Not Dead, just a Slumber!!

                         

   An International ODI at the iconic Eden Gardens should be a big event. But with less than 10% tickets sold till 15 minutes before the match meant that the public felt otherwise. The just concluded home series against England has helped ease the pain of the horrendous tour of England, but it has raised serious question marks about the popularity of the game in India. Throughout the series, we have witnessed two things consistently, India’s dominance at home, and the public’s lack of interest in this dominance. What could have lead to this lack of interest in the cricket fanatic public of our nation?

   The BCCI could be given some leeway that it was hampered by the absence of the superstars of Indian cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan. There is no secret in the fact that the Little Master still has the ability to attract crowds by his mere presence. But a lot of question marks can be raised about the lack of logic and planning by the BCCI with the scheduling of this series.

   India had just returned from a lengthy tour of England, and then facing the same team again on your home soil does not make much sense. The same sets of players have now been competing against each other for almost 3 months. Also the venues for the ODIs were also venues for the IPL earlier in the year. With the ridiculous champion’s league and the tremendously successful World Cup also staging matches at these venues, the stadium going public would have been saturated. If the series was to be conducted, it would have made much more sense to host them at smaller towns. The BCCI’s rigid policy of selecting venues in a round robin manner needs a change. Assuming that the ICC is indeed responsible for the future tour’s programme, surely the governing body could be more sensible in scheduling International tours.

     While this series has highlighted the issue of diminishing interest, this is not completely out of the blue. For some years now the Indian public has shown a complete lack of interest for the domestic cricket. Thus a consistent performer making his debut in International cricket is welcomed with reactions of ‘Yeh Kaun Hai Bhai?’. Ask a common man to differentiate between Ranji, Duleep and Irani Trophy and he would simply say, ‘I don’t Care’. The reason for this is simple, the BCCI itself doesn’t care. Live telecast of Australian and English domestic cricket on Indian television is a big eye-opener. Apart from the fact that their domestic matches are telecast in another country, the huge crowds in the stadiums tell us that cricket after all is not that boring a game. The BCCI might be minting money from the IPL and the Champion’s League (hard to believe I know), but International cricketers are not born in 3 hours of mayhem, they are produced by the grinds of tough first class cricket.

    The BCCI could start off with reviving the domestic cricket scene in India. As a very first step, the quality of pitches could be looked at. Sporty wickets which give equal opportunity to both bat and ball and produce results will generate good cricket. Currently in Ranji cricket, we see sides winning based on first innings lead because 4 days are just not enough to produce 40 wickets. With the huge number of teams, the quality of cricket is not at its best. A league based approach with 10 teams in each league would ensure teams competing at the same level and the battle to avoid relegation adding a new dimension. Also a small percentage of the energy used in the T20 marketing blitzkrieg, if invested towards the less appealing but much more important version of domestic cricket, will generate some much needed interest.

    Cricket needs its fans as much as they need it. Having said that, the game of cricket will probably never die in this country, but as with most things in life, taking anything for granted can be dangerous. Small measures would ensure the crowds come back to the stadiums in huge numbers and again be the 12^th man they can be. The gentleman’s game is not yet dead, it’s just entered a slumber and we need to awaken it from it!!

Die hard Indian, will not let the game die!!
Sanjay

Game of Life!!

