tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257348412024-03-23T10:45:31.694-07:00Cricket & MoreThe Optimist's view on Indian Cricket and Life.Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-10760658044928310722013-04-24T01:50:00.002-07:002013-04-24T01:52:33.868-07:0023 years!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I
know when it does happen for real, I will cry. The sense of loss will
be just way too high - the loss of a way of life, the loss of a ritual,
the loss of the sense of expectation, the loss of the smug confidence
and belief that we have had the best of the best. A way, ritual,
expectation, belief that has gone on now for a whopping 23 years.<br /><br />23
years of that trademark straight drive, that flowing cover drive, the
deft paddle sweep, the cheeky lift over third-man, the hook and when the
back gave way the pull, the swift running between the wickets, even for
his partners runs at the end of a long day, the efficient fielding, the
boyish grin, the pure passion, the smart bowling, the evil leg-breaks,
the assuring humility and just the pure uplifting presence. 23 years of
that.<br /><br />Almost 23 years of the stadiums going "Sachhhinnn,
Saaaachiinnn" at the drop of a hat. The pure unadulterated joy at the
second Indian wicket going down in a Test inning. Because that heralded
the arrival of the man everyone was there to see and to shower with
adulation and adoration. Because he was The Player.<br /><br />23 years of
dancing down the pitch to hit Shane Warne on his way to those brilliant
Sharjah knocks, 23 years of denying himself a off side stroke while
compiling a 241* at Sydney, Lifting the fast South Africans over third
man, the first double in ODIs, the utter crushing of Olonga - oh how
many of those have we had. 23 years of full fledged joy.<br /><br />I was
there at Wankhede when India played England. And lost. I was there when
Sachin seemed totally out of sorts, got out cheaply and yet the crowd
gave him the obligatory standing ovation. And I remember grimacing as i
stood to applaud, not that particular inning, but the body of his work
and the 23 years of pure joy.<br /><br />But in that grimace, was my
realisation that the era had ended. Maybe all that was left was a few
good shots as the credits rolled and the curtain fell. Maybe the curtain
would not fall completely, maybe there would be that surprise act just
before they fell - but the inevitability was clearer than ever before<br /><br />And
in many ways, I likened the current Tendulkar to a patient with
Alzheimers. There isn't a morsel of doubt of his greatness and we
remember him such -but with age catching up, the moments of Alzheimers
are increasing and there are those many more moments where he looks a
shadow of a great player - somebody who has forgotten what used to be
and seems out of place. There are still those moments of lucidity -where
everything is clear, when it seems nothing has changed and the shots
flow - the 81 in the first inning at Chennai v/s Australia being a case
in point. Or suddenly right out of no where, the blade comes down
blazing, meeting a venomous ball right in the middle and dispatches it
right to the boundary with consummate ease.<br /><br />It was not a moment
of loss when he quit ODIs - arguably the format where he owned the top
perch - because possibly the allure of seeing him battle in Tests was
still alive. The IPL keeps giving a few snapshots of greatness but the
Whites was where he was still to do battle. And that kept me from
letting the retirement sink in. <br /><br />But now with no Tests till the
end of the year and all signs of cricketing Alzheimers coming in their
entirety, a 40th birthday being celebrated, the sense of end is near.
And i know that when that day comes, the reality of 23 years shall come
crashing down and it shall hit hard. And that day - i shall cry, for i
have known not the era of cricket that has no assurance of a Sachin
Ramesh Tendulkar striding out to the middle at no.4.</div>
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Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-19801901399794604532012-10-22T00:13:00.001-07:002012-10-22T00:13:27.293-07:00Fear...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As a kid, you probably climbed walls and trees, wondered not what would happen if you fell. Till someone told you. Fear.<br />
<br />
You probably jumped over water poodles measuring some feet. But would refuse to do it if it was the same distance over a valley. Fear.<br />
<br />
Cricket - two tailenders would gloriously strike the ball in a given up chase, bring the team close to victory and then give up striking in favor of pottering, losing it all in the end. Fear.<br />
<br />
Standing up a height, feet tied up in a bungee rope, looking down at a deep pool - the worst that could happen is a deep dive. And yet having looked down, those feet refuse to move. Fear.<br />
<br />
Standing in a pub, eying that sweet girl - who probably gave you a half smile, hesitating, focusing on that drink instead and eventually leaving as you came - alone. Fear<br />
<br />
In most cases, that invisible leash of fear holds us back, preventing us from doing what we most want to do - even though the adverse impact of it all is higher imagined than real. The fear of losing it all - like that bit in Batman Begins, plays itself up when the Scarecrow fires his chemicals - making itself bigger and bigger leaving you to take the chicken route.<br />
<br />
Most often, the material loss in case of failure is almost negligible, it is the perceived loss of your own image, a social face if i may say so - that counts heavy in that final moments, when you look down the bungee platform, gulp down, shake that head mildly and walk away - forgetting the greatest truth of them all, the failure to risk failure in following what you really wanted to do - is the failure of the biggest kind.<br />
<br />
Three friends of mine. Very different people. Yet they abandoned their fear and set sail.<br />
<br />
One quit his job of 5 years and will spend his savings literally exploring the world with an itinerary so fancy that Phileas Fogg would be jealous. The risk? In real terms none. He comes back a year later and will find himself a job that will pay him in similar payscales as now. The payoff? Experiences to last a lifetime and who knows a living to be made by narrating those experiences.<br />
<br />
The other two - a couple. Wanted to travel for a time as short as 3 months. The guy's company refused him a sabbatical, the girl's has no problem. So our hero quit - went off for 3 months and hunted for a job when back. The risk? None in real terms. The Payoff - See above<br />
<br />
With no risk whatsoever in real terms - these are still sterling examples of people who went beyond. Because our own internal inhibitions hold us back, we see what these guys did as risks - but in reality they are just rational ways to live the one life we have.<br />
<br />
And hence when i hear stories - that throw all perceived caution to
the wind, it is inspiring - leading me to the hope that someday i will
muster the courage myself to snap that invisible leash and go out
exploring, jumping, experimenting - doing whatever i see fit - because i
want to do it and not because it must be done.<br />
<br />
As Calvin said in his last appearance<br />
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" /></div>
Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-40386773975498945982012-03-08T23:18:00.002-08:002012-03-09T06:16:44.202-08:00Rahul DravidThe greatest players have defining moments for the career, defining innings that headline their body of work. Lara's 153, Sachin's sandstorms, Ponting's WC hundred, Gavaskar's double to fashion a 404 chase<br /><br />Dravid has several innings that could contend to be the defining inning. But simply an inning - even though it be of the highest quality possible like Adelaide or Headingley or Kolkatta or even Jamaica - cannot begin to describe Rahul Dravid the player.<br /><br />For me Rahul's greatness lay not only in his batsmanship - it lay in the fact that he gave it his all, all the time. His defining moment is not in the fact that he had emotional tears in his eyes as he hit the winning runs at Adelaide in the second inning after a monumental double ton in the first. Its not in the fact that he weathered treacherous batting conditions to set up a victory at Headingley. Its in the fact that he thought not twice before donning the gloves for his team or to open the innings when he could have refused.<br /><br />And hence my defining moment for Dravid is the English series. Lone man standing. Keeping Wickets in Test Match. Opening Batting because we refused to carry backup openers. Carrying his bat through an inning and stepping out to open the inning again, following on.<br /><br />The numbers will speak enough both about his greatness as a test batsman and even as an ODI batsman. But what the numbers will miss is how much more than batsmanship he brought to the team. What the numbers will miss is the fact that he along with Ganguly and Sachin brought tremendous credibility to the Indian team during the fixing scandal.<br /><br />The finest no.3 we have known. The man who grind it out for the team cause. The man who re-introduced us to the joys of perseverance. The man who showed that hardwork could never go out of fashion.<br /><br />For all the years and for being the main reason for us having a spine outside of India, thank you Dravid. We have not thanked you enough only because we rolled in the luxury of having you not as the best of your generation but the second best. We will realise the whole and true value of your batsmanship painfully through your absence.Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-21988520634484121762012-01-26T22:09:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:10:11.412-08:00The Inflection Points<p>In any trend sheet - things dont just happen. There is always an inflection point - the one thing that seems to trigger off the long trend.