On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:32:01 , vinnu wrote

On Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:32:01 , vinnu wrote


Sunday 3rd April
Those who have good observation will notice that “24” should have been “28” because the last time India won a cricket world cup (Rightly named “The cup that counts”) is in the year 1983. However when history of Indian cricket was being written and new era was beginning in 1983, I was 7 years young and don’t remember anything about that world cup. However, that event triggered my never ending love for the game and started playing the Indian beautiful game “cricket” with my new bat, a present from my dad.
1987 Reliance World Cup, India, Pakistan
This was the first world cup for me. By the time this world cup event came I was quite familiar and follower of not only Indian cricket but of world cricket. In those internet-free, computer free days, I and my methodical elder brother made a big chart containing details of each match played in the world cup. First feeling of heart break came in the semifinals against England where English players swept india out of world cup contest.
My brother prophesied Srilanka will be world champions soon and I ridiculed him n Srilankan team only to be proven terribly wrong in later years. I started dreamed to be a cricketer and play for my country being unaware that the same dream occurring simultaneously among billions of young children like me.
1992 Benson and Hedges World Cup, Australia, New Zealand
Though I never stopped being a cricketer (I play whenever possible even today and will play till I am OUT!), due to certain circumstances my priority in life changed. Education became compulsive first and playing cricket took slightly lesser attention but the fire, the josh and the interest were still intact.
This world cup remained in my memory bank for two reasons. First, the colorful dresses, beautiful grounds, white ball, a new look world cup. All these I watched in my first color TV, again a gift from my mom n dad for getting first class in 10th std. Second reason, which later became a legend, is the entry of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, a young boy of same age as me thrashing the cricket ball around mesmerized me beyond anything imaginable.
This world cup is also memorable for the entry of a new cricketing “choker” n “unlucky” powerhouse “South Africa”. Though Indian team couldn’t do much in this world cup, still it is one of my favorite world cup.
1996 Wills World Cup, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
“What will you do to watch world cup? Let’s do a Sine die!” That was the revolutionary words told by my Engineering college leader and we agreed more out of love for cricket than the leadership skills of our leader. Though it was horrible feeling sitting idle for nearly 3 months at home in hot Indian summer, watching world cup was too much of a temptation.
There has been a constant scene observed during this period of Indian cricket, the team, whole country was dependent only on one guy, sachin tendulkar. Once sachin is OUT, switch off the TV and do anything except thinking about match.
The joyful feeling felt in the quarterfinal match against Pakistan converted into a nightmare in the semifinal against Srilanka and I was devasted not only at the loss but the way team india lost. After that loss I was sure that it will need a miracle for India to win a world cup ever as I thought 1996 was the best chance to win the cup. As prophesied many years earlier by my brother Srilanka became champions.
1999 ICC World Cup, England
I had hardly any hope for India winning or even entering the finals. But as a hardcore fan of cricket I supported with all my energy to the only team which I thought was well deserved but unlucky team “South Africa” under Cronje’s leadership.
As if India’s exit from this world cup has not done enough damage, the stunning blow came in the semifinal of Australia and South Africa’s “Tie” game. One of the most foolish and turning point moment in cricketing history I have witnesses in the TV room of my IIT Kanpur hostel along with 200 or so die hard cricket fans. Australia have won that world cup and started their cricket world dominance for 12 continuous years.
2003 ICC World Cup, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya
With the passing time, the cricketing playing teams matured, money increased many folds and next generation of cricketers have come up. There was a new generation coming up from my personal front too. This world cup is very very special for me not because India entered into this world cup final exceeding my expectations but the grand entry of my son “Ricky” into this beautiful world. While there were excited discussions about naming the new baby, I have decided on the eve of final match, to give my son the name of the player who will win the “man of the match” award. Unfortunately, India lost and Ricky Ponting won, but I loved the name “Ricky” (it’s a different matter I m the only one who call my son Ricky).
2007 ICC World Cup, West Indies
Undoubtly, the worst world cup event ever. From the start to finish everything went wrong. I even don’t remember any happy moment of this event except that my second son “Sunny” entered quietly into my world. No final “man of the match” naming ceremony this time, so I gave him the name of my past favorite player Sunil Gavaskar, Sunny.
Lets pass on to next one.
2011 ICC World Cup, India, Srilanka and Bangladesh
One significant development took place in last 2-3 years, no more switching off activity once sachin gets OUT. First time in many years, the Indian team understood the meaning of “TEAM”.
Though my heart and mind too said that India is the best team in this edition of world cup, I was wary of Australia and almost wished not to play them till Final. When I knew the quarterfinal is between India and Australia, I understood the winner will take the cup. After the win against Australia I felt confident for the first time after 1996 that the historic moment is not far. A good game against Pakistan in the semifinal boosted further my confidence and I was prepared for the Final.
On the D-day, most of the first innings I missed due to official work and unavailability of TV. As the second innings started and by the time I went near neighbour’s TV, both sehwag and sachin gone. Oh No! That old sinking feeling came back and memories of 1996 started haunting me. Still as the TV is not shut off after sachin’s departure and the confidence on this Indian team after defeating Australia was very high I continued watching along with some 30 odd supporters. The moment Dhoni hit Six and later on lifted the world cup along with sachin n team, everyone around me and everywhere in the world were dancing, celebrating. The first thing I did was to call my son “Ricky” and checked whether he watched the match or not. We both said congratulations to each other.

