An open letter from Sachin - An imagination

Dear fans,

                      I am saddened as I write this letter for disappointing you with the series loss against England and my performance isn’t what you have always expected of me. I have always given my best for the team, but the results are not in my favor this time around. People are clamoring for my retirement and I can’t agree more with them. I have not been up to the standards that I have set for myself through the years and I am indeed answerable to the fans.

I apologize to all the fans, for my dismal performances, and for failing you time and again. Many people think that I have grown complacent and taking things for granted. But I can assure you that I have been following my routines right from the day I made my debut till today. Nothing has changed, neither the preparation nor the mind-set. Maybe, age is finally catching up to me, the dreaded phenomena which I have been trying to keep out for the major part of the last five years. I have been training harder to keep myself fit and strong in order to be able to give my best.

Cricket has been my calling right from a young age. I still remember the day me and Vinod were playing together in Harris-Shield trophy, where we put up a 600 run partnership. The immense enjoyment of being on the field, all day long, with my best friend was all I could dream about for the next few days. That was the day when I decided to play cricket for the rest of my life, for I loved it like anything, more than food, chocolates, bicycles- things that a fourteen year old could long for.

People started taking notice of me, for my performances on the field, and I was touted to play for India, or so people said. I vividly remember this one time, when I was still playing club cricket, Sunil Gavaskar gifted me with a set of ultra light pads, the ones which I wore during my debut match. I was so humbled by that gesture and it pumped me up to give my best.

It was dream come true for me, when I got selected for the Pakistan series. I was very nervous, and being the youngest player in the squad didn’t help much. Srikkanth bhai was my captain back then who gave me enough support and chances. I was lucky enough to rub shoulders with some of the legends. That was the first time I got injured, by a bouncer from Imran Khan. He was bowling quite well, and I was lazy enough to get hit by a bouncer. My nose started bleeding and I felt like I was going to faint. I was only a kid at that time, who wanted to cry out loud, for the pain was unbearable, though I kept playing.

It was quite frustrating in the beginning, since I did not have a person in my age-group to talk to and spend some time. Even players who made their debut after me were elder to me by at least five years and I felt very lonely. Senior players referred to me as “bacchoo” and I felt embarrassed, even to have small talks with other players. Since I was not yet eighteen, I had strict rules and restrictions. For the better part of my day, I was left alone which was blessing in disguise, for I was able to practice my shots freely.

But things changed, once I started getting some runs. Teammates started taking liking me and I started earning their respect. It was smooth ride, after that and I began improving and the change was evident from my game. I was in a happy place, enjoying each and every day of life, practicing cricket, day in and day out.

In my quest of being a champion cricketer, I did miss out on mundane human happiness, which I was able to see only in the movies. I never had the pleasure to hang out with my friends, did not get a chance to attend proper college or got to experience the other whims of being a teenager. I was completely focused on cricket. Yes, I do not regret that for the kind of stardom I have achieved, but there is a small nagging in my heart, longing for those small moments off the field, moments I would never be able to cherish in my life.

My journey was extremely fulfilling, even though I missed being with my family, the only other regret I could possibly have. I have never led a common man’s life, having had to disguise myself whenever I go out. I have met some crazy fans in this incredible journey, and it’s any man’s pride to be able to associate with their fans and I have tried to do that whenever and wherever possible. I might not have been able to fulfill every fan’s wishes and I apologize if I had hurt someone without my knowledge.

The most testing times of my career were from the year 2004 onwards, where I was forced to deal with multiple injuries and lack of form. I was advised not to use a heavy bat, but I persisted nevertheless for the kind of balance I was getting from those. But, I fell victim to some uncharacteristic injuries which put me out of contention for almost five years. I had to put up with constant pain on my elbows and shoulders. Probably, I should have been more circumspect about injuries from the beginning. I had to endure too much pain while batting, and my hands were not the same anymore. I had to cut down my shots, for which I became famous for. I had to be more defensive, had to look for runs in singles and doubles, shots which used to fetch me boundaries were very tough, for the injuries took control of my body. I do not complain though, for injuries are a part and parcel in any sport.

Meanwhile, we reached the finals of the 2003 world cup, where we lost in the finals. I was very dejected for missing a golden opportunity. It was my dream to hold the coveted world cup someday, and I missed it by a hair’s breadth. It was an emotionally draining tournament, but we enjoyed it as a team as we strove towards the same goal, to win a world cup. The boys were very eager to achieve and the hunger was visible in every one’s eyes. It was hard to lose like that, after going through each and every match with renewed determination, coming back stronger after every encounter. When we won Kenya in the semi-finals, I thought god has scripted this world cup for us. But we were wrong and it cost us a world cup. 2007 world cup turned out to be a complete disaster, and I thought that I would never be able to win a world cup, since age was catching up with me and I was not sure whether I would be able to last another world cup, forget winning it.