</p><p> </p><p>Indian cricket - briefly - rose to great heights. World No.1 in Test Cricket and World Cup Champions. On the back of the ability to fight and fight really hard at that. The fighting spirit was inculcated by Wright and Ganguly no doubt - but the inflection point for the eventual rise to no.1 and champions was Perth.</p><p> </p><p>The events in Sydney had left the team pissed and hurt. They responded in Perth. The fastest pitch, the one pitch where India should have had no chance. They fought hard - typified by Ishant's spell to Punter. The spell that defined the match. What stood out however was not the fact that Ishant had bowled 6 fire-breathing overs to Ricky but the fact that when Sehwag suggested that he bowl one more and Kumble asked "Ek Aur Karega" - inspite of being justified to feel tired and let someone else take up the cudgels, Ishant replied "Haan Karunga". And that "ek aur" delivered the wicket of one of the best players of the short ball in Australia. That team was willing to run itself to the ground to win. Because they fought hard.</p><p> </p><p>And lets make no mistake - the rise to no.1 was not just because we played a fair bit at home - it was because we fought hard outside home. The World Cup saw the same fight and the refusal to give up and thus was the Cup won.</p><p> </p><p>But attitudes change. And that change shows. In West Indies, the World no.1 team refused to chase 86 in 15 overs with 7 wickets in hand and called for a tame draw. It matters not that they might not have won it even if they went for it - but the not trying was a crime. It signalled the start of a flagging intent.</p><p> </p><p>The inflection point for the decline however - was in an ironical life coming full circle style - centred around Ishant Sharma again. We were at Lords - we were under pressure. In the second Inning before lunch Ishant had picked up 3 wickets and was firing hard.There was a chance to blow away England and make a match out of it. There was great amount of interest in how India would fight back after lunch. Ishant should have had the ball in his hand raring to go.</p><p> </p><p>Instead Raina started the session with his slow spinners. The man who after a hard long spell had said yes to "ek aur karega" had now after a 45 minute break refused to attack citing tiredness.</p><p> </p><p>And there in lies the story of a lost spine. The Indian team so willing to fight had in their minds clearly given up long back. If no1 and the World Cup was a direct result of a fighting spirit, 8-0 is a fair and just result of the lack of that very fighting spirit.</p>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-78217079220338545112012-01-23T03:57:00.000-08:002012-01-23T03:58:39.344-08:00Indian Cricket (2001 - 2011), We will miss you<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div><p>It was 2001 and I was in the first year of my engineering. In my 19 years of existence on the earth, I had been a cricket follower and supporter for as long as I could remember. I remember excitedly waking up to the sound of a TV hearing the words "Kapil Dev" and "97" mentioned in the same breath - and thinking WOW Kapil was on 97, only to discover that the full sentence meant that Kapil was at the crease but India was 97/7.</p><p> </p><p>It was the 90s and that was how life was. India would struggle abroad, India would struggle against quality opposition. And we would take solace in some brilliant individual performances - mostly by Sachin - but also by Azhar, Kumble nd the likes of Jadeja/Robin Singh.</p><p> </p><p>With 1996 arrived a new set of batsmen but the results were yet to show. 1999 we got hammered 3-0 in Australia - predicted not by Glenn McGrath but by the Board Secretary. But it was to be the start of something. VVS had a 167 to show and a group of great young players had been hurt enough. Because by the time that season died out on us, we had a new captain. We got a new coach. And between them Ganguly and Wright laid down the foundations for our best ever years of cricket. The foundation was laid for our best ever generation of players to lay down new benchmarks.</p><p> </p><p>2001 - April 2011 is when Indian Cricket arrived. For someone who woke up to a 97/7 - this golden era was everything one could dream of. It began - as it should have - against the Aussies who were on a 16 match roll. It happened as it should have with our captain setting down the tone for eyeball to eyeball confrontation. When for the first time Aussie arrogance was answered in kind. When for the first time following on two Indian batsmen refused to give up. I remember the headline in the Times of India saying "3 Days 403 runs 14 wickets, 1 day 335 runs No wickets"</p><p> </p><p>It was the start of defiance. It was the start of belief. It was the start of an era.</p><p> </p><p>We reached the WC finals in 2003, We won a Natwest final chasing 326, We beat Pakistan in Pakistan,, We drew in West Indies, We won in West Indies, We won series in England, We won matches in Australia and South Africa. We won at Perth. We kept losing first tests - we kept coming back to even the series. We showed gumption time and again - for the first time ever in this golden period. We won a World Cup - every match when we were down, we fought back. Fight back was the DNA of this team. And this DNA led us to that WC win and a climb to no.1 in the rankings.</p><p> </p><p>The Achilles heel in this entire fight was that it was the same set of players doing the winning. Unlike the Aussie great teams - there was not a seamless structure where if a new player came in, he would settle down with the same ease. And that finally showed. A great batting lineup was exposed in England and crushed in Australia.</p><p> </p><p>When that ball slipped through Dravid's gate for an umpteenth time, when Laxman started facing 30 balls without a boundary for a fluent start, when Sachin started getting out while looking sublime, when Sehwag's patience also could not convert into anything substantial, when Gambhir's grit only meant getting the edge - it was the end of an era.</p><p> </p><p>The denouement might have been sad. The end was a tragedy - for this set of greats knew they had failed themselves of their greatest chance to be recorded in history as conquerors. They will now go, having lost their best chance of a glorious exit. But let that not take away from what has been tremendous time of our cricket following life.</p><p> </p><p>For 2001 - 2011, Thank you. It will take time to rebuild and I am willing to wake up to some more 97/7 as long as there is the promise of another such era. But till then its these memories to cherish</p></div></div>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-57038755223850798082011-11-14T21:55:00.000-08:002011-11-14T21:56:29.499-08:00That 100th<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium; ">That elusive ton. Does it even matter if or when he gets it? The "If" is hypothetical, for get it he will. Maybe not at Eden, maybe not at Wankhede, maybe not even at Melbourne. Get it he will - in due course of time.<br /><br />But for a moment - lets indulge our bits pessimism and consider the thought that he does not in fact get there and remains stranded at 99 tons. Given the form he is in, given how sweetly he has been timing the ball, given the beauty with which he has been playing his drives - there seems no doubt that he will keep scoring runs. And like at the Kotla - his runs will contribute to wins. He might get run down by the pressure of expecting the 100th, might get out in the 90s or even before as he starts chasing a landmark that weighs on his mind.<br /><br />But if in all this melee - he fails to convert his form into a ton - will it really matter? 33K international runs. 200 international wickets. 22 years of batting at the top of the pile. 1 world cup. A ODI double ton. When time passes by and we remember - will we even remember if he got his 100th?<br /><br />We will remember the moments. The sandstorm, the thwack over thirdman off Shoaib, The hook off Glenn McGrath at Nairobi, A pristine balanced cover drive, Being lifted on their shoulders by his young teammates, the wincing in pain but cruelly falling short 136, the massacre of Olonga, the disintegration of Warne.<br /><br />His greatness - in numbers or more importantly in our minds - will not be enhanced by yet another ton. It wont diminish if he does not get there.<br /><br />Lets just let him be. For sure he knows more about cricket than us fans put together. The 100th will happen, hopefully a 300 will materialise along the way - but the last thing we need to do is pile on the pressure for a landmark that will be good to have but mean nothing. In the meantime, while he takes his own sweet time in getting there - lets just enjoy the fact that we have a freak opener who can churn out runs in the blink of an eye, a number 3 who - if it were not for the chronological fact of existing in the same era of the God - would have been celebrated even more, a number 5 who is so elegant that its a dream to watch. Lets just celebrate the fact that when our no.3 and 4 bat out together in the centre - we are blessed to see 57K international runs out there in the centre.<br /><br />The milestones will begotten on the journey, lets lay off the pressure to make the milestones the journey.</span>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-52473831846224969372011-04-04T03:32:00.000-07:002011-04-04T03:35:25.761-07:00World Cup Champions<div class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><div><p>There was this comic on Cricinfo that talked about everlasting images from every World Cup. For me there are everlasting memories from each World Cup. Some of them great - ones i will savor for ever, some I wont savor and yet can't forget.