A Phenomenon!!

                                  So Often, the fall of Indian Second Wicket was cheered across the nation. By its Billion Fans!! On that overcast day in Bangalore, South Africa's second wicket was cheered!! In anticipation, that is!! Cheers not for the bowler, nor for the Indian team!! But for this man, playing his 100th test!! He didn't walk out!! When he actually came on, He was cheered until he left on 85!!

                                   Kanpur chanted his name!! So did Indore!! This spectacle continued until the Wankhede!! Bengaluru is his second home!! Currently the most loved overseas player in India!! AB De Villiers!!

                                     He has had his heartbreaks, the WC Quarter Final 2011, or the WC Semi Final at Adelaide 2015. He has been a part of the 'Chokers'. He has choked, his team has, a lot of times. One of the most delightful to watch. He has played all sport, but cricket has endeared him the most. The Superman!! He can play shots all around. The scoop from outside off to fine leg. Or the deft reverse sweep against the turn! He seems to bat on a different pitch, even as there are ruins all around. On pitches, which are by no means, rank turners!! Against balls by no means turning viciously!! 

                                       Men all around, falling to demons in their heads, rather than on the tracks or the balls!! But this man reverse sweeps one turns into him!! As long as he was there, seven down South Africa, requiring over 10 an over, in Chennai had a chance!! Number one in ODIs as well as tests, He has mastered the art of batting!!

                                        By being at the highest level for so long, and by being very much adaptable to the match situation (as he showed in that 200+ ball 37 at Adelaide 2012), he has been there for his team whenever they needed him. His remarkable fitness levels, showed by the fact that he played his first 98 tests without missing one before he finally took paternity leave, and his athleticism on the field are unmatched in this generation. (Or may just be matched by few).

                                       He has not just been a player, but a phenomenon. A true phenomenon which has taken Cricket to a different level. It is a shame that his 100th test didn't last more than a day. "Superman AB", as his fans call him, has been a huge asset for the game. After nearly three months since my last article, it is AB who rekindled my interest in writing one. Let's pray good luck and good health for this phenomenon, and May AB keep entertaining us all!!

A man with a broken heart!!

The whole world puts out the bats. And this man reads a funeral speech. Days later with a broken heart, he scores a hundred. With a broken hand too. It’s at Brisbane and first game of a four game series. Fifth Day of the same test, An young man on captaincy debut stuns the world by his fearless approach but falls short. The Hundred with a broken heart results in an emotional win.

Broken hand doesn’t heal and another man on captaincy debut scores a hundred next game. He scores over seven hundred runs over four games that series including four hundreds. He made his captaincy debut because he was considered the man of the future ahead of an old vice captain who himself had recommended his name. The series is won but the form of the man with a broken heart and hand doesn’t get better just because he has a broken hand. Months later in a world cup game, his team plays a specialist captain because this man can’t make it. This specialist captain is dropped as his hand heals. Six weeks later at Melbourne, a campaign that stirred a nation meets a sad end. But this man’s broken heart is filled with joy as he holds aloft the World Cup at the iconic MCG.

But his heart is broken and the joy flows out. His form just doesn’t seem to get right. Then he sets off with his team to achieve something his team has failed for the past fifteen years. He loses his old warrior because his broken leg hasn’t healed in time and even if it heals it’s likely to break again. A match and a thrashing later, his deputy, also suffering from poor form leaves the side for personal reasons. His team levels the series with a crushing win but he is dropped from the third game for being a good father. Another thrashing and the opponents now need two draws or a win to extend the fifteen year wait.

A young Number 11 on debut makes 98 a couple of years ago at Trent Bridge. All that results in a thrilling defeat, despite a valiant fight from the vice captain. Neither that debutant nor that vice captain is here this time around. The captain is nervous for another defeat could spell doom. To his team, to him, to his teammates, to his selectors and to his pride. What follows is not just a defeat but a thrashing. Rolled over for 60 before lunch day one and lose by an innings in three days, or 7 sessions to be precise. The inevitable happens. His heart is broken or probably it never healed. His hand is likely to break again. All this is not well. His team is in dire straits. And he announces his retirement. He walks away with dignity and grace.