I quietly came back to my room, take out the photograph of my brother from my wallet, kissed it, said “We won!” and then slept peacefully after watching a cricket world cup final in 24 years.

* The views expressed in this article are entirely from my own experience...

Dr. Benu Madhab Gedam
M.Tech. IITK (1997-2000)

Ton or Not, its India all the way.........

Over 32k intl runs vs over 1.3k intl wickets.......99 tons vs 77 5-fors........very difficult to choose from. But the one that looks little unfairly eluded the former is a WC crown....Am very sure if there is ANYONE out there who balances things, then its gonna be baba’s all the way. And it is dil-logical.
Appears like a dream one, and the run has been awesome and scripted to perfection. A WC finale, Mumbai and wankhede , isn’t it a fitting adieu that cricket can ever bid to arguably the best ever to don the whites or the blues.....
If I were anyone else including the SL captain, i would certainly not mind trading anything for this one. All the claims, zinx over the host not being crowned the camp ( btw, SL was a co-host in 1996 edition) has been put to rest since this time it has to be one of the hosts that would kiss the crown.
Rightly said by them- greatness never ages. Never ever thought baba would play this edition of the WC. From the curly teenager in 1989 to the more than matured that he is now, from shy and ardent disciple to a would-do-anything-to-get-this-mentor type now, from belting Qadir to take this off Lee, age has been made to look like a mere number. I don;t have any trace of doubt in my mind that this is the opportunity that MIB has ever had to give a perfect 10 to the best student of the game.
Agree- there is still a match to be won. agree,-its a game of glorious uncertainties, agree-nothing can be said unless the last ball is bowled, agree-most hope for the best team to win, agree- the other team that’s vying for similar glory is equally geared up and also agree that even the lankan tigers would not mind so much to wait at least until 2014 for their 2nd crown. And I just hope and pray for this to happen.
Modern days sports are extremely cruel on a human body. For this little great one, to remain enviably fit at this age and that after having to get almost all his bone joints treated and to stay extremely calm and balanced speak volumes about the persona. For those who still believe that he is just little over 5 and a half foot tall, baba has made them count his shadows when he walks. Jai ho.........

blue vs green for a red hot battle

“They attacked on Tuesday, repeated on Friday and I am replying on a Wednesday”- one of the strongest b-town dialogues of recent times ( Nas Shah to Anupam Kher in the movie- Wednesday). Hope MIB are listening.
I was scanning through today’s newspaper and the three sports pages were almost all about what Mohali is going to unfold in few hour’s time. Y-day’s S/F clash between SL and NZ was reduced almst to a footnote. Such is the hype of this particular game and its impact seems to be second to no other sports news in India.
At centurion few years ago, Akhtar barged in and banged one short that Sahin cut over third man boundary for a massive six to mark the writing on the wall. As if that was not enough, the apprentice photocopied that shot, but this time Waqar was on the receiving end. No matter how hard Akhtar now tries to deny that he does not remember that shot of Sachin, I can bet my a** on the fact that the tailor-made-for-camera-moment will be remembered as long as cricket survives. And ditto for the nightmarish shot of Misbah in the T-20 final which found the waiting palms of Sreesanth. I think even Imran and Javed are also suffering from short term memory loss. 

With team Sachin-Sehwag going great guns and Yuvi giving a performance of his life-time, its everyone’s guess which bowling side wud be under more pressure. Taking no credit away from Afridi’s purple patch ( for a change, its not bang bang Afridi thie time), I feel Indian batters will come on the top. Gul is surely going to pose a potential threat. But didn’t Bret Lee do the same thing the other day. The maturity with which he was tackled by baba and veeru was there for everyone to take a note of.
On paper, it is going to be a battle of Indian batting vs Pak bowling and so on the field too. Torrential rain last night would certainly have forced both the teams to have their plan-B ready. However my tip would be stick to your plan-A only. Its how perfectly you execute your plan-A will help you win more often than not.
It is for the media to keep flashing ‘ it is the mother of all battles”, ‘Epic tussle of nerves and skills’..blah blah.......And, for both the teams, it should be just yet another game. I feel i t is little unfair to pressurize the players who are there doing their jobs in a manner that they know the best. For us cricket fans, its all about fun, beer, friends, pub, and i-know-it-all strategies, post-mortems, half day in office, etc.........But whatever- its all abt blood, sweat and blue today.......Jai Ho.....

choke, bleed and blue.......