</p><p> </p><p>1996 will always be about Kambli crying and walking off after he had seen Jayasuria turn the ball square and get out the Indian team leading the rowdy Eden crowd to do their best rowdy act.</p><p> </p><p>1999 will be about the Olonga induced collapse against Zimbabwe and then Sachin's return with a century dedicated to his late father</p><p> </p><p>2003 will always be the first over bowled by Zaheer and that brief interlude when it rained during our chase - when for a moment hope lived that we would replay it again and get another shot.</p><p> </p><p>2007 will only be that ugly crouch Sachin got out to playing Dilhara Fernando - the stumps being rattled and even the most optimistic of my hopes dying out in Dubai.</p><p> </p><p>2011 was all about setting things straight. It was not only about winning it for Sachin, it was not just about winning a World Cup after 28 years - it was about proving to the world that we were the best cricketing unit there was in the world.</p><p> </p><p>2011 was about exorcising the ghosts of 2007 - Several of the team members had survived that shock and for them it was about setting things right. 2007 was not a fair assessment of the team's potential and that could only be proved by winning the World Cup.</p><p> </p><p>2011 above anything else was to exhibit that this team - this Indian team - was the toughest team there was in the World. Their rise to the top of rankings was not an accident but a result brought about by a set of individuals who refused to believe they could lose, who refused to see any writings on any wall and would fight to the very end.</p><p> </p><p>And inevitably - this leads to a series of images and memories that I will cherish from this World Cup.</p><p> </p><p>The first sign that we would win this world cup - or rather that we had it in us to face 3 knockouts and still stand tall - came not in a victory but in fact in the only loss we faced. Against South Africa - we had no business collapsing to 297 but more than that we had no business coming anywhere close to defending it against the batting of South Africa on a flat track. And yet that day the intensity was back. The bowlers were fired up, the fielders could do almost no wrong and we dragged it to a even stevens last over - which was ruined. But that happens and the fight and intensity shown by India was a sign of things to come.</p><p> </p><p>Every match post that - it seemed at a stage we were out of every match we played. West Indies looked good to chase down our total - Zak brought us back in before everyone else went for the kill. The Australians snared 5 wickets - Yuvraj and Raina stared them down and refused to give up - to win it for us in an eventual canter</p><p> </p><p>And Pakistan - when we looked set for 300, we started looking at 225 - when we were looking 225 - Raina took us to 260 - leaving enough for a fired up Indian attack to take us through. One of my most endearing memories will be the sight of a charged up Munaf Patel after bowling out Abdul Razzaq. You know a team is giving it everything i can when somebody as nonchalant and unenthusiastic as Munaf gets fired up like that. And yet again - it was that refusal to give up, the obstinate refusal to lose that took us through.</p><p> </p><p>Man to man - with our bowling and fielding - our team does not stand up as the best in the world. Factor in attitude and the will to win, the belief to pull it off from any situation - and you have a champion team. Not champions who dominate from start to end, but champions who figure out a way to win by sheer force of will.</p><p> </p><p>So even in a high pressure World Cup final at home , chasing 275 instead of the 240 that seemed more likely at 31/2 - there was every reason to back India to win. If Sehwag and Sachin fell, Virat, Gautam and Dhoni stood up. Just like in the matches gone past, somebody put their hands up, just like Ishant discovered he could be a defensive batting hero against Australia in tests - there always was someone who trusted and backed himself to bail the team out.</p><p> </p><p>The enduring memory of the match - Dhoni almost boxing the wind out of Gambhir when he hi fived him. And the final 6 - complete with stone faced composure and stylish twirling of the bat.</p><p> </p><p>We won - because we deserved to. We won - because we never believed any other result was possible. We won - because we refused to give in - at any stage in any match.</p><p> </p><p>April 02, 2011 - Indian Cricket Team - Thank you! This is only the beginning.</p></div></div>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-13991806783435154582011-02-27T05:29:00.000-08:002011-03-04T04:42:25.680-08:00Living the World Cup: Part2<p>The first World Cup I remember seeing live on a TV was the 1996 World Cup. I might have watched the 1983 and 1987 Cups but I have no recollection of them. The 1992 era was in a phase where I would have remembered matches if I had seen them but this was the era when cable TV had just about made its way in and we had not taken cable TV back then.</p><p> </p><p>The memory I cherish the most from that World Cup - not difficult to guess at all - is the India Pakistan match at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Having watched the India - England close tussle to desperately lose a match - played yet again from the Chinnaswamy was easily enough to bring back those memories.</p><p> </p><p>Watching a good match then equated to sitting in front of the TV right from the start, ensure that there was enough Pepsi stocked in the fridge and settle down in for a nice long haul. That day the match started slowly, Sidhu and Sachin had a partnership and we trudged along towards a barely enough kind of score. Waqar was bowling missiles that day and had some obscenely good figures of 8 overs for 19 runs. Till Ajay Jadeja made his way to the pitch and played a knock that made him a legend. He launched into Waqar like no one else had that day and bludgeoned 40 odd runs off 19 balls. My voice decibels that had been lowish through the match, had suddenly found their way up. My cousin who had come over to watch the Indian inning with me - had dozed off while the match had meandered was woken up by those loud decibels and together we watched as Jadeja charged and pummeled Waqar and took us to a really comfortable 287. The win then was guaranteed right! Who chases 287 in 1996?</p><p> </p><p>But this was not one of those days that I could settle down - sip my pepsi and watch the action unfold. There was some birthday party to attend in Khar. A social function - very insensitively scheduled to collide with a INDIA - PAKISTAN match. No that doesnt do justice to the occassion. IT WAS A INDIA - PAKISTAN WORLD CUP match and one had to attend a birthday. Oh well - sometimes you have to do the things that build character.</p><p> </p><p>So i set off - put on my red jacket (In hindsight it was an atrocious colour - but for a class 8 me - it seemed fashionable. Why would I wear a jacket for a birthday party you ask? When one buys a jacket at that age for a cousin's wedding - the number of occasions it can be used are really numbered and every possible opportunity to strut that stuff is essential.) But I digress.</p><p> </p><p>So - red jacket on - a transistor in the left pocket of that very red jacket - I set off for the party - the commentary my constant companion on the journey. The commentators even in those days used to have "Aur yeh laga Dabur Laal Dant Manjan Chauka" Unfortunately that line repeated it self several times as Anwar and Sohail made mincemeat of Prasad and Srinath.</p><p> </p><p>Luckily I was not the only one at the party who was outraged that this was on while an important match was being played. And one of the elders there expressed his protest by getting with him a portable TV - which showed the match. It might now explain why while I remember all these details, I have no recollection of whose birthday party it was - as for most part of the party I was tagging along with the TV dude - watching the action. And when Sohail prodded Prasad and taunted him, Prasad bowled the most outstanding, the most awesome, the most effective rubbish-begging-to-be-hit-for-a-six ball that Sohail managed to cut on to his stumps and letting poor placid Prasad erupt with a string of expletives and the most wonderful usage of the 4 letter word I have seen yet.</p><p> </p><p>Prasad became an instant hero. Mind you we were school kids at a stage where we were just about expanding our vocabulary and for him to stick it up to Sohail in such a way was a huge impact on our impressionable minds.</p><p> </p><p>That moment turned the match around and we won an exciting match.</p><p> </p><p>Fifteen years on - I had set out to my friends' place to watch the match with them. Having set out a little late - I was yet again on the road, missing out on the first 5 overs of play. This time though there was no transistor - GPRS on the phone had taken its place and I was kept updated of the score.</p><p> </p><p>No longer was Pepsi an essential element in watching the match. No it was replaced by pints of beer. The match kept getting exciting - the decibel levels kept rising as Sachin bludgeoned Swann Black and blue (see how I tried a cheesy little pun there?). 338 on the board - cool this was going to be enough. Then Strauss decided to have our bowlers for supper and the intensity kept drooping, decibel levels low. Till Zak came back and restored the voice back to my throat.</p><p> </p><p>Only to be denied by Piyush at the end. But Chinnaswamy had kept its date with exciting matches and given me yet another match to savor and enjoy. Clearly the more things change, the more they remain the same!