Rahul Dravid

The 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Inflection Points

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

World Cup Champions

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.

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.

1999 will be about the Olonga induced collapse against Zimbabwe and then Sachin's return with a century dedicated to his late father

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And inevitably - this leads to a series of images and memories that I will cherish from this World Cup.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

April 02, 2011 - Indian Cricket Team - Thank you! This is only the beginning.

Living the World Cup: Part2

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

That moment turned the match around and we won an exciting match.

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.

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.

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!

Living the World Cup

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?!"

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

A cycle of life

Most parents strive to provide their kids with all that they missed out on. In doing so they make some sacrifices and bear some pain but in the end its all good and they end up happy if their kids get what they were aiming for.

Similarly when the parents get older, most good kids take care of their parents. The parents on the other hand try their best to pull their own weight and be no liability and enjoy all that their kids are providing them with.

So then lets classify Sachin, Rahul, VVS as the elders/parents of the Indian team and Gambhir, Dhoni, Zak et al as the young kids of the family.

Sachin and Dravid have perhaps had the most frustrating of times in their prime. 20/2 would more often than not be the scoreline they would see when they came together and then both would play to save our asses. They did it on numerous occasions but rarely had the bowling to back them up. And when they failed we failed. However they soldiered on - rising way above the mediocrity around them - taking those overseas losses one after the other on their chins. Hearing them be called chokers but yet carry on. They had to - after all they were upholding the standards for performance for an entire country. These were the guys who would spawn the next generation of Indian batsmen - who would have taken to the sport having fallen in love with the superlative batting. Or if someone idolized Kumble, superlative bowling.

Their efforts were almost like the provident fund being deducted every month - an investment for the future. The hope was that it would pay off sometime. That they would inspire those few cricketers who would turn and become world beaters.

They came forth. A Gambhir who showed that he can bat like a Geoff Boycott to save a test or play an attacking game like his own self to setup a victory. That he can take on the fast guys or stride down the ground to those pie-chuckers. An Ishant Sharma who can in one fierce spell of fast bowling scythe down Australian skippers and others to create breakthroughs. Or a reborn Zak who with accurate and experienced bowling crash through any batting side.

That the big guys like Sachin and Rahul and VVS were deprived in their early days means that now is the time for redemption. Its time for the kids to pay back the seniors for their efforts and investments. With test wins outside the subcontinent - anywhere, everywhere against anyone and everyone.

And make no mistake - not only are the seniors carrying their weight - they are worth their weight in gold. Playing gem like innings which win matches.

And series wins outside - just like the one in New Zealand - are just reward for everyone - irrespective of age, experience of seniority. Because its the cycle of life. As you sow so shall you reap.

The Checklist

Just prior to the 2003 World Cup began, India were on a lean patch - losing effortlessly in New Zealand and generally having a bad start to the Cup with a less than convincing victory v/s Holland and a thumping defeat to the Aussies. Which is when Sachin took over and quite literally charged us through to the finals - with sterling contributions from Dada and the others too. But till that final it was truly Sachin's Cup. The final was another story of us choking in a final. I assume Sachin looked back at that, looked around at the young team that was promising to be so much and said to himself- "Well Never mind, I still have another go in 2007" and perhaps left it at that.

Come 2007 and yet again India were faltering but had turned things around in the home series v/s SL. But there was disaster waiting. First a loss to the Bangladeshis, then a thumping critical win against the Bermudans and finally the loss that kicked us out - a loss to the Lankans. India - one of the bets to win the cup were out - in the First Round. Total and complete disaster. Sachin had played his part in the exit by not contributing much. And thats when I believe, the checklist must have been born.

SRT would have been more disappointed than anyone else - heck it was his 5th attempt at the Cup and the runners up trophy in 2003 was the best he had to show for it. He could have had the Cup in 96 but for Azhar's dumb decision at the toss. He could have had it in 2003 but our nervousness was too much compared to the Aussies.

So then there he was - 18 years in the business, great reputation, huge achievements, many records, many accolades - but he must have felt the pinch of several things missing. Firstly and most importantly - the World Cup was not there. How could HE - the greatest of his generation leave the game without the Cup. How could HE - the best that India ever produced - tolerate 2 penny critics raising aspersions about his achievements? That he never played when it mattered? Or that he choked in Finals? Or that he could never really play in a 4th inning!

