Arvind Kejriwal has regained his sheen and mantle as the middle class darling by staging a new dharna, this time demanding suspension of Ishant Sharma from the Indian cricket team. Unlike the demand for suspension of SHOs, which evoked mixed responses when clubbed with his threat to disrupt the Republic Day function, his new demand, by articulating the angst of the aam aadmi against Ishant Sharma for his consistent bowling failures, has found support across the board. People from all walks of life, irrespective of political affiliation, are gathering at Rail Bhavan to support the Delhi CM’s new agitation, some coming from as far away as Kohima and Kanyakumari.

Ishant Sharma has been attracting criticism from all quarters of late. Even yesteryear legend Venkatesh Prasad bemoaned the new lows Indian bowling has plunged under the lanky pacer. “I also used to get tonked around the park but at least once in a spell I used to outfox the batsman with a genuine slow ball. This Ishant can’t even manage that,” Prasad noted with sadness.

“We are not like the Sheila Dikshit regime to keep quiet and watch,” screamed the feisty AAP supremo to the cheers of ten thousand plus throng near Rail Bhavan. “How long will we allow guys like Ishant Sharma to bowl short of length deliveries that disappear into the stands? The aam aadmi cannot take it anymore.” Later, Yogendra Yadav clarified that AAP is protesting for a larger issue, one of accountability of Indian fast bowlers, with Ishant Sharma’s suspension being a step in that direction.

The dharna this time around is passing off smoothly. The Delhi police who came to control the protesters immediately joined in after learning it was against Ishant. A giant cut out of the lanky pacer was also wheeled into the venue so that people could take turns at water cannoning it.

However, skipper Dhoni, while endorsing AAP’s larger goal of making the Indian bowling more accountable to the public and perhaps even to some AAP ministers, has sounded a note of caution. “Fine. Kick out Sharma. But who will be his replacement? Dinda?” MS wondered.