Why it doesn’t make sense to blame ICC for the World Cup schedule?

June 16, 2019 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

The ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 has turned out to be disappointment because of few matches getting abandoned regularly due to non-stop rains in few venues. Indian fans are disappointed the most after their match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge was washed out completely.

What’s worse is that things are not looking good for the big India v/s Pakistan World Cup match tomorrow (16 June 2019) at Old Trafford, Manchester. It is raining there right now and the forecast is showing a good chance of rain over there tomorrow as well.

In today’s times, it is possible to know the weather forecast months in advance. So, the least the ICC [International Cricket Council] could have done is kept one reserve day for each match so that there is at least some chance of saving a game.

Another unpleasant surprise has been the facilities to dry a ground in a developed country like England. As is visible in all rain-affected matches, the stadiums don’t have enough covers to cover the whole ground. For example, the India v/s New Zealand match was called off only because of the wet outfield. If they can cover the entire huge area of the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, why not in England?

This might be challenging but they could have also shifted the matches from venues where heavy rainfall was expected. Changing venues few weeks before shouldn’t be impossible.

Cricket fans on social media have been constantly criticizing the ICC for the same reasons. Their frustration is justified.

However, what I find weird is few accusations levelled against the ICC, which lack common sense. People are criticizing them for organizing this tournament in the ‘rainy season’ and, more astonishingly, during the monsoon!

Also read: Finally, a chance to revisit Kapil Dev’s 175, which hardly anybody has seen

Funnily, there is no rainy season or monsoon in England like it is in India. It can rain during any time of the year. More importantly, it is summer in England right now, which is the cricket season. It is from May to September that all cricket tournaments, domestic and international, are been held since time immemorial.

Shockingly, this is coming even from people who have been watching matches in England [from their homes] since years.

By: Keyur Seta

Yuvraj Singh’s 3 heroic TEST innings that have been forgotten: See videos

June 10, 2019 by Keyur Seta 2 Comments

Cricket fans across India are saddened by the news of India’s cricketer Yuvraj Singh announcing his retirement from all formats of the game. The thought brings back a number of achievements by the stylish left-hander for team India over the years.

It all started on his debut itself when he scored an incredible 84 runs against Australia in the 2001 Champions Trophy. This was just the beginning as Yuvraj went onto help India win a number of matches.

Some of his other achievements include his famous six sixes in Stuart Broad’s over against England in the T20 World Cup in 2007. His attack on the Australian bowlers in the semi-finals of the same series when he smashed 70 off just 30 balls is also one of his most memorable innings. Also none can forget his match winning innings in the historic 2002 Natwest Series final.

Yuvraj’s biggest achievement came in the 2011 World Cup in which he was adjudged the Man of the Series not just for his batting but also his bowling. It was one of the best all-around performances in World Cup history.

While he achieved a lot in the limited overs formats, it would be unfair to forget few of his innings in test matches. Of course, Yuvraj’s test career didn’t last long but it includes three important knocks. One might feel that just three innings don’t count much but they are nothing short of heroic. Hence, it will be interesting to look back at them.

112 v/s Pakistan in the 2^nd test – 2004

Yuvraj came into bat when India were in trouble at 94 for 4. The left hander steadied the ship and helped his team reach a respectable 287 runs. His 112 came only in 129 balls with 15 fours and 2 sixes. Without him, India would have struggled to post even a decent total as none of the star players like Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virendra Sehwag and VVS Laxman reached even 40.

169 v/s Pakistan in the 3^rd test – 2007

Yuvraj once again rescued India after they were reduced to 61 for 4 in the first innings while batting first. He smashed the Pakistani bowlers all around the park in his glorious innings of 169, which is also his highest test score. Perhaps his display got overshadowed by Saurav Ganguly’s brilliant 239 at the other end. The two put on a humongous partnership of exactly 300 runs.

Unfortunately, there is no video available of that knock except the one of Ganguly’s innings. I do remember a powerful pull shot Yuvraj played in the bowling of Mohammad Sami.