He had it all - but perhaps the thought was to put his legacy beyond doubt. After all, no one nitpicks the Don's record by saying that the Don never had to contend with so much cricket or with ODI cricket which corrupted the purity of technique.

And while the young team played without him in Bangladesh - Sachin set out a 4 year plan for himself. Yes it had to end with the World Cup in 2011 - He would win it in front of his adoring home crowd at the Wankhede. But what till then ? What would keep him motivated for 4 long years? For if he did indeed play till 2011, it would mean that he had pushed his body in international cricket for 22 years and across 4 decades.

So thats where Sachin decided that the critics after all must be put to some use - and out came all the accusations on a piece of paper.

1. Never Plays in Finals
2. Never saves matches for India
3. Never plays in the 4th inning of a match
4. Has never played under pressure (admittedly he laughed for a good 5 mins after writing this one down. After years of walking in to bat at 20/2 in test matches - cant take pressure was surely one of the best jokes he had heard)
5. Has lost the capability to play attacking cricket
6. Has never played at the Wankhede
7. Is not fit enough for International Cricket
8. Is blocking places for deserving youngsters to get into the team

And out of these - with the final aim to take the World Cup back home (so that stupid political protesters could break it again), Sachin created his checklist to start ticking off till he chose to take off from the Cricket Scene in 2011 with the Cup in his hands.

The last two years have been testimony to the pursuit of this checklist. The consistency and aggresiveness of his innings in England, the purity and reflexes of his knocks in Australia. The twin big innings in the finals in Australia to win a BIG tournament. The fighting 49 in Bangalore v/s Aussies in Bangalore to secure the draw. The 103* at Chennai to exorcise old demons. Sachin has been busy ticking off aims.

One only hopes he has a triple hundred written down somewhere on that list and perhaps a century to win the World Cup final at the Wankhede while Pushkar watches on.

Till such time, Shine on Sachin

Movies

Lage Raho Munnabhai, Rang De Basanti, Wednesday. Different movies - yet a thread thats common to them all.

Gandhi is known as the father of the nation - admittedly I have always been biased anti Gandhi and see no reason to turn that around at all. However Lage Raho quite lucidly captured the essence of Gandhi - protest peacefully and victory will be yours eventually. If you are slapped on the cheek - offer the other one. Your lack of protest will eventually shame the attacker and he will give in. Yet the movie asks the pertinent question. What do you do if you get slapped on the other cheek too ? And Munnabhai promptly shows us the answer - through slapping him back. Non Gandhian but indeed practical.

And thats where RDB takes off from. Protest peacefully - have candle marches et al. But what when those fail? What do you do when you are pushed constantly. Thats when you snap and react and react forcefully. RDB showed the extreme where a bunch of youngsters could assasinate an incompetent defence minister. Protest violently so it registers!

And Wednesday - spoiler ahead if you havent seen the movie yet - registers a similar idea. You carry on with normal life inspite of all the shit that surrounds you. You are numb to blasts in Kashmir, Blasts in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat, Delhi, Mumbai - practically everywhere. You stay at home - wary of visiting public places due to the threat. You put your head down and continue with life. But somewhere sometime the anger boiling inside - albeit slowly - will cross that high limit and then there will be hell to pay.

Maybe that anger will be all too visible now - for the government and the authorities will sense it and act visibly. We might find an operation that strikes at the heart of the likes of SIMI and IM. And then there will yet again be hell to pay. Because if the terrorists dont, the government will at the elections.

The IPL situation

Note: This is one of the rare posts that I had left as a draft after writing the first 2 points and than actually came back to finish it off. Started writing this before the IPL - got a bout of NED (No Enthu Da) - quit the post and now am continuing it again once the IPL has started. So the latter part of the post also has the benefit of hindsight.

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Lot of people have expressed their concern over IPL - ranging from resentment over India's growing and now evident power in World Cricket to IPL's effect on International matches and even the future of Test and ODI cricket and even the impact on the purity of the game.

