India-Pak final? Only if Sri Lanka obliges!
So, the whole of India, including me, is going gaga over India’s remarkable victory against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup. It also looks like Virat Kohli will be the next big thing after Sachin Tendulkar for Indian cricket after he amassed an earth-shattering 183 in the match.
However, India is still isn’t certain of meeting Pakistan in the finals. For that to happen, Sri Lanka must beat Bangladesh in the next match.
As I look at the situation, the terrible thought of history repeats is coming to my mind due to some striking similarities. By history, I mean just the last one-day series in Australia. Just consider both situations as follows: -
* India played exceedingly well in their last league match in the tri series in Australia by chasing more than 300 very easily. The same thing has happened in India’s last league match here in Asia Cup.
* In both the occasions, Kohli scored a magnificent hundred.
* In the Australia series, India, to reach the finals, depended on the Aussies to beat Sri Lanka. Here, India has to depend on Sri Lanka to beat Bangladesh.
* In Australia, India failed to reach the finals after Australia lost to Sri Lanka.
* What will happen in Asia Cup?
Well, all Indians would hope history doesn’t repeat and we get a mouth-watering India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup. But everything is in Sri Lanka’s hands. In Australia, they disappointed us by winning the last league match. Let’s hope they don’t disappoint us again by losing this time.
Sachin scores 100th century! I am pinching myself!
There have been very few occasions in my life where I have pinched myself in disbelief! One such occasion was few minutes back when Sachin Tendulkar finally (I feel like repeating the word 5 times) scored his 100th international century against Bangladesh in Mirpur in the ongoing Asia Cup 2012. Finally!!!
The feat for which the whole of cricketing world and not just India was waiting since more than a year has just happened! During all these months, every time Sachin went into bat, almost every cricket fan from around the world expected to see his 100th century. However, it just refused to come. There is a saying in Hindi – Intezar Ka Phal Meetha Hota Hai. Well, this was proved today in Mirpur.
The Master Blaster did come terribly close to achieving the mega milestone on December 2011 when he dismissed for 94 in the third test match against West Indies in Mumbai. Never had I seen the crowd so stunned in disbelief before when the great man was dismissed in that innings by Ravi Rampaul. People from Sachin’s hometown had spent an abnormal amount to the blackers for the ticket of the fifth days play after Sachin was not out on 70 odd at stumps on day 4.
I was one among thousands who faced disappointment at not getting a ticket (at original price) for the fifth day. However, I plainly refused to buy the ticket in black and returned home khaali haath! How fortunate I felt later on to have such principles!
After that innings of 94, Sachin failed to achieve the feat in the whole of the tour of Australia. As he also started going through a bad phase, the expectations for the biggest achievement ever also fizzled out!
I guess it was the pressure of the expectations that got the better of Sachin. Now, that there were no expectations, he easily achieved the feat and how! I wish the people and media had controlled their excitement all these months! Anyways, it’s better late than never.
Hearty CONGRATULATIONS to the greatest cricketer for the greatest achievement any batsman can imagine. I repeat this – We have been fortunate to have got a chance to grow up along with Sachin’s career!
Have a look at the moment when Sachin achieved the feat and the world went in a frenzy. (Video of Sachin scoring his 100th run) : -
Pictures courtesy - espncricinfo.com
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna…
All Good Things Come To An End – I have been hearing this proverb ever since my childhood. However, it is just since yesterday that I am truly able to feel the bitter feeling behind it. It’s the retirement of Rahul Dravid, one of the best cricketers ever produced by India that has enabled me to understand the true meaning of the above proverb.
Dravid’s greatness is such that by merely saying, “He was a great cricketer,” isn’t an enough tribute to him. Frankly speaking, it is not possible to explain in a few pages the career of a cricketer who took the very heavy load of expectations and responsibilities on his shoulders. Those like me who have followed his career throughout would understand this and agree with me.
Personally, I feel Dravid was the unsung hero of Indian cricket. I say this because a number of his achievements went unnoticed or didn’t receive the importance it deserved as it got overshadowed by an achievement by a fellow cricketer or due to some other reason.
For instance, in the famous Kolkata test against Australia in 2001, the Karnataka batsman played one of his finest knocks by scoring 180. However, VVS Laxman’s 281 is what people remember more from that test although Dravid’s innings deserved equal praise since it also played a vital role for India to turn the tables and beat the Aussies in one of the greatest fight-backs ever!