He walks into the sunset of his career. Burnt by the evening sun. His records during the afternoon sun wont be forgotten. He has carved a place for himself.

Eleven Years of excellence. A great career comes to a pathetic end.

The Fallen Empire!!

                        When the eldest of the five Pandava brothers Yudhishtir became the king of Indraprastha and then was crowned the Chakravarthi of the world, there was no one below him. It was then Sage Vyasa reminded Yudhishtir that this status is not permanent and may change any day. This is what exactly happened. He played dice, lost his kingdom, his wife and lost all glory and was forced to go to exile.

                         This is a good lesson for life. When you are on the top, you have to be careful of what you do and not indulge in any wrongdoing. When everything is under your control, you ought not to misuse it. You will fall from the top and the fall will be really painful. That has been proved yet again. The fall of Indraprastha is history. But very much in the present, Another Empire has fallen. An Empire which was truly popular, an empire which had no boundaries, an empire which overshadowed many other kingdoms, has now fallen. Rather made to fall because of one man.

                        Yudhishtir atleast had the rights to bet his kingdom during the game of dice on that fateful day. Because it was he who built the kingdom. But What rights Gurunath Meiyappan had to bet on the team not built my him? What rights he had to do actions which could (it now has) damage the reputation and even the existence of a team and a legacy built by Dhoni and Co.? When you are on top, you ought to be careful. It was such a big empire that Team CSK had built for themselves across the nation. Facebook Fan Maps for CSK matches was yellow and just yellow barring a few kingdoms. Other teams had kingdoms, CSK had an empire. And the Chakravarthi was Dhoni.


                   But for no fault of his, The Chakravarthi has had to suffer. The Empire has been dethroned. But like faithful people who waited for the Kurukshetra war to get back Yudhishtir as their king, there are a lot of faithfuls who wait for CSK to return. Whether that will happen or not is immaterial, but the brand has taken a hit and the empire will not be the same it was once.

                   Even I didnt expect to be writing back to back articles, but this one was about to come immediately after the Lodha committee judgement and but didn't have the time for this. For a "change" (Why Quotes here---If you dont know then you must not be a regular reader of my blog), This article is also short (I hope you find it short) and Hoping to write longer but interesting articles in the future. Bye!

Cricket's Most Consistent Impact--Part Two

             Well, I'm back after quite a long break, considering the rush of articles at the beginning of my blog!! For those who didnt read Part One of Cricket's Most Consistent Impact, I think better stop right here, go back and read that and come back. For it wont make sense to read this without the previous one.

              As I said, Change has been cricket's most consistent impact. I did receive a few negative comments about the first part being tediously philosophical. So Let me take this one in a bit different track. The original and the sequel are a part of a series which you might be able to guess what it is all about. If you haven't guessed yet, Try.

              Yet again, Change thrust itself upon the game. Creates more impact when it is so visible in a series of a very big legacy as the Ashes. When New England won at Cardiff, Nobody expected Old England to turn up at Lord's. Old England didnt turn up, but New England made Old Mistakes. Australia played the perfect match, and England also played the perfect match. Visitors played in perfectly well, Hosts demonstrated perfectly how not to play a test. A 405 run drubbing "Changed" the series scoreline to 1-1. Change again.

           Bangladesh were a minnow who could cause upsets. Not regular ones though. But their fortunes "Changed" drastically once Mortaza took over. Then they knocked out England from the WC. A failure which "Changed" England into New England. They swept Zimbabwe at home. Well that was expected.

       Then They swept Pakistan. Rather Banglawashed them. For a "Change", India sent a full strength side to face them. And for a "Change", the hosts went 2-0 up before losing the last one. Steyn didnt want to waste few of his last deliveries in International Cricket in a bilateral at Dhaka or Chittagong. But this time, for a "Change", Mustafizur and company showed he could have wasted a lot of the last.

So many things happen in cricket for a "Change". Even in Life. Even in this blog. For a "Change", I will keep this article short. And For a "Change", I will dwell into more intriguing topics in upcoming articles. Hope you didn't feel bored. Bye!!

Cricket's Most Consistent Impact!!

Change. This is cricket's most consistent impact. Cricket's most consistent impact on people's lives. It brings about a refreshing change in people's lives. It provides a change from our hectic lifestyles. A change from stress of everyday life.