Lets try and look at it point by point

1. India's Power in World Cricket

Thats just some countries being sore about India and the shift in balance of power from traditional English-Australia stronghold days. Lets face the fact - India is where this game has gargantuan proportions and tremendous fan following and the money. India will be powerful and should use some of that power. However to quote Spidey's Uncle - With great power comes great responsibility and BCCI will have to tread that line carefully. But the point is that the IPL for the first time has opened up the treasure box of cash not just for itself but also for the players. For the first time players are not being paid according to Board Policies or Prize Monies but according to their market value - and astronomical sums. I have for long argued that a cricketer has a limited shelf life - open to injuries ruining his career - and if he isnt articulate enough then a career in commentary is not open either. Hence it is only fair that the cricketer cashes in on every possible opportunity to earn and secure his future. Indian money now is directly flowing to good players of any caste creed or origin. A relatively unknown David Hussey also has the chance to make a killing here and from the players point of view - this has to be a good thing.
The biggest stakeholder however is the spectator - and he now gets the chance to watch the best players play against each other far more regularly. While it may lack the national rivalry flavour - soon enough we might find that we the spectators will rally behind some franchisee or the other. And this may not even be region based - but largely on the following that the players will command.

2. The International Matches

The IPL is a 45 day window with 8 teams. Teams will purchase players on the basis of their performance not only in the IPL which happens only once a year for a 45 day window but primarily on the basis of their performance on the biggest stage that is World Cricket. For any player to connect to the adoring masses who will eventually bankroll the entire IPL - that player needs to shine for the country at the International Level. Unless he does that he will not be able to command a price premium. Given the intensity with which players have been playing in the IPL - it does not at any point of time seem that they look upon this as a carnival (except ofcourse Graeme Smith's stumping off Pollock). It is serious intense cricket with both the foreign and local players giving it their all.

What this means is that International Cricket will not be devalued by IPL - infact the importance will increase tremendously. The ICC here has a huge role to play by actually trying to accomodate the IPL in its FTP calendar as without that the player will be forced to choose for those 45 days between money (really big money) and country. With the shortsightedness that most cricket boards carry - it can end up having serious consequences for the player. My hypothesis obviously is that if a player only plays 45 days of IPL and no international cricket (unless he is a retired star like Warne or McGrath) he will lose bargaining power with the IPL.


3. Devaluation of Test / ODI cricket

When ODI cricket came in - it was argued that Test Cricket would die a death. On the contrary ODI has made Test Cricket more interesting with the fast pace of scoring boiling down to more results and hence more interesting cricket. Test cricket will always have its own charm - the charm of seeing 7 players crowded around the bat with the bowler attacking with full steam is something that has its own joy. Or the excitement that a tense close draw can generate with the no.11 batsman looking to play out the last over of the day to earn a draw by the skin of their teeth is unmatched.

Similarly T20 is going to make ODI cricket a more exciting place. Last 10 overs 134 to chase is no longer going to be outside the realms of possibility. The fielding is only going to get better and running between the wickets is going to improve.

Also the good part is that most matches have seen clean hitting and not slogging - which is good for the game.

4. The Good Things

This is not a concern obviously. One thing that IPL will do is increase friendship and tolerance amongst players from different countries and that is one thing that cricket desperately needs. Also now player weaknesses are going to be out in the open - so that again will make cricket more interesting and put the onus on the player to perfect his game to the largest extent possible.


All in all - IPL can only mean good things for the game. Ofcourse it could have been done in better ways but that doesnt take anything away from it. Its an outstanding idea executed well and the BCCI and the players will earn some deserved moolah.

Till such time. .

We are welcomed at Lords with a dusty turner and bright sunshine, At Perth and Brisbane and Melbourne with a flat - 4th day deteriorating track or at Wanderers with a brown surface - Our pitches should - nay let me emphasise that - our pitches SHOULD be pitches that turn square.

Thats what they call Home Advantage.

Of course 76 all down deserves a loss on any surface (apart from the meadows that masquerade as pitches in New Zealand.)