85* v/s England in the 1^st test – 2008

India achieved a mammoth feat of chasing down as many as 387 in the fourth innings of the test, which doesn’t happen often. Sachin Tendulkar was the hero who scored an unbeaten 103. But strangely, Yuvraj’s contribution in the victory has been forgotten. He played a crucial innings at the other end and made a match-winning 85 unbeaten. His innings was quick yet risk free.

I personally feel Yuvraj had it in him to be a good option in test cricket as well and he should have been given more chances.

By: Keyur Seta

Play Review: Ashrunchi Zali Phule

June 9, 2019 by Keyur Seta 4 Comments

Ashrunchi Zali Phule is an iconic Marathi play written by the late Vasant Kanetkar in 1966. It was performed for the first time by Chittaranjan Kolhatkar, Prabhakar Panshikar and, Marathi theatre’s first superstar, Kashinath Ghanekar.

The play has been staged by various teams of actors over the decades. Currently, it is been performed by Shailesh Datar, Seema Deshmukh, Umesh Jagtap and Subodh Bhave, who plays the character of Lalya originally essayed by Ghanekar. Bhave had performed Lalya in few scenes in Ghanekar’s biopic Ani… Dr Kashinath Ghanekar last year.

Produced by Colours Marathi, Anamika Kanha’s Magic and Saisakshi, the play is directed by Pratima Kulkarni.

Ashrunchi Zali Phule is the story of an honest and upright college principal Vidyanand [Datar]. He comes across Lalya [Bhave], a ruffian student from his college. After initial conflict, Vidyanand manages to reform Lalya. The young man then goes on a journey to fulfil his dream of becoming a police officer.

Meanwhile, Vidyanand’s relation with his wicked college trustee Dharmappa worsens. He gets framed in a financial crime he didn’t commit and is forced to undergo jail sentence. After he returns from prison, he decides to take revenge from Dharmappa but in the process becomes a gangster himself.

I have neither seen any of the previous versions of the play nor read the original. This review only focuses on this particular performance.

For the uninitiated, Ashrunchi Zali Phule initially might appear like a story of how a spoilt youngster gets reformed. But the story goes much further and gets on an interesting mode on what happens after the tables are turned for Vidyanand and Lalya. The high octane confrontational scene between both of them in the end is the high point of the play.

The makers have fairly succeeded in recreating the bygone era. The play boasts of some convincing set designing. To use some simple lighting to give the feeling of an airport in one scene was remarkable.

Ashrunchi Zali Phule has its share of minuses as well. The transformation of Vidyanand isn’t well established. It happens all of a sudden, which makes it difficult to believe. There are two of three sequences featuring Vidyanand which are dragged on even after their purpose is fulfilled. [Maybe this was fine for the era in which it was initially staged]

A major plus point here is, obviously, Subodh Bhave’s act as Lalya. Initially, it is difficult to accept him as a college student but his performance makes up for it to a good extent. His transformation as a cop and his act in the last scene makes you somewhat forget the aforementioned minuses.

Shailesh Datar also goes about his transformation successfully. The play is also well supported by Umesh Jagtap, Seema Deshmukh and others.

Overall, it is a treat to experience the applause and whistles for people of today’s era. It gives some idea of the olden days of Marathi theatre.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

By: Keyur Seta

Poem: Loktantra Ke Mandir Mein

May 27, 2019 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Loktantra ke mandir mein
Ab har kisi ki puja hogi

Jo sarahte hain aantakiyon ko
Unke liye bhi ab jagah hogi

Jahan chalte the Gandhi ke vichaar
Wahan Godse bhakton ki jamaat hogi

Loktantra ko bachaye rakhne mein
Hum jaison ki kadi pariksha hogi

Par kalyug ke Mahabharat mein bhi
Dharam ki jeet nishchit hogi

Nidar ho satya par date rehne se hi
Is mandir ki adharm se mukti hogi

By: Keyur Seta

Also read: Poem: Sharabi Ko Badnaam Karne Walon

83 film to revisit Kapil Dev’s 175, which is hardly seen

May 26, 2019 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev served team India for 16 years. The biggest moment of his career was winning the 1983 World Cup for India. Before the start of the tournament in England, very few would have counted India as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

But even if they did, hardly anyone would have betted on them after they were dismissed for a mere 183 in the final at Lords against the deadly West Indies. The opponents had won both the World Cups before this one and this looked like a cake walk. But the result ensured jubilation among Indians and shock among the West Indians [that rhymed!] as the latter were bowled out for just 140.