</p>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-48435183060443985052011-02-19T08:55:00.000-08:002011-02-19T08:56:07.414-08:00Living the World Cup<p>It was March of 2007 and I had landed in Dubai for my international training stint. The chauffeured car had driven me to the hotel room and it was fabulous - a bedroom, a kitchenette and a nice living room. The bedroom had a nice flat screen TV, the living room had one of those long swivel chairs that you could lie down on and watch another flat screen TV. It was indeed super comfortable. But the World Cup was soon coming - the first thought to mind was "WOW - lying on this chair and watching the matches! Man am I in for some fun or what?!"</p><p> </p><p>Switching on the TV and a quick scan told me that the channel which would telecast the live cricket was not available. Another quick phonecall to the reception told me that they were not about to telecast that channel either. Needless to say the joy quickly turned to consternation. I tried to think up several options - get internet - watch streaming video - too expensive. Ask hotel to buy the channel - flat refusal. And finally there was only one way out - make my way to a bar - sit there, glug a couple of drinks and watch the matches. After all it was the World Cup and there was no way I was missing that!</p><p> </p><p>It was then with great hope and excitement that I made my way to the closest bar that telecast the match - Double Decker. It was a fantastic sports bar - a large screen for live action and several small flat screens to watch the action. Of all these - there were only 2 TVs with the cricket. The rest had live Rugby. Nevertheless I made my way to one of the two cricket TVs and settled down to watch the first match India had to play. Bangladesh - this was going to be a breeze right? The menu arrived and the prices were prohibitive - I got myself a beer and decided to nurse it through the inning. The beer nursed me through the collapse. 190 odd and indeed we were in trouble.</p><p> </p><p>It was time for dinner though - remember the prohibitive prices I spoke about? Yeah those prices meant that taking a cab to a cheaper restaurant and getting back to Double Decker was a cheaper option than having dinner at Double Decker. So I made my way in a cab. Cabs in Dubai are driven by South Asians almost as a rule. It was a Pakistani driver - the radio on - listening to Pakistan lose their second match in a row and bow out of the Cup. He promised me India would lose against Bangladesh and get out of the cup. In all my infinite optimism I laughed him off and went to the bar - hoping to see a stirring Indian bowling fight back. It wasnt to be.</p><p> </p><p>I was still confident we would not bow down. Not this team. We would crush Bermuda and beat Sri Lanka and make it to the super 8s. Double Decker was still my partner in crime as I saw my team rack up 413 against the hapless Bermudians. When Dravid and Sachin walked off - they had a emotional mini-hug signifying just how much it meant to them to fight back and make the next round.</p><p> </p><p>We were to play Sri Lanka - I was sure we would win. ANd this time I wouldnt watch it at Double Decker which had no Indians or Cricket followers to enjoy the game with. No this time I was off to Karama - the Indian section of Dubai, at an Indian run hotel where I could follow the match and cheer with fellow Indians. All i remember of that game is our weak capitulation, the image of Sachin's ugly crouch to that delivery from Dilhara Fernando cant be wiped out.</p><p> </p><p>Today was part.1 of the payback process. I lay down in front of my TV - the sound routed through the surround sound music system. No compulsion to buy drinks I couldnt afford. No need to go hunting for cheap food. I was home and India was thumping Bangladesh. Vengeance was to be had and was.</p><p> </p><p>The Indian team paid back today for one bad day in Double Decker in Dubai. Nothing short of winning this edition will pay for the second bad day against Sri Lanka in Dubai. The start is promising. Its the World Cup after all</p>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-89244816291706131472010-12-16T00:33:00.000-08:002010-12-16T00:34:11.252-08:00Second Chances ?He was at the crossroads with the decision looming large. He could possibly not put it off any more. The choice had to be made. Would he follow his dream and go for the glory - to play cricket at the highest possible level - or would he take the other route and fade away into the sunset?<br /><br />To be fair to him - he had taken his shot at international cricket. He even got a look-in, made an earnest effort but had failed to impress the selectors, who having taken a look at him had done what seemed like the right decision for them - dropped him. He had made half-hearted attempts to get back into the team but the selectors were too wise to let that happen.<br /><br />And yet - he dreamed. Playing international cricket with this particular Indian team was the dream for him. It seemed unattainable, it seemed glorious, it seemed fulfilling, it seemed unreachable. Just like dreams should be. And yet while he had never yet realised that dream, he had seen others do it. Some were prodigiously more talented than him but some were simply more confident and had waltzed ahead to play.<br /><br />He could basis his past failures and the lack of interest evinced by the selectors - give it up and take the lesser road. But some dreams were too precious to let go that easily, to let go without a full heart felt attempt at making it through. Failure might still be the most likely result and perhaps the selectors would still not be impressed and yet he might rest easier knowing his best was not enough. And that he had done all he could but the dream was just that - a dream!<br /><br />To take a shot at his dream - it would mean that he would have to take risks. The risk of making a fool of himself, the risk of failing and the risk of feeling bummed. But sometimes in the long term - those risks might just be worth it.<br /><br />He sat on, staring at the vacant space in front of him - his mind not yet made, pondering the crossroads, watching the time slip away. He needed to decide. What would you do if you were him?Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-69834469883813116162010-11-15T09:14:00.000-08:002010-11-15T09:53:58.391-08:00Old Fashioned ?Cell phone companies probably have a different profit booking code for festivals and new year what with the mass smsing that happens. And on those days sms inboxes are full to the brim with the warm wishes of many well wishers<br /><br />But somehow I have found this mass forwarding to be extremely impersonal and insincere. Festivals and the like were meant to meet up with friends and relatives and wish each other. The wishing is only an excuse for catching up and chatting up. And when meetings in person were not possible - the phone stood in to facilitate the 'catching-up'<br /><br />The phone with the advent of mobile phone has been replaced by the sms. And the art of mass forwarding.<br /><br />The whole process - the whole premise - was based on personal touch. And technology has probably thrown us away from that into a space that is largely impersonal.<br /><br />I hate receiving messages on festivals which are mass-forwards and typically I do not reply to them. I reply only to messages which are clearly meant only for me and are not part of a blind forward all. And while even I have been lost to speaking to people on festivals - I do follow a strict policy while smsing greetings to people. I detest simply forwarding mass smses and hence if i do sms - i only allow it if each message has been personalised with the recepient's name. Long process but frankly worth the satisfaction.<br /><br />Similarly on birthdays - I refrain from wishing people on FB. If a friend is/was close enough at some point of time - FB just doesnt cut it. There has to be a phone call. If there isn't - you aren't close enough. And ofcourse I dont put up Birthday reminders on Facebook. Friends are supposed to remember.<br /><br />Yeah - i guess I am old fashioned. Whats your story?Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-43414150979672005182010-09-26T07:34:00.000-07:002010-09-26T07:35:18.268-07:00Conclusive ProofThe reporters of news of the world had smug grins on their faces. They had after all established beyond all doubt that the Indians had been fixing matches for some time now.<br /><br />More so it was the English and Australian boards that were more pleased with the revelations. Life was much simpler when you could blame the indian board for everything. The Pakistan board blame game was too lame - too easy plus it did not have the added advantage of pointing fingers at the money bag bullies.<br /><br />What then was this conclusive proof? Was it video? Was it a sting? Was it substantiated? Was it hearsay?<br /><br />No - it did not need a sting - it just needed the greedy indian players and the indian board to come out to make money at the CL T20 to reach this irrefutable conclusion.<br /><br />Anil Kumble and MS Dhoni - the last two test captains of India were on air promoting the champions league. And both of them were saying just one thing "ab hoga asli muqabla"<br /><br />The smart journalists had jumped on to the usage of "ab" and "asli muqabla" - it was now that a real competition would happen. Clearly betraying the fact that all matches before this were 'nakli' or fake meaning FIXED!<br /><br />Suresh Kalmadi was glad that there was something now to divert attention from him especially since the cabinet minister for cricketing affairs - Sharad Pawar was laughing at him.<br /><br />Sharad Pawar and the cricketers were not available for comment while Ijaz Butt could not reply since he was in the middle of a crazy celebratory dance!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An attempt at faking news.</span>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-38984313541181699822010-09-12T05:12:00.000-07:002010-09-12T05:43:30.254-07:00The fear of failureThe one reason at the forefront for the yawning gap that exists between potential and performance has to be the fear of failure. The "What if this doesnt come off" probably ensures a lot of things that die out even before they are born. Because fear leads to doubt leads to tentativeness leads to failure.