I have a dream

Brett Lee had the biggest grin on his face while all the other Aussies were hugging him. Why wouldnt they? They had both Jaffer and Sehwag back in the pavilion with the scoreboard at Zero. 0/2 and India were struggling at home. Ricky and Symmo were quietly grinning smugly - thinking of Bhajji's face as they looked at the scoreboard shouting out 0/2. The Mumbai crowd that had been so vocal had suddenly fallen silent. Meanwhile Sanjay Manjrekar was grinning from ear to ear and was furiously penning down his next anti - Sachin column. He figured Sachin - who was used to only a 20/2 scenario in Tests could not be able to take a 0/2 scenario and there he would have another incriminating article nailed. Oooh the editors would die for this. Maybe they would print it in the afternoon edition in anticipation if he hurried.

Rahul was at the other end - having watched Jaffers stump go cartwheeling off that Lee Scorcher. Sachin was walking out at the other end - conceivably his last test inning at home in Mumbai- He still had unfinished business in ODIs and probably had marked his calendar for a WC Final winning ton here in Mumbai. The crowd - disappointed at 0/2 - had still risen to a man in anticipation. Sachin was here - never mind the fools who had booed him the last time. Sachin and Dravid had a mid - pitch conference - a small joke about how it was 20 runs too early for them to meet and they were on their way with a grim guffaw.

Lee bowled another scorcher - met with the full face of the MRF bat and rushing past the bowlers leg for a boundary - the first of many. For Sachin was in the form of his life with a point to prove. What begun with a straight punch down the ground graduated into classic cover drives, meaty pulls, ferocious hooks, delectable flicks, cheeky cuts, paddle sweeps and those masterly cuts to third man. Oh yes sirree - Sachin was on his way.

The aussies delighted at a 0/2 on the first day went to lunch at 120/2 tea at 270/2 and finally ended the day at 403/2. The highest Indian partnership was in danger. Sachin had already scored his first ever 250 and was batting at 279* - Dravid paying close vigil at 110*. Manjrekar meanwhile was applying for political asylum in Uganda.

The next morning was no different - Sachin took honours with his first ever triple and went into lunch at 337* and Dravid had closed in on to his newest double hundred. Lara and his record beckoned. Lee stormed in with Sachin at 398 and overpitched - in a flash the blade swished and came down quickly - it was a coverdrive none of those present at Mumbai would ever forget. For there it was the World Record. A warm tight hug with Dravid celebrating. Heck! a 631 run partnership wasnt every day material. They declared at the stroke of tea with the champs walking back in with their head held high. Yuvraj could barely hold back his tears as he could only see the nets for himself in the near future.

Ishant had cut his long hair and was looking smarter than ever and obviously it had to reflect in his bowling. While he and RP ran through the Aussie batting - Bhajji ofcourse had the last laugh picking up Symonds while he tried to hoick him over mid on for six - the bat missed the ball unfortunately and the stumps were on the floor. Last heard after the celebration, the Black Caps were thinking of signing on Bhajji for the Haka Ritual.

217 all down and Kumble happily asked the Aussies to follow on. By now it was time for the captain to shine. 7 wickets were snared with flippers and faster ones - perseverance pays !
Ishant chipped in with the prize wickets of Bunny Ricky and Symonds - Ricky was done in by a series of unfortunate events. The unfortunate events ofcourse were 5 balls which outswinged and the 6th one - bloody hell, without any warning had the gall to inswing. Oh how dare Ishant make the ball do such unpritable things with the ball - first outswing and then inswing and that too for Ricky. Darrel Hair would have called as a no-ball for sure!

Kumble on the other hand - braving his age - was bowling with an edge. Seven Australians to be downed were no small matter - especially when Michael Clarke would insist on standing his ground inspite of having been bowled. Well he had a point actually - only the off and middle stumps were floored - and he was holding on to life for his leg stump.

The end though had to come swift and soon with Australia folding up in the second inning for 224 and India had their win. An inning and 190 runs. The no.1 rating was up for the taking - if they could beat the Aussies at Chepauk.

Oh well - Thats my dream. Whats yours?

Psychohistory and Cricket

In Issac Asimov's most famous Foundation Series - the underlying theme is completely about psychohistory and how the flows of history can be predicted fairly accurately. However it cannot predict the behavior of an individual and hence is put at bay when a mutant - The Mule takes over the galaxy.

Similarly - in cricket - in spite of commentators screaming that it is a game of glorious uncertainties - broadly you can predict various scenarios with several permutations and combinations and by and large you would have thought of most possible scenarios with varied probablities of them happening. Ofcourse while psychohistory predicts one scenario- cricket would end up with several likely scenarios.