Dev’s second biggest achievement ever, at least in my personal opinion, came in the same series against Zimbabwe, a team that was making its first international appearance. Those growing up in the 1990s would remember Zimbabweans giving a tough time to the Indians on numerous occasions.

Not many would know that Zimbabwe marked their entry into international cricket in an astounding fashion in the 1983 World Cup. The team went onto beat the strong Australian side in their first match of the WC [which was also their first international match ever] by 13 runs. Duncan Fletcher gave an all-round performance of 69 not out with the bat and 4 for 42 with the ball.

Kapil Dev 175 — Kapil Dev during his innings of 175 not out against Zimbabwe. [Photo: Cricketaddictor.com]

Although they lost their next three matches, one couldn’t take them lightly after their debut match.

India had beaten Zimbabwe by five wickets earlier in the series [every team played two matches against all teams in the league round], so they had the upper hand before the start of their second match against them at Turnbridge Wells. However, the start they had after choosing to bat was more than horrible.

After being 17 for 5, India was later reduced to 78 for 7. It looked like they might go down in the dumps but Dev had other plans. He came in when they was reeling at 9 for 4. He took full charge of the situation and not only rescued the team but also went onto score the highest ever ODI score then of 175 not out with 16 fours and 6 sixes.

India finished with 266 for 8, a score that never looked possible in any way before. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 235.

This is easily one of the most memorable matches for India even today. However, what is truly unfortunate is that the match was not telecast as the broadcasters were on strike that day. This means that it wasn’t recorded ever to revisit later! All we have is few pictures of Dev playing some big shots. Sad indeed!

But there is some glimmer of hope of watching at least the dramatized version of the match in the upcoming Hindi movie ’83. Directed by Kabir Khan, the film will feature India’s journey to the 1983 World Cup victory.

The victory against Zimbabwe is an important part of the series for India, so it has to be there in the film. Dev, whose character will be essayed by Ranveer Singh, has been roped in by the makers as an advisor for the film. I am sure he remembers the match, including his innings, well and will help in recreating it.

Also read: He was selected for 1983 WC, but had to wait till ‘99 to play for India

What makes us more hopeful is that the makers recently revealed that they will be shooting at Turnbridge Wells, the venue where India played Zimbabwe.

By: Keyur Seta

He was selected for ‘83 World Cup, but could play in ‘99

May 20, 2019 by Keyur Seta 14 Comments

India’s win at the 1983 cricket World Cup was the first occasion when an underdog team achieved glory in the tournement. Led by Kapil Dev, very few would have predicted them to be the winners on the final day at the historic Lords cricket stadium.

But there is an unusual story associated with India’s road to the 1983 World Cup. Out of the squad of the 14 players, was the Andhra Pradesh born cricketer, Sunil Valson.

Valson was a 24-year-old young left handed medium fast bowler when he got selected in the team India squad. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t get a chance to play a single match in the entire world cup.

This isn’t unusual as it has happened with a lot of teams over the years. One of the most amusing stories is that of Ajit Agarkar and Parthiv Patel who didn’t play a single match in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa but were still given apartments at Lonavala’s luxurious Ambey Valley for being a part of the squad that reached the finals.

But sadly for Valson he never got a chance to represent India at the international level.

At the domestic level, he played for the teams Delhi and Railways. In a total of 75 matches, he took 212 wickets at an average of 25.35 with six 5-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul in a match. But this clearly wasn’t enough for the selectors.