Another example is during the 1999 World Cup match against Sri Lanka at Taunton, England where Saurav Ganguly registered his highest one-day score of 183. He had a 300+ run stand with Dravid who scored a fabulous 145. But here too, it is Dada’s innings which is remembered more while one should also remember that Dravid’s score was at that time the highest by any wicket-keeper in ODIs.
I would also like to state Dravid’s most under-rated innings in ODIs. It was in the 1997 Independence Cup match against Pakistan, where the Wall scored his maiden ODI century (127) which didn’t prove enough. Since Saeed Anwar registered the highest ODI score ever earlier in the day with 194 and also because of the fact that Dravid’s knock was in a losing cause, it was forgotten soon.
Likewise, throughout his career, a number of innings by Dravid didn’t receive the due credit it so much deserved!
Moving ahead, I have no qualms in saying that Dravid was victim of the idiocy of Indian selectors! Dravid resigned from the captaincy (both in tests and ODIs) in 2007 in the interest of the team as he wanted to concentrate on his batting. However, he was unable to concentrate on it in half or more than of the matches as the selectors dropped him from the ODIs!
Dravid during his innings of 145 against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup.
The move of dropping him from the ODI team is the biggest blunder ever by Indian selectors! Time and again Jammy had proved his mettle in ODIs as a quick scorer but the selection committee dropped him saying he is unable to score quick runs. Just some time before he was dropped, he had scored an earth-shattering 90 odd in just 63 balls in an ODI in England.
In fact, he has been handy even in Twenty20 matches. On numerous occasions in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dravid has proved how wrong the selectors were. Then in the 2011 ODI series against England, they picked Dravid as there was a dearth of quality batsmen in the team. Although the Wall played in the series, he announced his retirement from ODI cricket just after he was picked. A good indirect way of giving thumbs down!
Today, looking at the huge number of messages of praise that are pouring in for Dravid on social media and the internet, I get a feeling the world has understood his worth and importance. It is been proved that someone who is one-of-its-kind will never get overshadowed!
Although this is been said again and again today, I would still like to repeat that Dravid is irreplaceable!
I would like to wind up with a small shayari on the great man: -
Bahav Ke Sath To Har Koi Beh Sakta Hai,
Jo Bahav Ke Khilaf Bahe Wohi Farishta Kehlata Hai
Video of Rahul Dravid's retirement speech: -
Sehwag’s 219. Best huge score ever?
Just when I was thinking Virendra Sehwag is getting into a poor run of form, the Nawab Of Najafgar surprises me and the country in a humongous and a delightful manner by smashing 291 runs against the West Indies in the fourth one-day international at Inodore on December 8, 2011.
Hearty Congratulations to Viru for being just the second batsman in the world to cross the 200 mark in ODIs and, more importantly, for scoring the highest score ever in ODIs.
Let’s re-visit the highlights of the innings: (Article continued after video)
In the modern era of cricket, numerous batsmen have reached huge scores of 170 plus in limited overs cricket. So, I just thought of rating the top 10 high scores in ODIs. The rankings are not based on the highest number of runs but by taking into account the bowling attack of the opposition and the conditions as well.
Here are the top 10 high scores in ODIs: -
10. Shane Watson – 185* (96) vs Bangladesh in 2011 at Dhaka: 185 is huge but I am putting it on number 10 because Bangladesh’s weak bowling attack and also because Watson was dropped once. And if you notice the innings carefully, Watson’s 7-8 sixes were played with the same sweep shot against two left arm spinners with identical actions.
9. Gary Kirsten – 188* (159) vs UAE at Rawalpindi in 1996 at Rawalpindi: Kirsten played some delightful shots in his innings but the reason for me rating it on number 9 is that the bowling attack of UAE was just like their team – minnow! Plus, it was a flat batting track and there was no pressure at all on the former Indian coach.
8. Charles Coventry – 194* (156) vs Bangladesh in 2009 at Bulawayo: It’s a big thing for a Zimbabwean to score such a mammoth score even if it is against a weak bowling attack like Bangladesh.
7. Sachin Tendulkar - 186 not out (150) vs New Zealand in 1999 at Hyderabad: Tendulkar along with Dravid set the Hyderabad stadium on fire on a belter of a wicket with a very fast outfield.
