There is a class of Indian fans who live their lives pinning their entire hopes on one player or another. Every month, there is a new demigod for them, the designated saviour of Indian cricket, who has to play every match and can do no wrong.

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This is usually guided by currently perceived gaps in the team. In 2018, this magical messiah was Shaw because the openers were "failing overseas". Today, it's Pant because he's seen as the second coming of Gilly, sure to score 500 runs in the series because he made runs in 2018.

This messiah is then defended with a cultish dedication, using a melange of "stats" which are averages over 4 matches, random appellations and trivial records, and generally distasteful and brainless comments.

This sort of vitriolic tribalism has become a feature of indian fandom, sprouting clubs like Rohitians/Viratians.

Among fans of no other country have I seen such constant juvenile internecine bickering. Anything Cricbuzz critical about "your" player gets attacked.

This changes nothing, but might hurt young players, who are active online. For "fans" it is a pathetic way to massage their egos and keep their self-worth relevant. But players are humans and their actions should be debated with civility.

Maybe hero-worship is a national disease. The blind following in our politics is also a manifestation of this.