Just a day ago, Valson spoke to the PTI [Press Trust of India] when he was asked if he feels hurt for not getting a chance to play in the 1983 WC. He said, “Absolutely not. It didn’t hurt then when I was a youngster and it doesn’t hurt now that I am almost a senior citizen. There are 14 guys who won that World Cup and I was among the 14. No one can take that away from me.”

He also threw light on a lesser-known possibility of him almost getting a chance to play in the eleven against West Indies in the league match, which India won by 66 runs. India’s fast bowler Roger Binny had some injury.

If Binny had failed the fitness test, Valson would have got a chance to play. “The way he ran [at the fitness test], I knew I won’t play. Roger was in great form and it was only fair that Kapil, Roger and Madan played all games,” he added.

But, but 16 years later Valson finally got a chance to wear the India jersey about which hardly anyone knows or, maybe, the incident hasn’t been considered important over the years.

Before the Indian team of 1999 was about to leave for the World Cup in England, a friendly match between team India of ’83 v/s team India of ’99 was played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

And as luck would have it, not everyone from the ’83 team was fit to play the game 16 years later. Hence, Valson got a chance to enter the playing eleven with his 1983 team mates while wearing the blue Indian jersey.

Weirdly enough, there is hardly any info on the match on the internet, except THIS article. Obviously, the ’99 team won the match easily [Imagine the uproar if they would have lost!]. I vaguely remember Valson bowling in the match with a lot of enthusiasm. And why not?

That was the first and the last time he played for India.

Interestingly, the character of Valson will be played by the south Indian actor R Badree in Kabir Khan’s upcoming movie titled ’83. The film is based on India’s 1983 World Cup triumph where Ranveer Singh will be playing the character of Dev. [Read more HERE]

Valson is currently 60 and was the coach of Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded IPL [Indian Premier League].

By: Keyur Seta

Poem – Sharabi ko badnaam karne walon…

May 5, 2019 by Keyur Seta 3 Comments

Sharabi ko badnaam karne walon
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Satta ke bhookhe darinde satya ka galaa ghotne mein hain
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Unki puja mein magna janta apno se nata todne mein hain
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Patrakarita ka yogdaan ab asatya ke hawan-kund mein hai
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Dharam ke naam par aatank failakar kehte hain dharam khatre mein hain
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Sainiko ki veerta par apni mohar lagane ki aadat aaj badi zor mein hain
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Jhoot ke vigyapan nirantar doharakar ab satya keval shabdakosh mein hain
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

Sharabi ko badnaam karne walon
Batao kaun yahan hosh mein hain

– Keyur Seta

Will Raj Thackeray’s fierce attack on Modi have any effect on the Lok Sabha elections?

April 7, 2019 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

There was keen anticipation and excitement for Raj Thackeray’s Gudi Padawa speech last evening at the historic Shivaji Park maidan. Going by his recent, well-thought attacks on the Modi led BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] government and his promise of delivering something big on the Gudi Padawa speech raised hopes of this being his fiercest attack on the current regime.

Raj Thackeray lived up to the expectations and carried out, what can be described as, by far the most stupendous attack on the Modi government ever. In his recent speeches against the regime, he has been resorting to slamming the government on specific and logical points instead of purely ranting. As expected, this was the case yesterday as well.

He slammed the centre on demonetization and its after effects, GST [Goods and Services Tax], clean Ganga drive, curtailment of freedom of expression and press, labelling people who share a different political view as ‘anti-nationals’ and various other issues. Like his last speech at Rangasharda auditorium, he used screens or monitors to show previous speeches of Modi to make his point clearer.

But there were two things that came unexpected. While slamming the Right Wing and BJP for lynching people on mere suspicion of carrying beef and supporting beef ban, Raj Thackeray unearthed an old video of Modi where he has clearly supported selling of beef and revealed that some of his Jain friends are also in the beef business. Now, even the media and the anti Modi pages on social media haven’t been able to get hold of this video.