6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 183 not out (145) vs Sri Lanka in 2005 at Jaipur: Rating this one higher than Tendulkar’s innings as Sri Lanka’s bowling line-up being much stronger. Plus, Dhoni was a newbie when he achieved this score.
5. Saeed Anwar – 194 (146) vs India in 1997 at Chennai: Anwar rose to the occasion in semi-final-like match of the Independence Cup against arch rivals Indians and played some outstanding shots. Yet, I am putting on number 5 for the simple reason that Anwar scored 120 out of the 194 runs with the help of a runner (Shahid Afridi). Fatigue plays an important obstacle in such long innings and Anwar hardly experienced it that day!
4. Virendra Sehwag – 219 (149) vs West Indies in 2011 at Indore: Sehwag’s fans might hate me for this but still I will put it on number 4 as Sehwag got two chances (one run-out and one dropped catch). Needless to say, West Indies’ bowling attack was non-threatening.
3. Sanath Jayasuriya – 189 (170) vs India in 2000 at Sharjah: Jayasuriya loved playing against India and on this particular day, his love was the deepest. The Sharjah crowd was in for some treat as Jayasuriya played his trademark shots all over the park.
2. Vivian Richards – 189* (170) vs England in 1984 at Manchester: The England bowling attack of the 80s was a deadly one due to the likes of Ian Botham, Bob Willis and Derek Pringle to name a few. Due to this very reason, the innings by Richards deserves a high place.
1. Two entries: -
i) Sachin Tendulkar – 200* (147) vs South Africa in 2010 at Gwalior: South Africa had one of the decent bowling line-ups in the world at that time with bowlers like Dale Steyn, Charl Langeveldt, Jaques Kallis, etc. But a big reason why I am ranking this as number 1 is simply because of the huge expectation that Sachin carries when he goes out to bat. Just imagine the anticipation for a double century once he crossed 150!
ii) Kapil Dev – 175* (138) vs Zimbabwe in 1983 at Turnbridge Wells: This truly great innings failed to grab much of a limelight for the simple reason that the match wasn’t telecast! However, there are solid reasons why this knock deserves a rating of one. India were almost out of the match at 17 for 5 when Kapil arrived at the crease. To get the team out of such a deep hole required a miracle and scoring 175 not out after coming in at such a time is miraculous! Plus, the match was like a quarter final for India. If India had lost this one, we could never have won the 1983 World Cup!
MCA wakes up, slashes rates for India-WI test at Wankhede
In a hugely surprising movie, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has drastically reduced the ticket rates for the third and final test between India and West Indies staring from Tuesday November 22 at the Wankhede Stadium.
The ticket prices for the match are as follows: -
* East Stand (Lower) per day – Rs 50 (This is not a typing mistake!)
* East Stand (Lower) for five days – Rs 150 (!!!)
* North Stand, Vijay Merchant Stand and Sachin Tendulkar Stand per day – Rs 100
* North Stand, Vijay Merchant Stand and Sachin Tendulkar Stand for five days – Rs 500
* Vithal Divecha Stand per day - Rs 150
* Vithal Divecha Stand for five days – Rs 600
* Sachin Tendulkar Pavillion and Corporate Box Seat for five days – Rs 25, 000
The biggest reason for such drop in ticket prices is due to the fact that the attendance for the first two matches of the series has been way below par. Secondly, last month only around 13,000 turned up for the India-England one day international whereas the capacity at the newly built stadium is 33,000. And lastly, there has been an over-overdose of cricket in 2011. Plenty of matches took place in India in the world cup earlier this year.
This was followed by the Indian Premiere League which had as many as 60 matches played in a span of less than two months. Even after this, India has been playing regularly in England, West Indies and then again in India against England and against the West Indies in the ongoing test series.
Over the years, the ticket prices at Wankhede (especially for ODIs and IPL matches) have been abnormally high. But one thing is sure that if spectators remain away from the matches, the association can be forced to reduce the rates. I think we should continue to do this so as to make sure we are not charged ridiculously high to witness our favorite game.
The same can be happen at cinema multiplexes as well. For per ticket, the price can go as high as Rs 350, 400 or more! Due to this, common middleclass people are forced to stay away from multiplexes. But if we refuse to bow down to the demands of the multiplexes by boycotting them, they will be forced to reduce the rates. It has happened at few multiplexes like PVR Lower Parel. After all, there is a hidden power which is amongst we the people!