              Cricket is my passion. Playing and watching cricket, as well as reading and writing on it gives me a high. Cricket is my life. But then is my life cricket? Being a huge cricket fanatic, I could not help but notice the similarities between my life’s journeys so far and the batting innings of a 50 over ODI match. Yes like most Indians, even here I prefer batting over bowling.
              The beginning 20 years of my life( most of which unfortunately were spent surrounded by books) seem very similar to the initial 10 overs of the mandatory powerplay. Just as initially a batsman can take his time to settle into the innings, I took my own time realising how good academics are essential for a better life ahead. You feel you are doing good, but then you look at the scoreboard(Happy Realization it screams). The poor runrate hurts you. You also know this being the powerplay you need to take charge of the proceedings. Risks need to be taken. You feel the pressure. Yup, even I felt I was doing good, but only till my  SSC results were out(Here my parents, Ruia and Ruparel College screamed, Happy Realization) . My results hurt me. But then I knew, if I concentrate hard for the next few years( atleast that's what I thought and said then) things would be back on track. Engineering gives you plenty of risk taking opputunities(or should I say, we made them risky), and I can vouch for that fact since I touched scores of 7 out of the 10 mathematically possible 40's.
             When the batting powerplay is done away with, the batsman feels its time to cut down on the risks, go steady. He starts accumalating runs for a good total in the end. At the same time, the bowling captain takes this oppurtunity to get through his overs quickly, ensuring that the run rate is under check. More often than not, both get what they desire and the game moves at a dull pace. My life seems to have entered a similar phase(it has to, otherwise this post would be incomplete). Post graduation, happy with my job, life seems good the way it is. The pressure of exams is no longer there, the need to take risks minimal. On the other hand, even life seems content in dishing out the same boredum week in, week out.
            But then, not all batsmen like the slow boring middle overs. With the option of the batting powerplay in hand, there is always that temptation to take it early. Risks are involved no doubt, but if things work out, it ensures a better end to the innings. Sometimes the bowling captain could enforce the bowling powerplay, thus forcing the batsmen to take risks, hoping to get wickets in return. I get the feeling that now even am not liking these slow middle overs of my life. The urge to take a risk is greater than ever before. The question that I need to answer is, should I take my Life's Batting Powerplay, or wait for life to enforce its Bowling Powerplay on my Life?

Vande Mataram!!!

          The census results on thursday pegged India's population at 1.21 billion. On Saturday night, each of those 1.21 billion Indians witnessed the moment of their lifetimes. 11 Indians, filled with passion, wearing their heart on their sleeves, overcame a very formidable opposition to win the World Cup.
          The emotion displayed by the team after the match showed how much it meant to them. The frenzy celebrations in the middle of the night showed how much it meant to the entire nation. A moist eyed Yuvraj Singh hugged his skipper MS Dhoni post the winning blow. Moist eyed Indians hugged each other wherever they were, they hugged strangers, they hugged Indians.
          The victory becomes even more special as a certain Indian was attempting glory at IT for the sixth time, on most of those previous 5 occasions fighting a lone battle. This time he had a team of supreme class to fight alongwith him, a team that wanted to win the Cup for him. Sachin Tendulkar had to wait for 21 years to experiece the proudest moment of his life, but even he would admit, It's Worth It!!!
          The moment of the winning six will give goosebumps for days to come, the memory of the Indian team lifting the trophy will get us high on emotions for months to come, this victory will remain with us for years to come. I proud to be an INDIAN!!!

Vande Mataram!!!!

Khushi Ke Aasun :)