Similarly, Raj Thackeray brought to the notice the alleged scam of Mudra Loan scheme where people applying for loans under the scheme are required to pay Rs1000 odd to a private firm. This issue is also not explored by the mainstream media or social media.

Overall, he urged people to vote out the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls so that Modi and Shah have no role to play at the centre. He made it clear that even if his appeal makes Congress-NCP [Nationalist Congress Party] victorious, so be it.

Watch Raj Thackeray’s speech

However, the major question here is whether Raj Thackeray’s numerous ferocious attacks on BJP and the appeal to vote them out will have any effect on the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections.

The chances are bleak at least in my opinion due to the following reasons:

1. Raj Thackeray’s MNS is a regional party based in Maharashtra. So, obviously, his supporters and fans are present only in the state.

2. His appeal is for the entire nation but his speeches are in Marathi, a language that is not understood outside Maharashtra. Hence, the national Hindi and English channels hardly give any coverage to his rallies.

There’s a big example of how a strong and controversial statement given in the regional language last year could hardly get viral in the entire country. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Nana Patekar’s Marathi talk show as to how they made false promises to the voters in Maharashtra because they never expected to win the elections.

Now, this is a shockingly honest confession by a sitting union minister. However, as it was in Marathi, it didn’t get viral in the entire country.

3. A good amount of the local Marathi speaking population are supporters of Shiv Sena, the party which Raj Thackeray left in 2006. Shiv Sena, despite their severe attacks on BJP, have still aligned with the BJP. Hence, voting Shiv Sena will mean voting for Modi.

4. Raj Thackeray may have softened his stand on migrants from Uttar Pradesh [UP] and Bihar in Maharashtra but his anti-north India image is still strong. People likely to vote for BJP are from the Hindi belt from where Thackeray’s past is still not wiped out.

5. Lastly, Raj Thackeray said that choosing Rahul Gandhi over Modi can be tried. However, going by people’s views, very few are ready to accept Rahul over Modi, including the haters of the latter.

Raj Thackeray will be taking around 10 more rallies running up to the Lok Sabha elections. Let’s wait and watch whether his appeal widens in the coming days.

By: Keyur Seta

Short story: The mysterious watchman aka Chowkidar

March 24, 2019 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

The Secretary, Chairman and few committee members of the Bharat Housing Society were sitting in front of the desk inside their club house. They had an important task at hand today – to interview a candidate for the post of their security guard or, as some people prefer to address, watchman for their society.

Their need was urgent. The previous security guard had turned out to be a failure. There wasn’t a flaw as far as competency in his job was concerned. He had an impeccable reputation when he had joined.

His downfall came about when once, in broad daylight, few thieves entered an apartment in Bharat Society and robbed goods worth lakhs from an apartment. The guard couldn’t catch them. It was later found through the CCTV footage that it was he who let them escape. Needless to say, he got his cut for it.

He was, obviously, sacked and a hunt for a new security guard commenced. They finally found a candidate worthy enough in the form of Joginder Sodhi who was sitting opposite the Secretary and others right now.

Sodhi previously worked as a guard at a small bungalow in their town. His boss left the town after he was transferred by his company to another place. He gave a very positive feedback about Sodhi. He was all praise for his work ethics, ability and monumental dedication.

The team of the society was impressed after speaking to him at length. He also had a strong as well as a pleasing personality and immense confidence.

But they were also surprised to see how Sodhi keeps harping about his work and ability as a chowkidar. That’s what he loved to call himself. He also promised that no theft will take place during his tenure and he will turn out to be much better than the previous chowkidar.

Sodhi was selected without much delay. He was happy and why not? He had graduated to being a chowkidar of a small bungalow to a reputed housing society like Bharat.

After a few days in the job, Sodhi was once seen speaking animatedly with three men who stayed on the third floor – Saurav, Mohit and Sujay. They were businessmen who stayed on rent. They ran a textile business. Other than this, not much was known about them. The Secretary didn’t like the new chowkidar mingling with the trio. He somehow found them shady ever since they arrived there to stay few weeks ago.