<br /><br />How often - even in cricket (what else did you think this blog would draw parallels with?) - have we seen a fast bowler come charging down in a scenario with nothing to lose and give it his very best. A team batting first bowled out for 130 odd leaving very little chance for a victory - comes out knowing that while fielding there is nothing to be lost. And that liberation leads to the best coming out. The pacemen going all out - no one to block the boundaries - the fielders all in menacing attacking positions eager to snap up any chance that comes their way. Because there is no use in moping about the poor first inning now (the media will do it anyway) and hence seek whatever little joy they can bring their way with a spirited performance.<br /><br />Sehwag has to be the best proponent of having no fear of failure (esp in test matches). He lives the moment - that particular ball. It never matters whether hitting this particular ball for what he believes it deserves causes a slide for the team. Or that foregoing the boundary here might set up the bowler to concede six later. He wants to cross those bridges when he comes to them and hence doesnt hesitate ever to make the most. The fear never exists because he has made his peace with the effort being worth it anyway<br /><br />But it is perhaps this very fear of failure and the lack thereof that causes champions to fall to underdogs and for a bunch of no hopers to put one past the champions.<br /><br />Logic and strength on paper would always mandate a champion victory. But then logic never accounted for the power that liberation from the fear of failure brings in. And ofcourse no body can ever account for spirit. Couple the two and you potentially have a bunch of impossible to explain results right on your hands. Why spot fix when the ROI on any betting would be infinite if only liberation and spirit were to be mixed.<br /><br />As for me - i seek that liberation.Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-28060470296969767172010-09-05T21:14:00.000-07:002010-09-05T21:36:31.632-07:00The ConspiracyIt was a grim time and shock was writ large on everyone's faces. How well they had acted all this while. Who would have ever thought? That it wasnt the usual suspect but them all along. But soon the shock and outrage would turn into gratitude. Not towards the criminals or the innocent usual suspect but to News of the World who brought out yet another dirty conspiracy.<br /><br />Saturday and Sunday - the most loved of all days - the days every one welcomed with such joy and anticipation. The fun days! The best days! Oh why do they ever end! Such love everyone had for both of them. They had been exposed - for so long they had stooped so low and built up this image of greatness for themselves.<br /><br />They werent nice - they were infact the S-Gang - much feared in Daykistan - all the other days save perhaps Friday were completely scared of them. They used all the leverage possible to make the others toe their line. What the S-Gang said was law. The S-word was obeyed by the others without protest. Except for that pesky Friday.<br /><br />Investigations revealed that Monday was not a bad guy at all - he never meant anyone any harm. But the leverage the S-gang had over him and his poor family meant he had to go their bidding. They set him up as the worst guy - the one day that would be the worst right after S-gang had come in and done their 'we are the nice guys' routine. They made sure Monday had character - that Murphy would star only on a Monday and never else. That Monday would inevitably bring with him loads of work at office. That Monday would have broken chappals and traffic jams in unexpected places. That Monday would be the day you would sigh wistfully and long for those rascals Saturday and Sunday.<br /><br />They ensured Mondays were so bad that in contrast even an ordinary performance from them during their showtime would be lapped up by the adoring masses gratefully and willingly.<br /><br />The others just had to carry on what Monday started - they lacked the flair Monday had - he might be good at heart but a born actor he was too - but the damage he did at the top of the order was enough to sustain the supporting acts of the rest.<br /><br />Except Friday. The one guy who really did his job truthfully. The one who signified the end of the dreary work week (keep in mind the S-gang had their role to play in making it dreary). He had principles. He had a backbone. He always made attempts to ensure that things wrapped up early with him around. He never liked those formal clothes and ensured on his day you could be yourself. Comfortable.<br /><br />And he was popular - why wouldnt he be with all that he did! The S-gang was jealous. He was their immediate past and they did not hold much leverage on him. All they could do was stop him from ratting on them but never could they get him to do a Monday and make them look good. He was a star in his own right.<br /><br />They started smear campaigns against him. Who do you think came up with the concept of 'Friday the 13th'? 'Black Friday' 'Freaky Friday' - Oh they did all they could to bring him down - to make him unpopular. But they couldnt succeed.<br /><br />Today as their true colours were exposed - they stood there jealous of the one guy who stood up to them and would take the witness stand today in the expose by News of the World.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />*<span style="font-style: italic;">Working on a Saturday can do strange things to the mind. Pakistan Cricketers can be inspiring in their own way too</span></span>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-63466651784750148062010-03-01T00:24:00.000-08:002010-03-01T06:36:52.974-08:00If and Sachin<span style="font-style: italic;">If you can keep your head when all about you<br />Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><span>The World Cup 2007 was perhaps the biggest disaster India had been to. Starting as some sort of favourites - it ended a dream. Sachin himself got out to a ugly posture crouching as his stumps lay dismantled. The blame game had begun with doubts on Tendulkar's future, a noise created on his 'waning reflexes and skills'. It was the time for 'Endulkar' and Manjrekarian opinions to rear up their head. Guru Greg chose to absolve himself of all blame for the debacle and lay it firmly on the team's shoulders - even pointing fingers at Sachin. Sach meanwhile quietly made his protest known and got back to doing what he does best - play cricket<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,<br />But make allowance for their doubting too;<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span>There was a phase when Sachin would play not like the old himself - not the ravaging genius - but more a seasoned statesman. Not going for those lofted shots but for those nudges that would get the singles. Scoring effectively and doing what the team needed. And then hear people whisper - He isnt himself these days. He must Retire. Yet to win the Man of the Match award and announce to the world that he alone knew his game and what he was doing, it was fine to compare this to his old self but he would play as he chose not the way his 'fans' demanded.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br />If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,<br />Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,<br />Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,<br />And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span>And that phase when he traded his big shots and domination for percentage cricket and maybe to an extent chose to let the sheen dim off a little, letting himself be deemed mortal - when he took hits on the body on that England tour to keep playing for a country needed him to be there. Or when he chose to play a full inning of 241* without once falling to the temptation of the off side drive. When he believed that he could look ugly, could let his shine dim because in the end it was all for a larger cause - a team getting a gritty middle order batsman who was up for a scrap even if not beautiful<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;<br />If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span>As a kid - taken by his brother for coaching with Ramakant Achrekar. To sacrifice his education to follow a dream to play cricket. To play and practice till he was tired. To proclaim to the world that all he wanted to do was play cricket for India. And to do that more successfully than anyone else and then when that dream was achieved, to change the dream to play for India as long as possible and keep achieving that with the mischeivious enthusiasm of a 16 year old.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br />If you can meet with triumph and disaster<br />And treat those two imposters just the same;</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken<br />Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,<br />Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,<br />And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span>The equanimity with which he accepts both accolades and criticism - to have the grace to smile and say that in a long journey, you get stones thrown at you - you simply convert them to milestones. To accept the pain of seeing a masterful 136 in Chennai go waste only to come back there years later and hit another masterful 103* to seal a win. To see 175 of his best get wasted by a bat not grounded but to come back and non-chalantly score 200* and then have the humility to simply raise his arms and dedicate it to a nation of adoring fans.