But both happened, thanks to a rejuvenated Indian team, which had some promising talents mixed with some seniors. I was pretty confident of our chances and Dhoni at the helm was absolutely perfect. Only thing that mattered was the performance. We did it finally, at my home- the home of Indian cricket. The final was one of the toughest matches I have ever played in. I did not expect to lose my wicket like that, and memories of the 2003 world cup were coming back to me in gushes. It was quite a hard task to control my tears as I went inside the dressing room berating myself for losing a chance to win a world cup finally.

I was so sure that a repeat of the 2003 final was on, but MS and Gauti played well, and well, you do know what happened after that. The tears of dismay turned into tears of happiness as I was jumping up and down like a ten year old. I was on cloud nine, and my happiness knew no bounds. It was a sense of fulfillment getting a chance to hold the cup after 22 years of struggle.

But the real struggle was after the world cup, where I had to suffer through another lean patch, which I am going through till today. People wanted me to go, now that I have gotten my wishes fulfilled. They said it was the right time for me to retire, since my dream has been achieved. But, I felt I can contribute more to the cause of the Indian team. The team needs some good youngsters to fill the places of seniors when we retire, and someone should be there to guide them, or so we felt. It might be a wrong decision but it was for the greater good. Perhaps we were wrong, when we heard the “the seniors are selfish to block the place of talented youngsters!”

Our only thoughts were about setting the team up for the youngsters, getting the tough tours to England and Australia out of the way, so that the youngsters can have a smoother path into the test team. But we did not consider our own problems, which were the roots of our own destruction.

It was a tough time for us after Australia, losing both VVS and Rahul. It brought me back down to earth, and I started contemplating retirement. But I had some solace after the century against Bangladesh, though we were unlucky to lose the match. Two series later, we were facing the same predicament against England at home and it was humiliating to lose the series. It was a nightmare for us, having had to endure the cricket crazy fans reaction. People started on my retirement again, claiming that I was selfish and I had to go sooner rather than later.

I have to admit that I am a bit selfish, for I have been playing the game for the better part of my life. I have not known anything other than cricket. Every day I wake up to take up a bat and I sleep after arranging my kit bags. It has been a penance for the last 25 years and it would be hard for me to just give up everything. Retirement would be equal to death for me, as I have lived cricket all my life. Frankly, I do not know what to do with myself once I retire. Will I be able to secure a job as a TV commentator, a trend that has been catching up with some former players or would I be a successful coach?? Nothing pleases me like playing cricket and I am not sure whether I am up for other things in life. I have watched many players retiring, but I never had to think about how they would have felt while retiring. It was an irrelevant thought, a few years back, but now I know how exactly each of them would have felt.

I know it’s time for me to go, but as a fellow Indian, I ask this of you dear fans; I am not able to let go of cricket after all these years, and even talking about it makes me feel worse. I just need some time to sort my life out, to decide on what to do with myself once I retire. I am not here for the fame or for the records but for the passion that I had and I have for this game right from the day I picked up a bat. I am making up my mind and I need a little more time to announce my retirement. It is a humble request from a dedicated servant of cricket and I would feel happy if you oblige me.

                                                                                                                         Thank you

                                                                                                                               Sachin

India planned their own demise

The damning humiliation has finally come to an end, with India surrendering meekly to the visiting Englishmen. It is like a slap to the face to the selectors and BCCI, who treated England without respect, asking them to play against underfed oppositions during the practice games. It was clear that BCCI wanted nothing less than a white-wash for the thrashing they received more than a year ago.

India left no stone unturned while undermining the opposition, spending time trying to hinder the opposition’s plans rather than making some of their own, while not chastising our players for forsaking national interests ahead of the CLT20. The Australian cricket board hinted at what was to be done by recalling Shane Watson, a move that should have awakened the BCCI. But they chose to remain mum on the issue, letting the seniors do as they pleased. Quite frankly, it is a predicament that India has put itself in. There is no one to blame, for letting the team go awry during tough times.

It is bemusing that India has players who have not bothered to work hard to keep their place on the team, resting on past credentials to explain their current situation. They were given reprieves time after time and that has been our demise, though not directly. We have always been callous in our approach, not looking at the future of the team, satisfying ourselves with empty words and lesser deeds.

Honestly speaking, the seniors of the team should have been dropped right after the England series, after letting India fall to the depths of humiliation which we have never seen in recent times. But India, looking at only its only financial interests, chose to carry on with the same team and that has been our downfall. Had the seniors been dropped for the West Indies series, they would have learnt their lesson, and would have tried to play better cricket. But India was yet again satisfied with the series win, not bothering about the form of Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir. No steps were being taken to investigate into individual performances.

India is a country of billions, and cricket is the only sport followed by the majority. Each fan has their own favourites and we do not want them to be dropped or rested. It is this problem that has plagued India, and has kept it from developing into a super power in cricket. India could have easily been the West Indies of the 80s had we given proper support to our players. We always provide undue credit to our idols, and the board fears that their incomes would drop if they chose to drop these iconic players. This is the reason why the seniors are still not sacked after such ridiculous performances.