Not Just in our life. Cricket as a game also keeps changing. Strengths of teams and players, keeps changing. Time seemed to stand still over extended periods of West Indian dominance in 1970s and Australian domination in 1990s and 2000s. Yet Change is something which has kept the game enthralling to watch. That is the beauty of this game of glorious uncertainties.

Exactly this aspect is on display (as I write Aussies are seven down), at Cardiff. England have changed, so have Australia. England for the better, Australia for the worse. New England is not unreal. Australia have discovered that. For all their sledging and press meet lectures on how "New England" was just a hype, they have received a rude shock.

England provided enthralling entertainment, with their new approach and in the process, caught Australia off guard. And given their fans reasons to cheer about. Several of them. Their change of approach has relieved the fans of the burden of having to watch similar cricket. Similar to 2013-14, as Australia predicted.

Australia, hoped that England would not have changed. Haddin dismissed what he called as a "hype". They were in for a rude shock. Not just that they were caught off guard, Changes in their own team was not for the better. Harris retires. They missed him. Johnson missed him. Pitches changed. Johnson missed the bounce, and hence his threat. The visitors missed this threat. Starc was a change, the pitch nullified him.


England ensured that they changed, they changed for the better and not just that they nullified Australia's changes as well as strengths. And then they preyed upon familiar weaknesses of the visitors. Australia didn't expect the change, rather expected it but ignored it. Now they have to accept it. They are seven down and would go to Lord's one down most probably. Well a change could still be on the cards. The Match state may change. Johnson and Starc could even win this. Or Rain may save Australia. They can go to Lord's one up, one down or all square.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. WHAT MATTERS IS CRICKET'S MOST CONSISTENT IMPACT. CHANGE, YES CHANGE IS WHAT MATTERS. NEW ENGLAND HAVE TURNED THE ASHES TIDE AND THEIR FORTUNES. AUSTRALIA WILL COME BACK HARDER FOR SURE. AFTER ALL, WE ARE HERE TO ENJOY THE CHANGE.

Hope you enjoyed cricket's most consistent impact. Not just cricket's, change is something that happens everywhere. Even in my blog. Yet i hope you continue enjoying my blog posts and that doesn't change!!!

Its THAT SERIES Again!!

Well, Its THAT Series again!! The greatest rivalry in cricket, is back!! The battle for the little urn, which has been a legendary one, is about to start!!

From being ripped apart by one man....IT was Mitchell Johnson's Whitewash.....Until beating Brendon McCullum's New Zealand in their own game, England have come a long way!! While all the hype of New England may disappear very soon if the Mitch Magic (Not just Johnson, there's Starc as well) finds its form, I personally hope There is no Starc(k) contrast between the teams. And both teams produce evenly Matched performances.

The Ashes begins on Wednesday and on current form I pick Australia as clear winners. But England's attempt to regain the Ashes may even be successful if but only if they can sustain the flashes of brilliance shown by their young team a few weeks ago against NZ.

They last won it at home. A couple of years back. Could hold it just four months. Then they went Down Under and went down so emphatically. One match and there was no Trott, Two more matches Swann ended his career. End of the series, KP was thrown out. They lost just five matches, in a five match series though, but lost three players.

Having lost what they got in the famous 2006-07 whitewash in 2009, they failed to regain it at home even in 2010-11. So when Mickey Arthur was sacked days before the 2013 away series and Lehmann was appointed, Clarke's men didnt have any great chance. They were in disarray. Even picked Ashton Agar ahead of their lead spinner Lyon. Agar was meant to bowl, but he batted well...98 on debut from No.11. And he did bowl, but didnt bowl well. Home series four months later, They were 136-7 batting first in Brisbane. The problems didnt seem to have gone. Enter Johnson. Gave Haddin company to take the hosts to 295, then oversaw England slide form 82-2 to 91-8, with his feroicous aggressive bowling.

As the teams take the field at Cardiff, Much has changed for both teams. Trott came back and retired. Matt Prior is gone. Anderson and Broad are ageing. Crashed out in the group stage in the WC. But seemed to be going up with wins over NZ. Australia have discovered Starc. A man who debuted in 2010-11 to have fun and help others have fun, is now No.1 Test Batsman with five centuries in last six tests. And days before the first test, Ryan Harris has lost the battle of his knee.