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />If you can make one heap of all your winnings<br />And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,<br />And lose, and start again at your beginnings<br />And never breath a word about your loss;<br /><br /></span><span>To play like no one ever has in a WC, to hit the fastest bowler out of the attack - to take the team to the finals and then fail in the finals chasing a mountain. But to have gumption enough to fail in another edition and still be determined to come back and claim what should have been rightfully his. And then start playing again better than ever before - with a consistency that mortals will only dream off. To have the critics who wrote him off , lineup yet again to praise him AND for Sachin to be unaffected by either reaction<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew<br />To serve your turn long after they are gone,<br />And so hold on when there is nothing in you<br />Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";<br /><br /></span><span>To be 37 in a game of youngsters, to have played for 20 long years and show no sign of tiring. To carry on for what can be nothing but sheer love of the game. To outdo oneself for others were left gasping for breath way behind. To have a host of youngsters wishing that they could be a third of his brilliance and yet outlive the careers of those who idolised him.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,<br />Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><span>Humility is an hallmark that has been true through his career - whether in form or out of it. Whether it was the time when he signed multi million deals or when he was booed at the Wankhede. When he accepted the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or when he was out for 4 in the WC finals. When he hit his 200 or when he had to read the prophets of doom attempting to push him out of the team.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br /><br />If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;<br />If all men count with you, but none too much;<br />If you can fill the unforgiving minute<br />With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -<br />Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,<br />And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><span>For 20 years of outstanding sportsmanship, unparalleled batting, unquenchable thirst for the game. For being the game's greatest idol and its greatest worshipper. For taking us to places we never imagined. For fulfilling our repressed dreams - for making India dream. For being the impeccable role-model we all looked upto - in the days of Tigers. For being the man for whom the earth awaits! Thank you Sir! <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br />The poem is 'If' by Rudyard Kipling. If only he knew how that he was predicting Sachin Tendulkar's career when he wrote it.<br /></span></span>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-12101644669368344572010-02-04T06:16:00.000-08:002010-02-04T11:13:12.879-08:00Marketing & CricketYou make profits in marketing when you sell your larger sized SKUs (Stock Keeping Units). So say a 400ml Clinic Plus bottle is likely to make more profit than a Re.1 Clinic Plus pouch. But yet both these SKUs play extremely different and yet extremely important roles in the marketing portfolio.<br /><br />Ideally you want all your consumers to buy the 400 ml pack and be wed to your brand for a longer period of time and along the way make a higher profit. But therein lies the catch - not everyone can afford the 400 ml pack, not everyone uses shampoo at all and for a non-user - fat chance of ever jumping into the category with a 400ml buy, Not everyone even buys your brand and perhaps for them to try it out for the first time - the 400 ml might be overkill.<br /><br />So thats where the 1 Re SKU comes into the picture. It plays the role of expanding the category itself by recruiting new users to the category - people who never used shampoos. It also allows people using other brands to take a peek at your brand and maybe convert. Finally it also allows people to get what they want in lesser quantity and at an affordable put down price.<br /><br />So in a nutshell if profitability and loyalty is the task for the large SKU, expansion is the thing to do for the smaller SKU and thats how they both co-exist peacefully.<br /><br />Wait! FOUR full paragraphs and not a single mention or reference to cricket? Wondering if you are on the right blog? Oh yes you are!<br /><br />Time now to pan to cricket and look at its SKUs - The Large SKU - Test Cricket. The Middle Sized SKU -ODI cricket and finally The Small SKU - T20 cricket.<br /><br />Lets start with the simple one - T20. Very clearly the format of the game which will add more viewers to the game. People uninterested in sports will not mind spending some time watching a T20 game because of the basic nature of the format - quick and exciting! <thereby> Hardcore fans of other sports like Football who had very little interest in cricket might also want to enjoy the T20 phenomenon (an analogy for gaining users from competing brands) and finally given that the format is extremely short and quick - those fans who like watching cricket but simply dont have the time to devote to it now have it good. (analogy for the affordable put down price)<br /><br />But a moment here to step back and check the glaring difference hitting one in the face. While typically the small SKU is low profitability, this format of the game is the highest profit garnering version.<br /><br />So while the ultimate aim should have been to recruit new fans through the T20 mode and then gradually upgrade them to Test Cricket - from an economic perspective it may not hold much water. From a pure economic perspective, it makes sense to promote and maintain T20 and hold the attention of viewers there.<br /><br />So what is it that the oldest and longest and biggest form of the game have to offer? For starters - it IS the REAL version without doubt. It is the truest test of temperament and skill for T20 reduces the gap between skill and result and Tests tests it over 5 days. It allows you to appreciate strategy in the game and see a duel build up between bat and ball without the constraint of field placements or over limits. The thrill of seeing people going for it without inhibition. The field where a player well and truly proves himself.<br /><br />But thats for the hardcore fan. Cricket's marketing dilemma lies in the fact that without Test Cricket - subtlety and skill will desert the game and convert itself into a more 'wham bam' power / hand-eye coordination game.<br /><br />And it will mean turning around conventional economics or marketing and have the small SKU generate funds to invest in the larger SKU for long term sustenance. Because if we are to see player temperament being tested and for players to be able to triumph over conditions - Test Cricket is the only way to go.<br /><br />But till the time pure and shortsighted economics continues to rule - this will be a pipedream!</an></thereby>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-28055672179317061142010-02-04T05:53:00.000-08:002010-02-04T06:15:23.089-08:00Hope and the likeSidin Vadukut wrote about how Srinath and Kumble made him an eternal optimist while watching India play cricket. Their riveting partnership in Bangalore had snatched a win from the jaws of defeat making him hopeful in all India matches.<br /><br />My contention is that a lidetime of being a India cricket supporter makes you an optimist in life - not just cricket. Basically being a God Fearing country and hence being a strong believer in Divine Intervention - we are natural optimists and hopers.<br /><br />A child would go to an exam ill prepared and then pray to God hoping that he passes the paper - knowing fully well that he wont as he just hasnt put in the hard yards.<br /><br />So as you might make out from the garbled text above - I am clearly mixing two ideas and trying to pull out a unifying thread. To put it simply, irrational hope is something majority of us believe in and stray instances of such hope being validated push us to root for the improbable to happen because while the mind knows it wont happen, the heart roots for the romantically fabulous result.<br /><br />Some F1 seasons ago - when Hakkinen and Schumacher used to slug it out - as a Ferrari supporter (which then used to be the inferior car) - I would always hope for a mechanical failure for McLaren if Hakki was leading by 40 seconds or so. It would never happen - till that last lap, where his car conked off leaving him stranded at the last corner - so much so that he could have ran across and still finished first. But the Ferraris won with the fuming McLaren stranded. And then there was precedence for such hope to fly everytime the Scuderia were trailing.<br /><br />The WC Final of 2003 when Australia blasted the living daylights out of us and we were left to chase a mountain of a score - there was immense hope when Sachin hit his first ball for a boundary and then a wave of futility when he got out the next ball. Then Sehwag started whacking it, hope rose again but it reached its crescendo when it started raining. For that fleeting moment it seemed that no less a personality than the Almight Himself wanted India to win and it was Him raining in on the Aussie Parade. Out came my trumpet and on went the noise (no - not even I can describe my trumpetting even remotely as music) for those 15 minutes till they came back on to play and the irrational hope was squashed.<br /><br />And then recently the famed last wicket stands for England to save Test matches - irrationally hopeful but it happened.<br /><br />Point being that as The Shawshank Redemption states "Hope is a Good Thing, maybe the best of things" Perhaps so! But it is that thin line between Hope and Irrational Hope that causes trouble and maybe even miracles.