         50 years down the line, when my grandchilren would be sitting on my lap, eager to listen to my stories, the day of the India vs Pakistan encounter would be my most repeated memory. In a day filled with passion, tension and innumerable mood swings, I finally realised what it means when people say 'Khushi Ke Aasun'.
         You knew the Indian team was up for the challenge when you consider some of efforts it put in. Sachin Tendulkar displayed tremendous grit while contructing one of his ugliest knocks, a knock in which he was lucky on no more than 6 occasions. What Tendulkar's knock also did was ensured that post his successful review of a LBW verdict against him, Indians who so far did not accept the UDRS are now in love with it. The ever casual Munaf Patel displayed his rare aggresive side on the field. The selection of Nehra in the 11 was criticised by all. However the same Nehra who could not bowl a yorker against South Africa, bowled with trememdous discipline and accuracy and was the best Indian bowler on display. Infact this Indian team does not wilt under pressure but thrives on it, never surrenders when faced with challenges but overcomes then with their hunger and detemination, and the semi-final was a prime example of it.
             One aspect of the game of this Indian team that needs special mentioning is the fielding. The standard of ground fielding has gone up several notches courtesy the youthful energy Raina and Kohli bring to the plate. No catch is an easy catch in a high pressure game, and the Indians have done very well to keep the buttery fingers at bay. Munaf Patel has found a spring in his step in the knockout games and his speed behind and towards the ball is defying of his body structure. Yuvraj Singh is back fielding in the point region and the full length dives are back, not worrying about its effect on his body. Even the man who has spent 21 years in international cricket is seen giving it all, running behind the ball like a school kid. Like always even here Sachin defies his age. One man who goes unnoticed in this is MS Dhoni. MS Dhoni is consistently clean behind the stumps, and his ability to whip the bails out in a flash stands out. Also as a captain, he is always switched on, knowing which fielder to place where and when.
            Now with the Mohali frontier crossed, the moment everyone had been waiting for has arrived. For the man sitting on 99 hundreds, it could not have been scripted better. If given a choice Sachin Tendulkar would willingly exchange all his 99 hundreds for the World Cup title he so longs for. Even though he's the favourite son of every Indian, playing the final in Mumbai must be even more special for the Almighty. With Ashish Nehra injured, Ravichandra Ashwin looks certain to replace him. Ashwin adds a lot of variety to this Indian attack. He has a Doosra and a Carrom ball which complement his stock ball, the conventional off-break, very well. However the quality that stands out in him is his tremendous self-belief. For a spinner to willingly take the new ball, bowl in the batting powerplay and also when the slog is on in the death overs is no mean feat. MS Dhoni sure has his critics, but he should be given credit for having the biggest hand in the development of this man from Chennai.
           A victory on Saturday would propel the Indian Team to the top of the ICC ODI rankings and will put to rest all debate on whether this team is the best in the world. Every team plays to win, but this Indian team has that winning habit. Thriving in pressure situations, unwilling to accept defeat combined with each player's desire to contribute to the team cause has got them so far, and will help them overcome the formidable Lankans.
                                      "Ab Hawaon ka rukh tay karenge roshni ke Faisley,
                                       Jis Diye mein Jaan hogi woh diya rah Jayega"
         Come Saturday night, Hindustaan ke diye mein Jaan hogi. The wait till that moment is painful, but the anticipation of a positive result is also there. The nation waits for its Warriors to take the the field and do us proud. The nation waits for the dream to become reality. The nation waits to experience again, Khushi Ke Aasun :)
        
        

Let's Bleed Blue!!

          Manmohan Singh, Gilani, Sonia Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Ambani Brothers, Aamir Khan will be mere spectators in Mohali. It's the 11 Indians who take the field to represent our country who matter. In a match billed as the mother of all clashes, tipped to garner the highest viewership of all time, victory will be decided by nerves not skill, by temperament not talent and in the end the brave will taste success.
          The match has assumed added meaning in many eyes as this happens to be the Little Master's last attempt at World Cup glory,  and him being placed on 99 International hundreds. However the true team man that he is, all he would desire is a victory against the arch rivals, not any personal milestones.
         One man who seems determined to make it happen for his 'Paaji' is the man from Punjab-Yuvraj Singh. He is the very same Yuvi, whom critics wanted out of the Indian team, questions were raised about his fitness, his growing waistline attracted more media attention than his match-winning knocks ever did, and his advertisement for 'Revital' was spoofed to mock him. But such has been the Revival of this southpaw, that he's now being considered by the very same critics as the key to India's success. With 4 man of the match awards to his credit, he has been the Man of the Tournament thus far. Infact he has carried that confidence to his bowling which is clearly visible in his trademark swagger combined with a classical spinner's loop.
        Since the disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign, this Indian team has come a long way. The numero uno postion already in their grasp in the longer form of the game, their march to supremacy would be complete if they lift the cup at the Wankhede. For that to happen, the Gladiators in their Blue must play like there is no tomorrow against a team they have never lost a World Cup game to.
         The pulses are racing, the wait is painful now. This die hard Indian is already nervous, but also quietly confident of his nation's victory against it's neighbours.

Let's BLEED BLUE!!!!