Current state of the teams says, Australia are clear winners. They might even inflict a home whitewash on England. But, This is THE ASHES. THAT SERIES WHICH IS FIERCELY FOUGHT.

Hope this biennial spectacle thrills us this time. Expecting to see some wonderful battles in this Ashes. And You can expect to see my article every match day in this series.

Cheers. LETS GET READY FOR THE BIGGEST BATTLE IN TEST CRICKET.

A campaign that stirred a nation!!!

Late in 2012. New Zealand's Tour of Sri Lanka. They lost the first by ten wickets. The then Kiwi captain Ross Taylor scores 142 and 74 in the second test. They win by 167 runs. One of the greatest away wins for them. Then what happens is one of the worst periods in NZ cricket history. 

Hesson takes away the captaincy from Taylor. Worse that he gives to McCullum, his close personal friend. First series with McCullum as captain, against SA. Taylor not in the team. 1st innings of the 1st test at Cape Town. NZ rolled over for 45. McCullum had Taylor's blood on his hands and at stumps on day one against South Africa, he had blood all over him. Kiwi fans are furious. Martin Crowe, Taylor's personal friend, says he had burnt his NZ blazer. Crisis all over NZ.

McCullum, Hesson and NZC had taken the captaincy away from Taylor after one of their best ever away Test wins. Then they produced a Test series so pathetic. Four series into his ascendancy as captain, he didnt have a single series win. Then the tide started to turn, more so because of the man he replaced as captain. Taylor made 495 runs in 3 tests against WI, as NZ record their first series win under McCullum.

Enough of History Now, Lets move into the turnaround. India turn up in early 2014. He walks in at 30-3 makes 224. NZ win the first test by 40 runs despite a remarkable fightback by India. Next test, Walks in at 94-5, the team needing a further 158 to avoid innings defeat. Goes on to make a first ever triple hundred by a New Zealander. NZ end at 680-8 and draw the game. The turnaround had begun. They are winning more series consistently.

Growing into a formidable force, yet without notice. McCullum is building the team admirably. Taylor is back and contributing, having out behind the differences.

The world sits up and takes note of this during “A Campaign that stirred a nation”. The CWC 2015 campaign. Hosted jointly by the Trans-Tasman rivals, the World Cup was the discovery of a lovable cricket team. Performers all along. Aggression is the mindset. This is McCullum’s Team. Brendon McCullum’s own team.

There is something about this New Zealand cricket team. Something that has swept the country along for the ride over the six weeks. Something that turned a rugby nation temporarily into a cricket country, something that has brought the Black Caps up to the same level as the All Blacks, and lifted Brendon McCullum to the status of Richie McCaw. New Zealand's greatness has been contagious. It all culminated in what could have become NZ’s greatest day in cricket history. But it didn’t. But what they had achieved till then has endeared them to millions of cricket fans across the world.

Their approach to the game has helped them gain a lot of fans and followers. As Michael Clarke and his team-mates held the World Cup aloft on the MCG outfield on the night of March 29, the New Zealanders stood and clapped politely. Then they filed away one by one, ready to head indoors to sympathize. Brendon McCullum was the last man standing, the last one watching the Australians and applauding. It could have been no other way. There is no such award but if a prize existed for Captain of the Tournament, McCullum would have been the only possible winner. His approach has been infectious, his aggressive style responsible not only for New Zealand reaching their first World Cup final, but for dragging the entire nation with them on the journey. And he has done it with incomparable class. His indomitable style of leadership has made himself and his team loved across the world.

The approach not just ended with the WC. They toured England and thrilled another nation. They transformed English Cricket and their approach to ODIs. New Zealand discovered and gave to the world New England. His approach to batting in the test matches raised eyebrows.

“A leader less loved may have taken some stick for each of his innings at Lord's, but McCullum is loved, and not just in his own land. He is charging towards the future, and the game owes him a debt for it.”-Cricinfo. True words these. His style of captaincy and aggressive approach has earned him a lot of fans.