<br /><br />A lifetime of irrational hoping for miracles in Indian Cricket makes one an irrational hoper in life. And it is that thrill of playing the miniscule odds even in the face of certain disaster that makes the hoping worthwhile. For in hoping, you possibly lose a few hours feeling bummed that you ever believed, but for the one in a thousand chance that the irrational hope comes off - the payoff of having believed is worth the other 999 chances - inspite of the bummy feeling after it.<br /><br />And then again going with the thought that you miss 100% of the chances you dont take - irrational hope atleast ensures you take the chance.Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-63018897617053296172010-01-24T10:20:00.000-08:002010-01-24T11:21:32.816-08:00Runouts - Part 3Well i lied - the title of this post has nothing to do with a runout but since it carries on in similar vein to the earlier run out posts, this one also carries the run out title.<br /><br />Having gotten the disclaimer out of the way let us continue to the arbit part of the post (as with all run out posts)<br /><br />So the same batsman who was runout the last time on a duck after an excruciating wait for the third umpire to call the decision gets another chance to play and shine. He waits in the dressing room for his turn to bat - twiddling his thumbs as the batsman just before him gets out. He starts visualising his innings in his head - wanting to go out there and play but at the same time wishing a delay for him to go in and face the music.<br /><br />Finally its his turn to bat - he starts confidently, running the singles - trying to lay the base for a longer innings and his big shots. Right then he goes for a big shot - but just as it seems that the ball is to carry away over the boundary - the fielder catches the ball right at the edge. The umpire signals it as a six making the batsman want to cheer! But cue the UDRS which is called upon immediately and the decision gets overturned to get the batsman out.<br /><br />He trudges back again - wondering what could have been, wondering if he will ever be back to get another chance at batting?Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-8681770708012846712010-01-17T23:18:00.000-08:002010-01-17T23:22:08.850-08:00Out of OfficeThis is the Out of Office I had written while on leave - and i am wanting to put it up on the blog as it deserves a wider audience. Yes this is a complete show of non-modesty. But its MY blog.<br /><br />----------------------<br /><br />Hi - this is the Outlook Out of Office Assistant filling in for Pushkar. I hereby inform you that Pushkar is on leave from 28th December to the 14th of January (If you have queries on how that leave ever got approved - you would have to contact his Boss - XYZ <+91number>)<br /><br />While on leave, Pushkar will have no access to his mail box but to deal with immensely urgent issues, he suggests that you drop him an sms and he will get back to you.<br /><br />In the mean time, if you have any GSA related issues to discuss you would do well to contact his enthusiastic FSCMs (who will no doubt be celebrating and enjoying the free reign that Pushkar's absence will bring to them)<br /><br />For Ahmedabad Zone, ABC on +91number<br />For Surat Zone, DEF on +91number<br />For Rajkot Zone, GHI +91number<br /><br />For any branch related issues, it is strongly recommended that you get in touch with PQR (our extremely knowledgeable and helpful BOM - you might have to get past his incessant laughter track before that though) on +91number<br /><br />Pushkar also advises me to wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New year in his absence!<br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br />---------------------------<br /><br />Names and numbers have been masked ofcourse!Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-7636108900526830552010-01-05T11:35:00.000-08:002010-01-05T11:41:39.121-08:00Runouts - Part IIThe debutant walked to the middle - having waited 27 years to make his debut. Facing his first ball, he played at it and placed it close to the mid on fielder. To run or not to run was the call he had to make.<br /><br />It would be his first run ever - but he would really have to take the leap to make the run - or really take a dive to make it. He ran - daring the throw of the sharp fielder, shaking off his own inhibitions and then saw the ball closing in on the stumps. He did the only thing he could - dive in full length.<br /><br />While the dust blew up in front of his eyes, his ears could catch the audibly boisterous appealing of the fielding team. He glanced up to see the Umpire make the familiar signal to the 3rd umpire.<br /><br />And those were possibly the longest moments of his life - the black TV screen showing an advertiser endorsing the 'Decision Awaited' graphic. The heartbeats for him could not be any faster and just then the screen flashes up the decision - a red coloured 'OUT' graphic.<br /><br />And his nervous energy dissipates into disappointment but not before he vows to come out again and bat and this time beat the throw from that sharp fielder.Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-78587752453980619512009-11-13T00:34:00.000-08:002009-11-13T04:27:34.788-08:00The StartSo when the opening batsmen walk out to face the first ball of their inning, they have a set preparation in mind. 'Play out the monster fast bowler'; 'Dont play wide outside the offstump' ; 'Defend the first few overs'<br /><br />Typically they must be mentally preparing to face specific bowlers - to be prepared for their special balls. They must be expecting the bowler to bowl them a bouncer and keeping the hook shot ready.<br /><br />So then their shock and surprise is only to be understood when they find that instead of the monster paceman, its the wily spinner opening the bowling. And that all their best laid plans are gone to waste. And thats when the wily spinner bowls that googly -which, mind you, comes in completely unexpected - the batsman finds himself getting bowled all over.<br /><br />And now pan to my boss - playing chaperone to senior management, taking them around the western markets. Prepared with data in hand to answer all comers about the big ticket items - bristling with confidence on the performance on the aforementioned big ticket items. And then out comes the spinner and throws up a question on Rexona. REXONA ??? The bosss' mind screeches loud - That tiny little thing? Really? Out go all the planned big shots and out comes the defensive stroke.<br /><br />History they say is kind to the one who wrote it. Or in this case the one who told it. We are told that the defensive shot met the ball right in the middle of the bat and the googly was thwarted. But then History is the story teller's right<br /><br />And then the boss takes around a even bigger boss to another western market. Yet another morning. Yet another inning with the mental preparation to play the big shots. And this time its not even a googly - its one of those tricky ones that stay low. How is Salt doing ?? The boss is spell bounded. We were told that this one too was played out from the centre of the defensive bat. But yet again History is kind to the ....Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-21940823376363243312009-11-05T10:23:00.000-08:002009-11-05T10:46:14.122-08:00Chennai ReduxAs it was clear that the day was going to be a total waste, the match had started and Australia had already raised visions of a humongous score. And so it was - 350 on the board. Whenever Australia scores 350, the only match that comes to mind is the World Cup 2003 final. I always wondered what it would have been like if Sachin hadnt fallen in the first over and instead stayed on to fulfill his advice to the team "If we score a boundary an over, we only have to get 158 off 250 balls"<br /><br />But that wish came true today and unfortunately it did not quite end the way it has played out so many times in my head.<br /><br />When Murphy decides that its his day - things are destined to go wrong. So the flight out of Baroda was delayed. The flight landed and taxied to the farthest possible parking bay. The bus did not show up for 15 minutes. The bus took 17 minutes to the terminal. The luggage had not shown up. The luggage came only 20 minutes later.<br /><br />When the flight landed - Sachin was on 112. By the time the bag came through he was on 162. Never before has the temptation for vandalism been so severe - God knows what saved the airport from having a few broken glasses! Naresh Goyal - may your pilots strike again and again!<br /><br />The taxi had a radio and the match was on and by then both Raina and Bhajji had been lost. Oh the excitement of cheering Sachin on to scale 350 and atleast avenge 2003 WC.<br /><br />But the ghosts of Chennai have never been too far behind. If it was Joshi, Srinath and Prasad there - It was Jadeja, Nehra, Munaf and Praveen here. Sachin cried then and it took him 9 years to wipe those scars off. <br /><br />It is unlikely he has 9 years more to wipe this one offPushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-31767830774526899702009-11-01T01:40:00.002-07:002009-11-01T07:26:39.731-08:00Buddhadeb Sengupta<div class="msg 1st">Buddhadeb Sengupta is a very interesting character. The first thing that comes to your mind when you see him is - why is this little boy running around without his mummy?</div> <div class="msg Nth">And then just when you worriedly start looking around for the mother, just so the little KID would not be lost, you are told that he isnt quite the little boy but is a 26 year old 'man'<br /><br />You look at him incredulously, shocked that he could indeed be TWENTY SIX. Then you chuckle to yourself and suddenly think that this little guy would never ever be able to sing the song "Jab mai chotta baccha tha..."<br /><br />Like all Bengalis, Buddhadeb has a misplaced sense of his own strength. So it doesnt take much for him to tell a 6Foot 110 Kg guy that he (Buddha ) would pick him up and throw him away. Sigh so much for his bravado. But then once you factor in the fact that Buddhadeb is a KKR supporter in the IPL - suddenly it all starts to make sense.