The next morning at 6 am the Secretary, while coming down the stairs for his early morning walk, saw the door of the apartment of the Sharmas, on fourth floor, open. It struck him only after few seconds that Sharmas are out on a vacation. So how come their door was open?

As he entered the house he was shocked to see their cupboard open and a lot of valuables stolen. He ran down and saw that the apartment of the three businessmen Saurav, Mohit and Sujay locked. They were too lazy to wake up before 9 am. Where have they left so early?

The Secretary went to Sodhi’s chamber in a hurry but to his shock he was missing too. He instantly recalled how Sodhi had become friends with the businessmen trio. Another theft and another chowkidar turned out to be a thief.

Dejected, the Secretary called the chairman and they both decided to head to the police station. As they just stepped out of their compound they saw Saurav, Mohit and Sujay being dragged by a man. The man was none other than Sodhi.

Sodhi narrated how he went after the trio after he found their behaviour fishy. He caught them red handed, roughed them up singlehandedly and brought them to the society to let the secretary and others handle. Sodhi had proven himself. He became a hero among the entire society.

Some chowkidars do stay true to their word. If you felt the story would end in another fashion, you know whom to blame for it.

By: Keyur Seta

Also read: Short story: The Release of my first feature film

Badla Review

March 9, 2019 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

In my review of Kahaani (2012), (read it HERE) I had said that there is a dearth of high quality, edge-of-the-seat mystery thrillers in mainstream Hindi cinema and the Vidya Balan starrer filled the void. The next thriller I loved after that film to that extent is Badla. It took seven long years!

Interestingly, both are directed by Sujoy Ghosh and released on the same date: 9 March.

Badla is the official remake of the Spanish movie The Invisible Guest (2016). The story revolves around Naina Sethi (Taapsee Pannu). She is a business tycoon staying in London with her husband and daughter. She is accused of killing Arjun (Tony Luke), with whom she had had an extra-marital affair, in a hotel room far away from London.

Naina’s lawyer sends senior advocate Badal Gupta (Amitabh Bachchan) to fight her case. She pleads innocent. According to her, a blackmailer had demanded a large amount of money from her and called her and Arjun to the hotel. But someone killed Arjun and knocked her unconscious. Gupta wonders if he should believe Naina’s version.

The film takes place inside a house in the form of the meeting between Naina and Gupta in a span of three hours. The story keeps going in flashback. The most important ingredient in a mystery thriller is to keep the audience glued. Badla does that exceedingly well. The makers have given the screenplay credit to the writer of the original film Oriol Paulo.

The film also scores high in the dialogues, characterization and the technical aspects.

In addition you are kept guessing continuously. We are given a couple of hints in between about the main mystery, but not enough to become a spoiler. Such thrillers tend to become lukewarm in the second half. It doesn’t quite happen here, although the length could have been reduced slightly post-interval.

The revelation of the main mystery in the end does give you a jolt even if you have almost guessed it. The problem is that it appears a bit far-fetched which might not go with a section of the audience. It worked for me though.

The performances are first rate. Taapsee Pannu has added another feather in her cap after this act. She succeeds in the difficult task of keeping you guessing about her intentions. Amitabh Bachchan also lives up to his image and switches between being intense and funny with remarkable ease.

Taapsee and Bachchan share an impressive chemistry of a different kind. The mind games played by the two keeps you hooked and, at times, in splits.

Despite the presence of the two main characters, Amrita Singh comes out as a winner all the way. Debutant Tony Luke appears at ease despite being around experienced actors. He is a talent to watch out for. Manav Kaul gets noticed despite limited screen time.

Overall: Badla succeeds in satisfying the thriller lover in you. The film has taken a decent opening at the box office. It stands a good chance of earning respectable collections over the days.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review by: Keyur Seta

Director: Sujoy Ghosh

Producers: Red Chillies Entertainment and Azure Entertainment

Writers: Oriol Paulo, Sujoy Ghosh and Raj Vasant

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke

Genre: Mystery thriller

Runtime: 120 minutes