IPL 2.0

I hope the IPL this season  will provide qualtiy cricket compared to 2008's slambang version. Thoroughly enjoyed first two matches(Sachin and Rahul's innings in particular). Rahul emphasizing  the need to be play proper cricket was tongue-in-cheek reply to the current one day squad which mostly consist of guys who want to take the left foot out of the line and go for a huge swing. Was glad that he took a dig at them. The sight of Mandira Bedi was enough to send a shrill up my spine. I think I am yet to come to terms with the horrendous 2003 WC broadcasting experience. 

One thing that I thought will change this time around was the commentators' uninhibited worship of the sponsors. How wrong was I. Every six, boundary or stunning catch was one of DLF maximum, Citi moment of sucess,.. . And to top it all, there was atleast 3 instances in every match where the IPL team was thanking the huge list of sponsors(at toss, at the presentation and one at the innings break). Not sure if there is any noble gesture that would provoke such appreciation. May be they are right when they say IPL has something for everybody. I am in for the game. But the crap that accompanies it becomes too much to stand at times.

11 hours and 72 overs!!

Could you imagine someone like Gambhir playing for around 11 hours and more than 72 overs to score a meagre 137. I certainly didn't till the second test match. Most of us( and that includes me!!) were expecting him to play a really aggresive innings after the way in which he got out to Patel in the first innings.  But to swallow his pride and get his head down to complete the job at hand, was immaculate. I was always a fan of Dravid, Hussey and the likes because of the professionalism they bring into the game. One can always expect 100% application from them irrespective of whether they are in good form or going through a slump. Dravid, for one, was never smooth in this series. And still to average over 60, you got to give it to the guy's disciplined approach.

No one ever could have associated such traits with Gambhir till this innings. May be that's what a gifted player requires to be a great one. Guess this might well the watershed innings for him. Take a bow, Gautam.

The week that was

• Been on a 4-day trip to kerala. Had a much needed break. Will post the snaps and if possible the travelogue soon. 
• The recent Australia - South Africa series was breath-taking and might well be the start of a new epoch. It was one damn good series that I was ready to wake up each day at 5-5.30 am IST and never grizzled about the time zone difference. Smith was dazzling in general and what stood out was his tenacity to come and bat at No.11 on the last the day of the match (with broken hand and injured elbow), given the fact that SA had already wrapped the series. The next 8 months of test cricket I guess would be sufficient to know how the teams would be ranked for the coming 4-6 years.
• I have just about a month left for the Auroville marathon and do need atleast 100 kms under my belt before the D-day. Hopefully I can get some mileage.
• Read a great article by Marina Krakovsky on "The Effort Effect". The article postulates on the kind of misdset people have and how labelling is harmful. A must-read for everyone. 
• Saw Slumdog millionaire. The movie was gripping and riveting. AR was mesmerising. Congrats and hope the movie gets nominated for oscar. 

Au revoir!!

Chennai Superkings!!!

Why, oh Why Team India?

In a country where everyone has an opinion on everything and all have some advice for the captain and the coach on how the team should play, Why, oh Why Team India? I still support the Men in Blue as this WC exit takes nothing away from them. Their characters are without any blemish (see the case of Flintoff!!) and almost all of them inspire us in someway or the other to have better life (be it the fighting nature of Saurav, the discipline and humility of sachin, will power of dravid,..). I really dont understand what more a fan can want from this team. Results do matter to a large extent but the pleasure is in the means. Our bench strength has improved to a great extent compared to what it was 2 years back. Failure is part of the game and an average Indian citizen in no means has an idea about the pressure the team is in. Its just a game at the end of the day and clearly by game, I mean its not a life or death situation. There are many other things to worry about in this country.
Good Luck to the other teams!!

Hats off mate!!

Warney!!

Well, this post was long overdue. A thank you note to Shane Warne!!

Sachin is the one whom I admire the most. Warne is just a notch down. Both have contrasting personalities. Sachin is an epitome of discipline whereas Shane has a playboy image. Shane has lived his life in his terms. Yeah, I accept that his personal life isn’t that great. But to live a life that has not been dictated by the norms of the society is by itself a great achievement. 9 out of 10 people live a life that the society wants them to live. Only a few dare. That’s one reason why Ashes 2005 will always be remembered. Though the Aussies lost the urn, in Warne they have found a man who overcame personal turmoil (his marriage was breaking at that time and he has just waved his kids and wife good bye) but gave his best in the field. I remember Michael Clarke saying how he used to cry about his personal life in the nights and when he enters the field he is totally a different personality.

His words to Kevin Pietersen were "do as I say, not as I do". He regrets that his attitude has cost him the captaincy of the national team and he knows what it is like to be the skipper for the best team in the world. I believe Genius always comes with a hint of madness. He probably won’t go as good role model for the kids but does it really matter? You have Sachin, Dravid, Steve Waugh and many others for that (No Offense meant). They are great characters and it must have been really hard for them to stay disciplined with all the adulation. But what makes Shane great is that he was clearly able to draw the line between his personal and professional life and he really was a hard nut to crack. He was always in the news. Gatting Ball, Telephone chat, Sachin nightmares, Injury, some girl from Europe, his marriage breaking, Ashes 2005, Ashes 2007… I might have missed a few things like getting hundred wickets every 1.5-2 years and his more than occasional gutsy batting.

Talent alone doesn’t get you 1000 international wickets. Warne had an immaculate mind to back his talent. I think he was good enough in sledging too, though Mark Taylor says “He’s not that good. He tends to just start with a four-letter word and then says a load of nonsense", I can recall a match where Sachin and Ganguly were batting and Ganguly was having a hard time at the crease. Our man goes to him and says “Hey!! They (the audience) have not come here to see you totter but to see him (pointing Sachin) hit a few shots”. Guess what? Saurav was stumped the next over while trying to hit Warne out of the stadium. Warne will be mostly remembered for his test figures but there are a lot of standout performances by him in the ODIs, especially in the world cups- 1996 Semifinal against WI, 1999 semifinal and final. As he admits his life was a soap opera and he says “Savour the moment. enjoy it while it lasts”. we knew that Warney!!