NEW ZEALAND’S WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN HAS STIRRED A NATION. THEIR APPROACH HAS WON THEM A LOT OF FANS. THEY HAVE BECOME THE POSTER BOYS OF CRICKET NOW. BRENDON HAS BUILT A TEAM IN HIS OWN IMAGE. I ONLY HOPE THAT NZ CONTINUE THIS APPORACH AND KEEP THIRLLING US!!!

Hope this hasn’t bored you. Do post your comments.

The Wall that had to Fall!!

He runs in from the boundary line. Puts in all the effort. 150+ Kilometers per hour. The batsman watches such a ferocious delivery pitch outside off stump. What does he do next? Nothing. He leaves it alone. The bowler marks his run up again. The sequence repeats. What frustration Shoaib Akthar would have endured to see the batsman leave his deliveries repeatedly??

Fast Forward to March 9, 2012. There is a press conference. He walks in and sits in front of the mike. Doesn’t wait for too long. Straightaway, he starts saying "I would like to announce my retirement from international and domestic first-class cricket. It is 16 years since I played my first Test match for India and today I feel it is time to move on. Once I was like every other boy in India, with a dream of playing for my country. Yet I could never have imagined a journey so long and so fulfilling."

Everyone is shocked even though it was expected yet no one was sure of what was happening. Without indignity, in his ever calm style, he goes on to complete his speech. Tributes to a legend have already started on Social Media. All round the world.

Hope you have guessed already, who am I talking about. Hailed as The Wall of Indian Cricket, Rahul Dravid carved his own legacy in the era of Sachin Tendulkar. He was so selfless, doing whatever the team needed him to do. Opened the innings, batted in the middle order, kept wickets, stood at slip and what not?? While doing all this, he was also humble. Never the rash behavior you would associate with modern day Kohlis or Gambhirs.

Eden Gardens, 2001. Who can forget the epic he and Laxman built to deny Australia the final frontier. Australia never conquered the Final Frontier and The Fab Four had a major part to play in it every time. He lead India to 19 successive wins in ODI chases. He lead the side in their most tricky and challenging period of his generation---the post Ganguly, pre-Dhoni era. The period when Greg Chappell was not loved anymore.

He lead India during one of its worst WC campaigns in 2007. He admirably remained strong during one of the worst dressing room atmospheres precipitated by Chappell. After defeat in WC’07, he duly resigned. Chappell’s reign had ended, he had a successor found in Dhoni, the tough times were over, now he stepped away. He could have continued to lead the side in easier times and taken credit for better performances. But he didn’t. He put his team’s good before his own.

He continues with his performances for the test side. He is dropped from the ODI team. India go up to No.1 in test cricket. India travel to England after WC 2011. 2000^th test match at Lord’s, A battle for No.1 spot. First Day it rains, India pick up three wickets in whatever play possible, but lose Zaheer Khan. The decline begins. Harbhajhan is ineffective. Even Dhoni rolls his arm over. All this to no avail. He battles single-handedly. India lose. Gambhir’s turn to leave the tour due to concussion. No Sehwag due to injury. India keep losing personnel.

Amid all this, Dravid continues to battle. He is the last dying light in a team that is dying a rapid and painful death. They are whitewashed. But Dravid hits three hundreds in the tour. If there was one batsman who put up a fight, it was Dravid. Throughout the tour. He is called up to the ODI side now. He could have made a late ODI career out of this chance. He doesn’t. He honours the selectors decision to call him up by agreeing to play that series but announces his ODI retirement at the end of it. India return winless from England. But one bad tour of Australia and everybody lose their mind. Second Successive whitewash. Critics start calling for the retirement of the seniors, sacking of Dhoni. Returns to India. Lets his emotions settle. Calls for the fateful press conference. Walks away with dignity.

He was a thorn in the flesh of the opponents for so long with his dour defence. For a lot of times, He was an impenetrable wall between India and defeat.

A WALL THAT STOOD IN BETWEEN INDIA AND DEFEAT FOR SO LONG. A WALL THAT STOOD STRONG TO ALLOW PLAYERS LIKE SACHIN PLAY FREELY. A WALL THAT SERVED A NATION FOR 16 YEARS. YET A WALL THAT WAS NOT IMMORTAL. ONE DAY IT HAD TO FALL. IT DID FALL, IT WAS NOT DEMOLISHED. IT CHOSE TO FALL ON ITS OWN.

