It’s amazing what Indian electronic media can find worth carrying for one full day, and what it can make some people do. The latest example is that of the Sri Lanka offie Suraj Randiv’s no-ball, which denied Virender Sehwag a century. Without doubt, Randiv’s act has been ridiculous, childish, and according to many, against the “spirit of cricket,” if such a thing does exist.

But mind well, Randiv has done nothing against the law. The electronic media's reaction to the episode has been way over the top. Comparing Randiv with Ravan, and the way Sri Lankan cricket board has reacted have been way way over the top.

Let’s face it: the team Sri Lanka faced wasn’t of 11 saints. If Sehwag was on 99, and despite edging it to the wicketkeeper, was given not out by the umpire, would he have walked? Would the Indian cricketers have not appealed if there was even one per cent chance of a batsman being LBW, even on 99?

These things happen on a cricket field, and they should be left there. I don’t understand why the Sri Lanka cricket management had to apologise to the Indian board. To top that, Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara spoke to India coach Gary Kirsten. And to make it bizarre, the Sri Lanka cricket board set up a six-man committee to probe the incident.     

Statements like "the guilty will be punished" have been made. An outsider might think Randiv has committed one of the biggest crime a human being can possibly think of. All that he has done is that he denied a cricketer a well-deserved century, in a very cheap but lawful way.

Then the Indian electronic media “found out” that it was Sangakkara, who had told Randiv in Sinhali language, that the India need just one run for a win and Sehwag needs just one run to complete his century. So the media interpreted that as his “order” to Randiv to bowl a no-ball.

Now reports say it was Dilshan who asked Randiv to bowl a no-ball. So what happens to Sangakkara? At least, Sangakkara apologised for the incident, but will the electronic media do the same, for tarnishing his image?

Randiv could even be banned for a few matches. The Indian board is financially the most powerful cricket board in the world, no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean it should be shown more respect than what it deserves.