<br /><br />Buddhadeb -in line with his other many eccentricities - has this unique way of sleeping as well. As a KID (as in when his real age also equated to kid status), he was mightily impressed by stories of how the Ostrich would bury its head in the sand to try and put away all its problems. So he decided that the Ostrich would indeed be his mascot and what better way to emulate the mascot than to sleep the way it does. See the attached photo. (The model in the photo is only for representation purposes and does not neccessarily imply any link to Buddhadeb).<br /><br /><ok model="" has="" objected="" to="" pic="" being="" site="" so="" off="" but="" essentially="" it="" shows="" person="" sleeping="" on="" a="" bed="" curled="" up="" with="" head="" and="" neck="" well="" underneath="" the="" pillow=""><br /></ok><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-UH_6q_zrZr_WAzQLDe8QMFsAsNx0bPQUcbvLcWixKwRV-jFOCOURS3qQXkWennttNO8GY6q6V80vQi1JYC55JVSa1GNGc_83CjwY4weVTUWd2OgolBoHLN5NGHfMEiWutbjcA/s1600-h/DSC00033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-UH_6q_zrZr_WAzQLDe8QMFsAsNx0bPQUcbvLcWixKwRV-jFOCOURS3qQXkWennttNO8GY6q6V80vQi1JYC55JVSa1GNGc_83CjwY4weVTUWd2OgolBoHLN5NGHfMEiWutbjcA/s320/DSC00033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399156337892766466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><ok model="" has="" objected="" to="" pic="" being="" site="" so="" off="" but="" essentially="" it="" shows="" person="" sleeping="" on="" a="" bed="" curled="" up="" with="" head="" and="" neck="" well="" underneath="" the="" pillow="">Ofcourse the sleeping with the pillow under the head is not Buddha's only way to shake off reality. He, being a quintessential Bengali, has to be connected to fish. The only problem? He does not like eating the fish (a fact that almost got Mamatadi to launch an agitation to get him ripped off his Bengali status). So he makes up for it - by drinking like a fish.<br /><br />His exploits under the influence are folklore in many parts of the world. The late Michael Jackson could learn a trick or two about dancing from BDUI (Buddhadev Dancing Under Influence). Oh those moves he could pull off (and then spend the next week wondering why his back hurts so much!). And then the stories about drinking - proceeding to the loo - and then not coming out of it for the entire night because he mistook it for his bed.<br /><br />Aah Buddhadeb is indeed a character. It is likely that some of you who read this might have met Buddhadeb sometime in your lives. And you might know more such stories about Buddhadeb - please do contribute generously!<br /><br /><br /></ok></div>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-57856595034848882582009-10-31T05:52:00.000-07:002009-11-01T02:06:57.440-08:00Memories and AssociationsIt was that time in class XII - India playing South Africa at the Eden Gardens - lunch break at the Electrical Maintenance - a barely working transistor , just about time to get into the practicals and suddenly Javagal Srinath picks up two wickets in two balls. The chance of a hattrick and the practicals just about to start -oh the torture! We huddled around the transistor - kept the practicals waiting and heard a huge shout from the commentator as the ball travelled to Saurav in the slips. We cheered - the hattrick under our belt - and rushed into the practicals only later to find that Dada had picked the ball first bounce.<br /><br />Then there was that outstanding series where India beat Australia in an epic test series - the series where Laxman became Very Very Special. It was the first year of engineering. The same transistor. The final day and a chance of a victory - remote but yet a chance, the half flight of the sixth floor and 4 heads huddled around the transistor. Sachin bowling and picking three wickets, Bhajji playing like never before or after. The shouts of pure delight when the last wicket was had and the admonishing Mechanics professor who gave us our marching orders. Ah the bliss of having seen India to victory!<br /><br />And then when we played New Zealand and it was 29th October 1999 - a day for Joshi Sir's Chemistry Classes and tests followed by Perreira Sir's Mathematics Classes - but also the first day of a test match with Sachin in great form and nervous in the 90s - Hitting two airy shots - catches which should have been taken but were dropped by Adam Parore to let Sachin get his 100. Signs were ominous - with my birthday following up and luck behind him, it was the moment for SRT to notch up his first ever international double ton. And so he did on 30th October - a birthday gift<br /><br />Or that series where the Nagpur groundsman sold his nationality to the Aussies. A dead rubber in Mumbai on a minefield. Sachin and VVS played brilliant knocks to setup a meagre target of 108 for the Aussies. But there was the APplication EXercise (APEX) project to be submitted to the most fearsome of all IIMB Profs - Rambo and chasing 108 - Murali Karthik weaved magic - 25/3 and a rush from the Computer Centre to the Rec Room to watch the match. While the Apex waited, Murali and the pitch exploded to win the match. Aah the joy of watching India pull off a miracle!<br /><br />Or that time with the Class X exams approaching and an exam the next day, trying to study and ignore the India Pakistan match at Dhaka. Pakistan putting up 314 to win for us and Sachin hitting an attacking 41 before holing out to Afridi, getting into a room with the door closed to try and concentrate on the match and still try to catch glimpses of it from time to time from the crack in the door. To see Robin Singh stride out at no.3 and hit a 81, to see Dada play a resolute 124 and then to sit in front of the TV and see Azhar and Dada refuse to leave the field for Bad Light. And finally to have Hrishikesh Kanitkar play the boundary in the last over (which won him a place in the squad for 20 matches)<br /><br />Its funny how many mundane moments of life seem interesting simply because the associations we make for them with other exciting moments. Calvin in a dialogue with Hobbes once commented "I have this homework to do but i really want to go play outside. I know that doing my homework is important for me in the long run but playing outside will give me joy in the short run!" Cut to the next scene with Calvin on his sledge outside with Hobbes saying "But in the really long run, I know what will make better memories!"<br /><br />Cricket has that ability of throwing up those moments which will make better memories!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7ExfDS3AAYe0p41TGypVoLaOjvQlNxWM5aIBQ3ECGnVDF_meUTcAXh6tRPHqMzcMkQ3QGUwhZRmJxxKBlo9nUN73zaBpyRQsF2bK-nG4SZ8qIaAXjU-g1I67IGB5FsXeA9-yMg/s1600-h/ch951214.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7ExfDS3AAYe0p41TGypVoLaOjvQlNxWM5aIBQ3ECGnVDF_meUTcAXh6tRPHqMzcMkQ3QGUwhZRmJxxKBlo9nUN73zaBpyRQsF2bK-nG4SZ8qIaAXjU-g1I67IGB5FsXeA9-yMg/s320/ch951214.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399074069205024898" border="0" /></a>Pushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25734841.post-79859128495132572982009-10-22T11:13:00.000-07:002009-10-22T11:36:10.157-07:00Swagger CricketLegends say that the West Indian teams of yore played cricket that made you love the game - that they used to stride to the ground with a swagger, an air full of confidence - not arrogance but simple honest confidence that they were the best and indeed they were!<br /><br />Legends talk about how the crowd used to be one with the game - dance and rum and chanting and the calypsos. Why wouldnt they be one with the game? After all the legends also spoke about tall lanky dangerous pacemen who could shatter you with their mere speed, about bowlers who never spoke a word but a cocked eyebrow was enough to send shivers through spines, about batsmen who could hit 189 in the company of a no.11, about batsmen who were so elegant that they drew comparisons to feline beasts, of bowlers who could run through lineups even with a fractured wrist.<br /><br />But mainly the legends spoke about how this set of talented individuals gelled together as a team and well and truly enjoyed their game. The word swagger keeps swelling these legends.<br /><br />However when one has started watching the game with the Windies in terminal decline, with cricket as a sport dwindling in popularity in the Carribeans - it always has been extremely difficult to associate with these legends. Its difficult to see why the Windies were everyone's favourite team inspite of being champions. Or how they were everyone's favourite team after their own.<br /><br />Till the Champions League - till Trinidad and Tobago raised the question as to HOW and WHY the Windies could be in such terminal decline inspite of such beautiful and boundless talent available with them in just one set of islands! How can a team which has access to players who play such attractive and fearless cricket, a bunch of cricketers so in sync with each other and so openly and completely enjoying their game and playing with complete pride- lead to the West Indies being so pathetic?<br /><br />The T&T team has given me a glimpse of what the West Indies heydays would have been like. To have a Richards and a Haynes and a Greenidge blasting away and a Marshall and a Garner and a Holding bowling those fearsome spells - oooh this T & T team has offered trailers of what could have been.<br /><br />And yet one can only wonder and marvel at how a great giant of a team has self destructed to go from top of the pile to near bottom. But till such wonders cease - I will be supporting the fearless and attractive cricket that perhaps only Carribean cricket can bring to the tablePushhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13151407028237353459noreply@blogger.com0