And that is what was on view when the South African coach Mickey Arthur thought of the various scenarios that could crop up on day 3 of the test match. But he failed to predict the occurrence of the mutant named Sehwag. And it was his performance that left Mickey Arthur saying this

"Last night I looked at every possible scenario that could develop and this wasn't one. I didn't think in my wildest dreams they would score at such a rate. Again that's only due to one man."

A 292 ball 309 was not predicted - it could not be for a 300 in itself is a rare achievement. It needs time, it needs skill, it needs endurance, it needs mental strength. But on some occassions it just needs a fired up Sehwag - and then not only do you have a triple ton - you also have the quickest triple ever.

Sehwag may never make it to the list of Indian Greats - he may never sit in the same hall of revered fame that Gavaskar, Sachin, Dravid and even Ganguly will occupy. But he now has a pedestal of his own. Despite failing on numerous occasions in ODIs - in his own similar fashion - caught at mid-on, snapped at point, taken at slip slashing away from the body or even at third man.

His knocks at the top of the order are ones that create chances for the team where there are none. And come what may - even if he fails after this, Sehwag has created his own space in history. If Laxman's 281 is special - 309 and 319 too will be remembered forever. The 319 not just for its magnitude but also for its savagery and butchering value.

Cheers Viru - may your tribe increase!

Steve Bucknor...

...clearly needs to retire. But he must be working on in the strenuous role as the Umpire - perhaps because he needs to earn more to build a retirement home. I suggest the Indian Government and the BCCI should do the noble thing and provide the poor man with a retirement home in a scenic location. I would suggest that the Kashmir Valley - a few metres off the LOC would be a perfect place for the same. The view would be great and even though the sound pollution would be huge - hearing has always been Bucknor's problem - so that would not affect him.

Your "Buck" "Nor" your might ...

The easiest option ofcourse is to log in a complaint against Bucknor. However one doubts what effect that will have for in 2003-04 Ganguly had given him a very negative report - both for the atrocious decisions in that Sydney Test and for mimicking Rahul Dravid - rather taunting him as a ball tamperer. Nothing came out of that. And why go that far back in time - just rewind to the World Cup in 2007 in West Indies and remember the farce that was played out by the umpires - Mr Steve "Blind and Deaf" Bucknor was the lead actor there as well. The punishment? A free vacation during the T20 World Cup. So the worst that the ICC will do is prevent him standing in 2011 World Cup - by which time hopefully his knees will have given way anyway

The other option is to protest through a walkout or a forfeit. Barely the best possible solution - this will very easily turn the "public opinion" against India all over the world. Something Pawar will definitely not risk with him slated to be the ICC Chairman in 2009. Besides it may paint us as unsporting - even if in the face of disgusting umpiring and hypocrisy from the Aussie players. Given Kumble's rep - i doubt he will be in favour of pulling out completely. Maybe Ganguly as captain might have considered it - if it was to be Gavaskar - well history speaks for itself.

If we send a B-grade team it will have to be the BCCI's call. It means that they risk future income from series - where if umpiring goes wrong - you find lesser players playing in the series. No one really wants to watch it - it sets a precedent which can be used against the BCCI in future negotiations and given that greed is a word that can loosely be attached to the BCCI - the safe money is on the fact that they will do nothing of that sort.

If the players speak out - they will be banned for matches. Their comments will be deemed racist ?

So the only way out seems for the Indians to cop it - grin - and be laughed at by the Aussie Media unless Pawar decides to take revenge for the shove by Ponting but for a politician it seems the last way out. And probably is where we will miss Dalmiya

2nd January

We seem to have made a habit of playing extremely important test matches on the 2nd January.

In 2004 - we were playing at Sydney with the chance to knock Australia and very rudely gatecrash Steve Waugh's farewell party. Unfortunately he was there himself to guard the gates along with Bucknor and Parthiv and we were foiled. Nevertheless it was a glorious series

In 2007 - we were playing South Africa - again on the brink of history - we could have won our first series there and everything about the first day's play indicated that we were on our way. But then we aint Indian Cricket for nothing

And now in 2008 - we play arguably the most important test match for International Cricket (no not just for Indian Cricket) but for International Cricket. For over the last few years - only the Indian team has threatened the Aussies ever so consistently. And this is by far the most suited batting lineup for an upset. If we win this test we continue to be alive in the series and we make cricket interesting - very interesting.

