National integration: A myth?

I was watching the IPL on Sony Max. That channel has two analysts who discuss the game both before and after it. The game I was watching was one between the Deccan Chargers (from Hyderabad) and Chennai Super Kings (from Chennai obviously). The game was won by DC (woohoo!!) and it was during postgame that I noticed something interesting. The analyst started his analysis of the game by saying, "That was a good match between two South Indian teams. The Andhra achaar was too spicy for the Chennai ..." It's that first line. Why is it noteworthy that the match was between two South Indian teams? Would he have said "match between two North Indian teams" to describe a match between Punjab and Rajasthan or Delhi and Punjab? Of course he wouldn't. What that comments implies is that the analyst feels South India is at best a "special" part of India, something "outside" mainstream India. This happened because the commentator was North Indian.

(At this point, I'd like to mention Sony Max's decision to have Hindi commentary and Hindi analysis for the matches. Just nauseating. But more on that some other time.)

I do realize that "India" is a weird concept, that it didn't exist in its current shape till very recently. But having said that, we're here, aren't we? Why the distinction? It feels like going to a party and having someone say, "Wow, didn't expect to see you here." And you wonder why I have such strong negative feelings toward North Indians!