Picture courtesy - Pravasitoday.com
Sachin’s 100th century bigger than team success?
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar currently has a tally of 99 hundreds in international cricket. Obviously, cricket fans, not just from India but from all over the world desperately want the legend to reach 100 centuries soon.
You can’t blame the fans as 100 tons is a humongous feat which nobody has achieved till date. However, I have started getting a feeling that we the audience and the media are putting huge amounts of pressure on the little man to reach the mega milestone.
Every time Sachin goes out to bat these days, there’s only one question going on in everyone’s head, “Will he or won’t he?” This is equivalent to parents desperately wanting their child to top the exams! Although he has borne pressure all his life but the whole nation expecting you to score a hundred every time you go out to bat is a bit too much to handle.
When India won the first test match against the West Indies, almost every headline mentioned the fact that Sachin failed to reach the milestone. Even news reports gave too much importance to it rather than India’s praiseworthy fight back to win the test.
(Article continued after picture.)
Now, according to latest reports, The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has decided to present Sachin with 100 gold coins if he gets his 100th ton in the second test at Kolkata! Phew!
By giving crazy importance to his 100th hundred, we are forgetting the basic fact that cricket (or any other sport) is a team game where the end result matters the most. Hence, we should be more concerned about the result of the ongoing test series rather than concentrating on one individual score.
Sachin’s greatness is as huge as the universe. So, it’s just a matter of time when he reaches the 100 centuries mark.
The second test match between India and West Indies has just started in Eden Gardens at Kolkata. India are batting. Sachin has come out to bat but I hope our focus remains on India's performance. Just let the Master Blaster be!
We love hating team India, don’t we?
It is indeed disappointing to see Team India losing the first two matches in the ongoing test series against England. Given the form of the team in recent times, this came as a real surprise. But what surprised me more is the reaction of these so-called cricket fans and ex-cricketers who have suddenly forgotten the team’s great achievements in recent times and are going all out cursing them.
It is very difficult to understand that those who speak like gyaanis of cricket can’t understand a simple thing that defeat is also a part of the game. The Australians ruled the first two forms of cricket for over a decade but had to return without reaching the semi-finals in the 2011 World Cup. But look how sportingly the people of Australia have reacted to the defeat. Sorry to say, Indians can’t do this!
Just four months ago, every cricket fan and even non-cricket fan was literally worshipping the Indian team after they won the World Cup 2011. There were mad celebrations all over the country. I still remember scenes where some were even bowing down in front of the photographs of the team as if they were Gods.
But just one series defeat and we turn a blind eye to all the feats achieved in recent months or years. One series defeat is enough to bring a major change in our outlook towards the team. Those who proudly called themselves fans four months ago are criticizing Dhoni’s men like anything and even making fun of them.
My only question is – why can’t we be with the team even during defeats? I don’t think you call yourself a ‘supporter’ of the team if you can’t show support when it is needed the maximum, which is during defeats. That’s the major difference between a ‘fan’ and a ‘supporter’. I proudly call myself the latter.
I supported the team during their shocking exit from the 2007 World Cup although many laughed at me. I did the same to them when just few months later we won the T20 World Cup.
I am doing the same thing again as I am sure they will bounce back!
Happy Birthday Sachin. A Poem For You!
Over the years, Sachin Tendulkar's huge number of fans, including me, have expressed their respect and gratitude towards him in every special manner on April 24 each year. Hence, I ran out of ideas to express my respect for him on his birthday. So, I decided to pen a poem for the God of cricket.
In the poem I have stated how fortunate we are to grow up along with Sachin's career. Here it goes:
Unki Karamaton Ne Kiya Jawan
Jab se paon sambhale humne zameen par,
Unhone paon jamaye khel ke maidan par,
Chalne lage hum duniya samajne,
Ve chalne lage apni takdeer banane,
Hue bade to museebaten badhi,
Unhe bhi tikaon ki badhaen nadi,
Bhagwan dilate humen museebaton se chhutkara,
Unhone tikaon ko balle se de mara
Apekshaon ke boj se jab hum thak jate,
Un par ladi sau karod apekshaon ko dekhte,
Ve jab dete apekshaon ko hathiyar mein badal,
Prerna lekar hum karte us par amal
Hue hum jawan unki jeevika ke samantar,
Rahega is baat ka garv humen jeevanbhar,
Usi garv se dete hai aapko varshganth pe salam,
Vishvabhar mein ooncha rahen sadaiva aapka naam
An Open Letter To Shahid Afridi
(Not dear anymore) Shahid Afridi,
Your anti-India statements have triggered uproar in India against you. Although I am also angry with you, I also found your comments funny. Funny because it came from someone like you who has never been a wholehearted human being. Your antics on the field are a proof of it.