The most irritating yet inevitable question will continue to be asked to the Proteas. Thanks to the dramatic collapse at Mirpur against the Kiwis. I had to eat the humble pie when I went overboard after India lost 9 for 29 the other day saying – it happens only in India. Little I knew then that I would proved wrong by the Proteas, one of the favourites for the 10th edition of the World Cup being played in the sub-continent. Pat Symcox says, “ the answer lies not in batting, bowling and fielding, but in the fourth aspect of cricket: in the mind. And at crucial times, it seems that it's the opposition who have the upperhand in that department, despite all the changes South Africa have made”. Hence the only way to shed the inevitable tag is by winning a major ICC trophy.
It was horrendous, least to say, to witness a team collapsing from 108/2 to bundle out for 172. The likes of Kallis, Duminy and also Smith would throw themselves in towel for playing some of the nightmarish shots of their lives. Taking nothing away from the Kiwis, Proteas have only themselves to blame for or may be the history to failing at the knock-out stage. On another note , Kiwis lifted their games when it really mattered. Oram emerged from nowhere to pick Smith and then followed up with 3 more wickets. Much against the run of the play Smith and Kallis were back in the dressing room. As if one of the freakiest dismissal ( of Amla) was not enough for the fate of the Proteas, du Plessis and AB messed up things at the middle. DP tried to wage a lone battle, played sensibly during the batting PP, but guess it was too little too late and the inevitable was already scripted. Kudos to john wright, the silent assassin.
Now going forward, with the mother of all battles shedding its cast over the subcontinent it is going be a edge-of-the-seat battle at Mohali where history is waiting to be written. The great run of Pak notwithstanding, the semi would be a battle of nerves more than cricket. On one side we have a charged up young brigade led by a geared-up Afridi, while on other is a far more balanced team which is so determined to gift the cup to their God. A mouth watering clash indeed in prospect. Just need to see who takes the battle to whose camp. The mere thoughts of mini-battles of Veeru vs Gul, Sachin vs Hafiz/Azmal, Yuvi vs Afridi, etc. are enough value for money. The uncertain game that cricket is, it is surely going to offer the classic battle of the top run-getters so far vs the top wicket taker of the tournament. Not for a moment I am thinking of ‘let the best team win’. You may call me selfish or whatever you choose for that matter. But I want to see the cup that has long eluded the kit of the greatest cricketer of our (modern) times...so for me personally its not 03/30 , rather 04/02- the J-day, the D-day.....! Go, boys go........its all abt blood, sweat and blue now. .bleed blue.........cheers.

Harsha Bhogle's note after Ind-SA match

Remember when you failed an examination. How many people recall that, your class, friends, relatives? You failed to make it to the IITs or IIMs. Who remembers. How many times have you had the feeling of being the best in your class, school , university, state….., you failed to get a visa stamped this quarter…, you missed a promotion this year…, how did it feel when you dad told you in your early twenties that you are good for nothing…..and now your boss tell you the same... You keep introspecting and go into a shell when people most of whom don’t matter a dime in your life criticize you, back bite you, make fun of you. You are left sad and shattered and you cry when your own kin scoffs at you. You say I am feeling low today. It takes a lot from us to come out of these everyday situations and move on. A lot??? really? Now here’s a man standing on the third man boundary in the last over of a world cup match. The bowler just has to bowl sensibly to win this game. What the man at the boundary sees is 4 rank bad bowls bowled without any sense of focus, planning or regret. India loses, yet again in those circumstances when he has done just about everything right. He does not cry. Does not show any emotion. Just keeps his head down and leaves the field. He has seen these failures for 22 years now. And not just his class, relatives, friends but the whole world has seen these failures. We are too immature to even imagine what goes on in that mind and heart of his. That’s why I would never want to be Sachin. True, he has single handedly lifted to moods of this entire nation umpteen number of times. He has been an inspiration to rise above our mediocrity. Nobody who has ever lifted the willow even comes close to this man’s genius. His dedication and metal strength is unparallel. This is specially for those people who would have made fun of him again last night when India lost. They are people who are mediocre in their own lives. Who just scoff at others to create cheap fun. Who have lived in a small hole throughout their lives and thought they have seen the oceans. Think about the man himself. He is 37 years of age. He has been playing almost non stop for 22 years. The way he was running and diving around the field last night would have put 22 year olds to shame. The way he played the best opening quickies in the world was breathtaking. He just keeps getting better which is by the way humanly impossible. Its not for nothing that people call him GOD. But still I don’t want to be in those shoes. We struggle in keeping our monotonous lives straight, lives which affect a limited number of people. Imagine what would be the magnitude of the inner struggle for him, pain both mental and physical, tears that have frozen with time, knees and ankles and every other joint in the body that is either bandaged or needs to be attended to every night, eyes that don’t sleep before a big game, bats that have scored 99 international tons and still see expectations from a billion people. And he just converts those expectations into reality. We watch in awe, feel privileged. Well I think its time that his team realizes that enough is enough. They have an obligation, not towards their country alone but towards sachin. They need to win this one for him. Stay assured that he himself will still deliver and leave no stone unturned to make sure India wins this cup. This is not just a game, and he is not just a sportsman. Its much more than this. Words fail here..... --- HARSHA BHOGLE

