together, we can take control of Indian cricket for years" clearly shows that Chappell did not really come with plans to help India but was a power hungry who saw India as an opportunity to quench his thirst.
 
There have some excerpts from SRT's Autobiography have been made public, and he has had a real go at Greg Chappell during his sting as India Coach. It seems there are still more skeletons in that closet.

Months before the 2007 WC, Chappell wanted Dravid sacked and even went behind Dravid's back to approach Sachin. Chappell had some grand designs on ruling Indian cricket it seems.

"Just months before the World Cup, Chappell had come to see me at home and, to my dismay, suggested that I should take over the captaincy from Rahul Dravid," ... "Anjali [Tendulkar's wife], who was sitting with me, was equally shocked to hear him say that 'together, we could control Indian cricket for years', and that he would help me in taking over the reins of the side.

"I was surprised to hear the coach not showing the slightest amount of respect for the captain, with cricket's biggest tournament just months away. He stayed for a couple of hours, trying to convince me, before finally leaving."
 
Dravid's diplomacy is very much intact. Just heard his comments on Cricinfo about this, and he says "he is not interested to read the book because of this controversial statement; he is more interested to read it for Sachin's take on batting and what made him the player he is".

Personally, I believe Greg Chappell crossed a lot of limits and caused a lot of problems to the team. I mean, for a person of Sachin's personality (he is equally diplomatic, reclusive, doesn't like to rub people the wrong way, humble, etc) to being coming out with statements like this just underlines the negative impact of Greg Chappell's methods on Indian cricket. Some might even say that Sachin being the elephant in the room did not like Chappell's idea of phasing the seniors out. But you can phase seniors out in other ways, DEFINITELY NOT LIKE THIS.
 
while im sure what srt is saying is honest and chappel was always a pain, i feel really bad at this being used as a marketing ploy for the book, this could have just come out at the release of the book when people read, not like this especially when you can issue much better excerpts of a 24 year old rich glorious career. Its not like sachin has to sell this book out, just his name would have sufficed. the marketers these days are really hitting lows.
 
^^ These PR guys can be such idiots. You are spot on .. a normal release would have ensured a fantastic response since its Sachin. This is too gimmicky for my liking
 
while im sure what srt is saying is honest and chappel was always a pain, i feel really bad at this being used as a marketing ploy for the book, this could have just come out at the release of the book when people read, not like this especially when you can issue much better excerpts of a 24 year old rich glorious career. Its not like sachin has to sell this book out, just his name would have sufficed. the marketers these days are really hitting lows.

Yeah the point is well taken. The "masala" bits need not have been the ones to be released first. People could have read them once they bought the book. A SRT autobiography inherently has more selling potential than a look into the Chappell era. Having said this, I would want SRT to not be diplomatic for once.

He is one of the most neutral guys and has probably never said a bad word against anyone, however all kinds of people from the irrelevant to peers have taken shots at him to sell their book. The latest being Ponting some months back. SRT for once should not hold back either.
 
Greg Chappelle denies allegations. So I guess SRT, Ganguly and Laxman must be producing these stories out of their rears :P :P
 
Chappell is definitely guilty.Everyone was sure he and the senior guys were having some disputes between them but never thought it was this serious.Sachin is supported by Harbhajan and Ganguly and Zaheer has said Chappell always wanted him dropped from the team for some reason he doesn't know.So undoubtedly Chappell's period was the darkest period of Indian cricket but I find no use discussing it now.
 
^^Also VVS confirmed Sachin's story today and also said he was threatened by Chappelle to be dropped if he did not want to open the innings
 
Whatever , this matter shouldn't have come out to the media!
 
^Why ?

When someone is writing an autobiography, he usually shares the good and the bad times he had to go through. Since it was clearly a horrid time for SRT and the Indian cricket team, it would be a shame if Sachin did not talk about it
 
Greg Chappelle denies allegations. So I guess SRT, Ganguly and Laxman must be producing these stories out of their rears :P :P

That guy is crazy. Most of the big guys of Indian cricket like Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman have come out against him (seeing abhi's comment above that Laxman has confirmed the story). If Chappell thinks people would believe him rather than Tendulkar, Ganguly or Laxman, he is living in a fantasy world.
 
No Doubt , Greg Chappell was the 'BAD MAN' for the Indian team!
But this incidence won't bring any good to any1 especially for a personality like SRT.
This will only give SRT haters , the chance of mudding Him by barking that he just wanted to catch the eyes for his book!
BTW! Bhajji also supported Sachin in a TV interview today revealing the Divide & Rule policy of Chappell!
 
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No Doubt , Greg Chappell was the 'BAD MAN' for Indian team!
But this incidence won't bring any good to any1 especially for a personality like SRT.
This will only give SRT haters , the chance of mudding Him that he just wanted to catch the eyes for his book!
Agrees.SRT would get nothing other than criticism I agree,but this would also help prove many who accussed seniors guilty for the dispute wrong as well.Its always good that the truth is known to everyone however it gives nothing to anyone.
 

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