You have immense batting talent. Your world record of fastest century in one-day internationals is a proof of it. However, you got badly carried away by the success and started believing you can hit every ball for a six. This started your downfall as you started gaining more interest in hitting sixes, in your personal strike rate rather than your team’s victory. If you were really a wholehearted person, you would have batted according to the need of your team instead of just going out there with the only mission to hit sixes and in the process making a fool of your batting talent. In 90% of your innings, you have just needlessly thrown away your wicket. With the bat, you average just in the early 20s.
Over the years, as a bowler, you have started having an illusion that it is absolutely impossible for a batsman to hit you for a four or a six. Whenever a batsman does that, you react in a manner as if the batsman robbed your house. People around the world have witnessed you abusing batsmen after they hit you around the park. If you were truly wholehearted, you would have got the batsman out using your bowling skills rather than getting furious on the batsman and being a spoilsport.
Not just that, you always come up with all kinds of unsporting methods like excessive appealing to disturb the rhythm of the batsmen. And who can forget your worldly infamous ball chewing incident? (Still talking about wholeheartedness, Shahid?)
After your team’s sad exit from the world cup (when they lost to India in the semi-final), you were seen with a broad grin on your face during the post match presentation. In fact, your smile was wider than the winning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This speaks volumes about your wholeheartedness as it shows that such an important loss doesn’t mean anything to you.
Time and again, whenever anyone receives a backslash from the world, he or she blames it on the media. You did the same thing after receiving criticisms from Indians and even Pakistani ex-players. Hence, you have made a bigger fool of yourself by making a U-turn for your comments.
I have some very good friends in Pakistan. By interacting with them, it is evident that the common man from your country has high respect for Indians. I advice to get some piece of mind from your countrymen. The above mentioned point openly proves your wholeheartedness. Hence, you, a ball chewer, are not at all eligible to comment on Indians.
Are Indian cricket fans, experts Amnesic?
India’s performance in Australia in the ongoing Agneepath series has indeed been hugely disappointing. However, I am pained to see the way Indian cricket fans and so-called cricket experts are reacting.
Just over nine months back on the night of April 2, the whole of India literally worshipped Team India after they lifted the World Cup 2011. Just two bad series (in England and Australia) and the same people are reacting as if Team India is worse than minnows. What right do you have to call yourself an Indian supporter if you can’t support your team when it requires the most? After all, support is needed the most when a person or a thing is struggling. The difference between an Indian supporter and an Indian fan (who just likes to see the team winning) is proved once again!
It is even more disheartening to see the way the most experienced players – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman – are been forced to retire! How right is it to humiliate them in this manner for their age old services for the team? The fact that some of the ex-players are involved in these forceful tactics is even more shocking considering their knowledge and experience.
Tendulkar’s contribution to Indian cricket is known far and wide. He has been consistently scoring runs. His fitness level is clearly visible. So, if he wants to continue playing, what is wrong in it? For your kind information, he is India’s leading run scorer even in the current series!
In my personal opinion, it is Virendra Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir who are more responsible as they have failed to build a platform as openers. Especially in the case of Sehwag, he has been in terrible form but we are just busy pointing fingers at the ‘big three’.
Before this series, all types of cool adjectives were used for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his captaincy, especially after winning the World Cup. There have also been debates going on whether he is the best Indian captain ever. It is a mixture of shame and amnesia that after just two bad series, even he has been indirectly forced to step down as captain!
Apart from their performance, team India has also been demoralized by the reactions and forceful tactics of the public and ex-players before the start of the fourth test match at Adelaide.
P.S: - People laughed at me when I continued to support India despite their shameful exit from the 2007 World Cup. I laughed back at them in the same year when we won the T20 World Cup and other series which followed after that. I am quite sure I will get a chance to laugh once again!