Sydney has always been our best chance of winning a test in Australia. Now if only the batsmen were to wakeup and insist on batting in their favoured positions we might have a match on our hands

And then it was history - 2007

Topsy turvy. Crazy. Full circle.

I think the year for Indian Cricket can be termed with those 3 words.

We started the year with hope - going into a 2nd January match against South Africa - the series level at 1-1. A chance to win the series at Capetown and create history. We fell short and then we wondered if it was indeed time to say a final Goodbye to that icon SRT? Meanwhile Ganguly had quietly and steadily made his entry into the team.

We went back to India - low on confidence but with the chance to bounce back against the Windies. And we did so in style - raising hopes again that all was not indeed lost for the World Cup. We took what looked like a good team but a coach who was definitely off his rocker. SRT had bounced back as had Ganguly and Dravid was now looking every inch a winnning captain.

The World Cup - the holy grail of cricket - ruined by the ICC and some insane batting against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Sachin at 4?? Whose mad idea was that anyway? A first round exit. Everyone was wondering about the quickest way to get rid of the "Old Gang" - the deadwood as they were called. There was outrage at home as always, a baying for blood, a call for heads to roll.

And then there was the tour to Bangladesh - a young team was supposedly sent there - however how a 30yr old Dinesh Mongia qualifies as young is anybody's guess. SRT and Dada were rested - an euphemism for dropped? Dravid retained as captain. Then there were the tests where the stalwarts came back and played like stalwarts.

It was onwards to England to play the tests. A weather saved test at Lords and then some purposeful batting by the oldies - the series was won and the fallen heroes were restored to some part of their glory. The ODI series might have not been won but again the oldies showed their mettle with youngsters like Uthappa shining it too and things were merry again. The captain - the Wall was well and truly shining

Onward to South Africa to play the World Cup for the shortest version of the game - a new captain was announced and a completely young team. Nothing expected from them - but they pulled off the proverbial rabbit from the hat and went on to win the whole damn thing. One WC lost miserably - another was won gloriously. And then there were new heroes - yet again there was a call to lay to rest the older ones. Who needed deadwood when you had world beating polished plywood?

Then the Kangaroos came home - the old captain had put in his papers and soon enough he was out of the team. Yet the other 2 oldies held on - teaching the others a thing or two about batsmanship. SRT was apparently back to the golden ages they said. And Dada - the most fantastic comeback there ever could be had been scripted.

Bring on the Pakis - Batter the Pakis. An old captain - the old guard firing - the young brigade knocking and Australia was beckoning.

A loss not withstanding - this year has been a topsyturvy one for India. Win lose Win lose. Its been crazy - we have seen 3 captains in the year. We have seen our best batsman dropped unceremoniously. And life has come a full circle. Its Dada and SRT opening yet again - and gloriously. We have a 37 year old spinner at the helm.

The more things have changed the more they have remained the same

Time

Time tommorrow for a lot of people to prove a lot of points...

1. Dravid to slap those bloodsucking fools aka fans with a big ton

2. Jaffer to prove that he can play against any opposition

3. Sachin to play that elusive 4th inning match winning knock

4. Laxman to prove that the bouncer from Lee that got his wicket was a one off and that he can murder short pitched balls

5. Ganguly to prove that Brisbane 2003 was not a flash in the pan and that he can reel off innings like those in Melbourne as well

6. Yuvraj to prove that he indeed deserves to be in the team at the cost of Dravid sacrificing as an opener

7. Dhoni to prove that he can handle pressure enough to be the natural test capn as well

8. Kumble to prove that the batsmen can win matches and he can just sit back and relax and not come out to bat as the team scores 500 :)

In 2003 we came quietly but determined to upset the Aussies - hell we had pulled a grand escape against them at home. But no one then expected India to put up an even fight.
This time things are different - its a unit that has won outside India consistently and they are expected to put up a fight.

Last time - we drew Brisbane thanks largely to Dada's fighting knock and that set the tone for the series. Here if we save Melbourne (read win - there is no way for a draw unless weather intervenes) we will already have begun the fight - this time only more brutally.