good, bad and ugly ( so far..)

Mid-term evaluation
With the ICC WC-2011 more than half-way through and more half of the quarterfinalists already decided, its not too many surprises so far. I know some must be giving knee-jerk response as most Indian fans would have post SA tie at Nagpur, some would have simply jumped the gun like Ian Botham did and some may have. But then, its always fun to wait and watch .
Ozs have been unbeaten so far, but the juggernaut is far from what it used to be in last 3 editions. Sub-continental teams have excelled in patches. Indian batting looks ok so does the protean. NZ has done every bit possible to get back to some kind of shape after the initial blues. Most of the matches in Group A went almost as per the prescript. But the other one has offered the real excitement. India beat Bangladesh, Bangladesh beat Ireland, Ireland beat England, England beat SA, SA beat India and this goes on to make one believe that one goes around also comes around. The uncertain element of the game at its best. The men in blue which was sitting pretty safe now faces a mathematical possibility of getting ousted. Well, i don’t see this happen as my gut feeling says its India all the way this time. I brushed off the Nagpur loss putting all the blame on a dear friend who flew all by himself from Bhubaneswar to watch the match without even bothering to leave slightest of a hint. I had earlier blamed him for India’s mixed fortune against Eng as he was sitting by my side at my home all thru the match. Superstition to be core!!!
A lot has been spoken and written about on the use of power-plays. So i don’t have anything much to say on that. Talking of individual glories, Sachin, AB, Veeru, Watty, Yuvi, Pollard, Trott have so far provided what was expected off them. However, in the bowling dept. its been pretty interesting. People who have historically been the bashers of pitches of this part of the globe are left completely clueless. We saw Afridi and Imran leading the pack initially and then two fiery hat-tricks by pacers provided a lot to fellow fast bowlers a lot to cheer about.
Now it would be interesting to see what this weekend has in offer as the Q/F line-up is all set to be decided as we go to the nest week. Right now I am enjoying Somedev’s run at the ATP masters @ Indian Wells. Oops he lost to rafa this morning, but it was worth spending 2 hrs this morning glued to the TV. He gave his idol a real run for his money. And interestingly, Somdev ran better than Nadal on many occasions. Just that Rafa won couple of points when mattered more. No worry- it was a brave-heart show by the Indian qualifier..well done dude, we are so very proud of u! cheers

Sach(in) is the To(e)n-dulkar

As I was trying retire for the day albeit little too early, something in me told me not to. And, I would always listen to my intuition, being a Piscean- as they say, I just held onto my bean bag fingers crossed. Well, why only fingers – I even had my legs crossed. Being superstitious that I am ( always and ONLY when Sachin is batting, I had to tell myself –‘don’t just get up until the job is done’. As it unfolded after some nervous moments it was to be a gentle push-cum-drive to cover-point off the fiery Steyn. I don’t think there could have been a better occasion, at this moment, for baba ( well I fondly call him Baba) to raise this historic.
And what a coincidence, we just experienced arguably two of the best moments of both Test and ODI cricket history in the same year. Man, this 2010 will go down to cricketing history as ‘the year that was’..Awesome one for world cricket. Other coincidences- both the moments came against the same opposition as on both occasion MSD was at the non-striker’s end !!! ha ha...
My kiddo was grossly disappointed this morning as we had to postpone our picnic for some unavoidable reason. Now, in hindsight I just thank the goodness in God as He wanted me to witness history in making. As Harsha bhogle said y-day, even the 1st 300th test wicket was hailed as a big ‘history’ being witnessed then.. lolzzzzzzzz
A half century test centuries and a double century in ODI have certainly made my year-2010. However, being an insatiable Sachin fan, I just cannot wait to see his bat raise to acknowledge the applause for his 50th ODI ton and a World cup in his hand. So a ton o f tons and then u never know what wud be unfolded as we move on. Lets allow time some time as we did for this 50th ton, to unveil many more such wonderful moments that we should be proudly tell our grand children
I wish I could get 3 wishes from God now. BTW, I will use the 3rd one for mine.. ha ha ha……..