A ROYAL SALUTE TO THE WALL OF INDIAN CRICKET. MAY YOUR LEGACY LIVE LONG!!!

End of Dhoni???

Hello guys!!

What an irony it is that my first article is about the end?? Lets find out at the "end".

Leading the national side of a cricket crazy nation like India at the international level brings along with it a huge amount of pressure. Doing so across all the formats is even more difficult. Seven years, unimaginable. Wicket keeping apart from that, this is becoming unthinkable now!!

Well, Not quite for this man. Nonchalantly he has done this. Without ever losing his calm composure. All until he spoke out that day.

"If I am the reason for all bad to Indian cricket, I am ready to resign and play as a player" Brave words by a brave captain. Very characteristic of this man who has remained hard and brave. The difference is his mental toughness was within himself all these years and now it has come out in his tough words.

Yet he is the first captain who has lost a series against Bangladesh. It is easy to criticize. Difficult to praise others. Especially when you are jealous.

"He is the only captain to win all ICC trophies. He is the third most successful captain in One Day Internationals. He is the only Non-Australian Captain to win 100 ODIs. He is the first Indian captain to lead his team to No.1 in ICC Rankings in all formats"

Now the haters will claim it is because of the players. If India win, players deserve all the credit. If they lose, the captain is responsible. Wonderful Logic, Isn't it?? Tired of hearing this stupid logic. Having achieved all this, now the big question?? Is Dhoni the captain and Dhoni the player fading away??? Has the last stretch of this great career begun?? Beginning of his end???

His technique is not perfect. But he has found ways to overcome his limitations and he has been immensely successful in his role in the team. He has finished countless matches for India, won several close games. No other players average over 100 in successful chases. But recently the pressure of not having good batsmen after him in the batting order has pressurized him to abandon his free flowing approach and pay cautiously resulting in sudden decline in his strike rates, prompting the critics call for his retirement.

The decline India suffered with successive whitewashes overseas and a long sequence of winless overseas tours had more to do with retirement of the seniors who had long served the team and the transition. He bravely battled the transition period and the media criticism all through refusing to surrender. Everybody praised Kohli's captaincy debut at Adelaide. It was then he realized that a successor for captaincy is ready and he duly walked away from test cricket, stunning every single cricket fan, even his haters.

That's Dhoni for you!! A hard person by nature, doesn't let his emotions take over his composure. Yet the way he celebrated after the last ball of Champions Trophy final 2013 brought the feeling of relief after being mired in spot fixing and betting controversy involving his CSK team boss. Yet when he spoke to the media like that, it revealed the torture he had undergone silently due to the unfair criticism on him. It was too much for him to keep it within himself any longer. His passive style of captaincy, his refusal to chop and change the playing XI or squad despite under-performance of many players has been a major point of criticism and that is not unfair i think. Blaming him as the sole reason for India team's defeats overseas is totally unfair and unwarranted, though.

His promotion to No.4 will only improve his performance and bring back his old flair. India won the WC 2011 under Dhoni and dedicated to Sachin, for having carried Indian cricket on his shoulders for several years.

Its only fitting that BCCI relieve Dhoni from his ODI captaincy (I say relieve, not remove) and allow him to play with more freedom as a player. It is only fitting Team India carry Dhoni towards a lot success and dedicate it to him as a thanksgiving gesture for his services to Indian Cricket.

ITS NOT THE END OF MSD. RELIEVE HIM OF HIS BURDEN AND ALLOW HIM TO PLAY AS A PLAYER MORE FREELY. IT SHOULD BE A NEW BEGINNING FOR MS DHONI. IT SHOULD BE A NEW BEGINNING FOR HIS FINAL JOURNEY AS A CRICKETER.

Dear MSD, I Salute you for what you have done to Indian Cricket. People who dont know your value will keep barking at you because they are jealous. I suggest you to resign and play more freely as a player and enjoy your final stretch in the Indian team without any undue pressure. Let your resignation spark a new beginning in your career and help you end on a high.



Hope this article didnt bore you much and you enjoyed reading. Critics are always welcome.