Aye Aye Cap'n

They had just lost their match against Bangladesh - traumatic experience that - it threatened their very existence in the World Cup. The captain had a frown on his face - an expression of worry. Their coach - never known to smile - was probably ready with a dose of abuse. The captain wore the burden of loss. Bermuda won, Lanka not - we were out.

Would the captain survive? Would the core of the team survive? Would the coach survive?
The coach went - the seniors were under the scanner - the marginals were sacrificed but the captain survived. Bangladesh without two of the seniors in ODIs and with them in tests - revenge was taken without waiting for it to go cold.

The captain took them to a long tour of England and Redemption. He won against the Africans. He won the Test series (the seniors shone too) and did very well in the ODI series only to lose it marginally. The captain was on a high and looked like he would take us to Australia to complete what was left undone the last time they went there but unexpectedly he quit. Just like that - out of the blue, Rahul Dravid the Wall had turned his back on the captaincy to focus on his main art - his bread and butter - his batting.

Meanwhile a young team under MSD was playing in South Africa and winning a World Cup against all odds. Heroes were born and welcomed such. Dhoni also ascended the ODI captaincy. As usual the public and the selectors had taken stands. The contrasts of the performances in the ODI and T20 World Cups had brought forth a wave of support for 'youngsters' - the seniors were looked upon as unwanted baggage. Why dont they go now was the call! Ingrates who asked such questions - but these questions were to become large ones.

The series against Aussies followed and Rahul "failed" in all of 5 innings. And that was it - the axe was out for the ex-captain. We dont need you was the message! Our youngsters will perform - and drat those two Saurav and Sachin for performing and making it impossible to sack them as well. Never mind - they will fail in an inning or two and we will perform that cut too eh?


It was unjustified as hell. For the man had played well one tour back in England. For the man had been India's saving grace for uncountable series and matches before that. It was one series that one of India's most prolific scorer failed and he got the worst possible punishment. People had escaped with murder and here he was arrested and prosecuted for breaking the traffic lights.

And then they pick another guy who too is out of form with the reasoning that "He is a proven matchwinner and his record against Pak is really good". One assumes that Dravid is a proven matchloser ? But then rationality was never Indian Cricket's strong point eh?

With that we lost the one player who could see off a 20/3 situation or come in at 170/2 and launch a finishing move. Or for that matter come in a guide a run chase to its logical conclusion. A man for any situation - someone you could trust to take on any situation - no questions asked.

The one player who would do any role for the team and not complain. But rationality - no thats not our forte for sure!

And the drama - that never ends. Sachin refuses the Test captaincy - the selectors stumped again. (a wise decision by Sachin no doubt and i might write about it later)

But finally Kumble picked as the captain - a decision that i couldnt agree with whole heartedly. Kumble deserves the honour no doubt for his long contribution but currently one wonders if he would automatically be the first choice spinner for the team. There have now been more than 2 occassions tailormade for Kumble to spin his magic and take us to victory but on both occassions he was off key and the win didnt come our way.

Nevertheless lets hope his grit wins the day for us.

Future Watch

This series is an attempt to capture the likely future of Indian Cricket. Hence time / information permitting one will attempt to run a Domestic Cricket roundup to identify consistent performers in Indian Domestic Cricket


The Domestic season started off today in Rajkot with the Ranji Champs Mumbai taking on a fairly strong Rest of India in the Irani Trophy. The Mumbai team had a very interesting look to it - with a mix of established "stars" like Agarkar, Jaffer, Powar and the contender to the throne of the unluckiest Indian Cricket - Amol Muzumdar featuring in it. Some guys who made their name last season with good performances like Kukreja and Nayar and then the absolute newbies like Rahane, Naik, Abdulla and WK Gurav.

And they were to take on an RoI side that looked suspiciously like a 2nd XI for India - Kaif, Parthiv, Raina, Munaf and Chopra amongst those who have played for India, Bose and Ishant the two who have some experience bringing out the drinks for Indian players and then the challengers in Badri, Tewary and spinners Ojha and Mishra.

A tough and interesting encounter always looks likely.

On the basis of the play on Day 1 - Nayyar has confirmed that he is indeed a player to watch out for. His performances last season were pivotal to Mumbai winning the Ranji and today with a superb attacking century he has surely done his reputation no harm whatsover - if he can shine again with the ball - we might have someone on our hands here.

Munaf has proven time and again that with his fitness - he should never even be knocking on the India doors and todays performance was no different - perhaps he deserves a long toil again on the Ranji circuit. That might knock some sense into his head.

Bose - the star bowler of last season - is a bit of a mystery. With a lack of real pace - he depends much on his accuracy and his ability to move the ball. All well in bowling friendly conditions. But his real test will be against International opposition on a belter but he seems good enough to get an opportunity. And at the rate at which our pacers get injured and given the likelihood of Sreesanth getting banned for 5 matches after every 2 matches - his chance will come sooner rather than later.

Over all a good day for Mumbai and one hopes they start off the season with a victory and some more silverware in their already over flowing cupboard.

So Long!

Its probably curtains for Ajit Agarkar in international cricket. However given the fragile nature of all bowlers fast in India (except Kumble - i mean the fast bowlers who dont call themselves spinners. Also not Prasad - i did not mean Slow Bowlers who insist on calling themselves fast) he might yet have another chance to add to the numerous ones he has already had.

Agarkar has easily been the most frustrating of Indian Cricketers in recent time (Sreesanth might be staking a claim to that honour soon though). A player most Indians have loved to hate. A player who might well be forgotten or if remembered only for his profligacy or for his duck scoring streak. This post is dedicated to Agarkar, to remind us of some of the glory moments he was responsible for India, a post asking for him to be regarded in a kinder light than he has been granted during his playing days.

Aged 20 and a few days with a debut against the Australians, Agarkar had taken just three matches to make an impact with a 4 wicket haul against the Australians and then embarked on a brilliant 2o match tour to snare the record of the fastest 50 wickets in ODIs. India had discovered a young wicket taker who was extremely efficient in the field. Stories of his ability with the bat meant that all had hopes of finally getting that successor to Kapil Dev. But the story of Agarkar's career has not been the 5 brilliant balls he bowls in an over but rather that 6th poor balls which disappears to the boundary regularly. His batting never really lived up to his potential but he had his moments. The fastest Indian ODI 50, a test century at Lords (a feat that has eluded even Sachin), an ODI top score of 95 and precious few match winning knocks at the death - Agarkar has always been the "What If he lived up to his potential" man for India.

But even if one decides that all this can be forgotten - that it doesnt really deserve a mention in the long run - no one should really grudge Agarkar his moment of glory in Adelaide. A moment easily on par with winning a World Cup - beating Australia in Australia in a test match. A typical Australian first inning powered by a 242 from Ponting had seen them post 556 in the first inning with the implicit expectation of seeing India fold up and hand over the series lead to Australia. They did not count for Dravid and VVS to play knocks that rivalled the one by Ponting to take India to a improbable 523 conceding a very acceptable and unexpected 33 run lead. One expected a tame draw. But Ajit Agarkar - tiny and frail looking, ears flapping in the wind - generating some good pace - came on and bowled the spell of his life scalping 6 wickets with his bunny Langer, Ponting and Katich amongst them. (Sachin left his tiny signature on the game picking up Martyn and Steve Waugh but more on Sachin later - this post is about the other Mumbaikar Agarkar) and India had bowled out the mighty Australians for 196 leaving India with 230 to win. Easy ? Tough?

Who else but the Wall to take us through. While we will all remember his triumphant tears when he cut the ball for a boundary - lets just keep our thoughts on the man who was with him at the other end - who with his 6 wicket spell had made possible one of the greatest Indian test triumphs.

Agarkar will look back at his career with a mixture of satisfaction and regret. Satisfaction because of his above mentioned achievements. Regret for each and every boundary ball bowled amidst an otherwise good over. Regret for always being evaluated as an allrounder and being pulled down inspite of having bowled really well. Regret for having moved from being the best Indian ODI bowler over the last 2 years to being out of the team in a span of 3 months. Regret for being just another cricketer inspite of having picked up 288 ODI wickets. Regret for what could have been if only he had lived up to his potential.

So long Ajit and thanks for some good times! We will forever wish there could have been more from you!