India should learn not to be complacent, and should put the country’s interests ahead of those of individuals and certain groups of fans. To the fans, I request you to support the game instead of individuals for the improvement of quality of our game. Had we boycotted the CLT20 in favour of the India-England series, had we given more importance to the true form of cricket rather than its bang-bang version, things could have been very different now. It’s high time we demand that from the players and the board, so that we could proudly say one day that “We are the best!!”

Sack Dhoni?? what about the others then ?

The series between India and England has finally ended on a humiliating note, with India surrendering to the persistence of the Englishmen. India has finally succumbed in home conditions after a very long time, and no one has raised their hands to accept their fault in these defeats. The blame game has already started between the seniors and it is quite clear that no one wants to take responsibility for these defeats.

Recently I saw a comic of Batman in a social networking site which read “Need help? Call for Superman, I’m retired!” referring to the fact that the director of the Batman franchise, Christopher Nolan, has announced that “The Dark Knight Rises” was going to be the last movie of this series. A strange thought occurred to me and I visualized Sachin instead of Batman saying “Need help? Call for youngsters, I’m retired!” But that seems most unlikely to happen, considering that Sachin wants to keep playing on forever. Probably he could, if some sympathetic vampire decides to bless him with the gift of immortality. His fitness would be back and so would the run-making of the old.  But that seems incredulous even for a thought. What will happen to the youngsters then, who have been working hard in the domestic circuit aspiring to don the prestigious whites someday?

Sachin Tendulkar is only the tip of the iceberg of problems that India is facing at the moment. At least he has the mandates to stake a claim in the team for a lifetime. But there are others who have made no efforts to rectify their mistakes, improve or at least drop themselves for the sake of the team. Quite frankly, they should have gone after they had failed in the England series last year. Instead, they chose to feign injuries and past ailments to dodge the situation instead of facing it. They handed over the series to England on a platter, blaming conditions, umpires and other players, with audacity that bemuses even the most lenient of the fans.

Frankly speaking, there was no introspection after the humiliating defeats overseas, and a fake show was put on by making two of the seniors retire. But what people did not realize that the problem did not lie with the aged seniors alone. The others have been quite poor throughout the last two years including Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir and they have chosen to ignore their poor stats in international games. Sehwag got a ticket to the Sri Lanka series and the World T20 riding on his form in the IPL, whereas his ODI and Test form has been quite pathetic for some time now. Gambhir is a different case entirely. He makes us laugh, claiming that he has the talent to lead India after winning a single IPL trophy whereas his form is worth questioning his place in the side.

A captain is only as good as his team and quite honestly one cannot blame Dhoni alone for these defeats. There weren’t eleven Dhonis playing on the team, although every player’s performance wasn’t different from that of Dhoni’s. It isn’t like the other players were performing very well and India kept losing due to Dhoni’s incompetence.

The problems did not arise after the England series last year, or after the retirements of the legends, as many pundits claim. Its roots go way back to the year 2008, when the IPL was introduced. The show got much bigger, with players earning in crores. The IPL was a sanctuary to the domestic players, who were not making big money like their India team counterparts. The success of the IPL led to Indian cricket board anointing itself as the undisputed king in cricketing circles and began dictating their own terms. The players got fame and quick money and were satisfied with their performances in the IPL, partying to celebrate the insignificant victories they achieved in useless IPL matches. Very few bothered about a test cap, or the glory of playing for five days in sweltering heat when they can easily make the same kind of money by playing for just over a couple of hours in the cash rich IPL.

But one must credit the BCCI to have a soft corner, or Yuvraj Singh would have never made a comeback in to the team. It is really shocking to see the selectors banking on the past credentials, no less in a different format of the game, to award him a place in the Test team when some better players were left to rot on the benches. Not to mention the other players who have always managed to reserve a place in the team whenever they felt like making a comeback (Read Zaheer and Harbhajan). Honestly, Zaheer does not deserve to play for India with his fitness levels, or lack of them. He is old and should look to retire whilst pride still remains.

The officials responsible would be busy with the post-mortems of the defeats, even as we are discussing this. Many such post-mortems have been conducted after innumerable series defeats in the past, and none has yielded a permanent solution. I’m sure that this is what is going to happen, “Lost the series? Blame the skipper and sack him! Problem solved!!” It has been the modus operandi for the selectors and I wouldn’t be surprised if that comes to pass in a couple of days.

Indian is in a soup, and it would require extremely firm hands to steer the ship. I believe that Dhoni should be given a chance to make amends for this humiliation. Sack the unreliable players to show that  their superstar status is given by us and we have every right to take it back! At least Star Cricket can make lesser number of ads then!

Sehwag's attitude is costing India

India is in deep trouble  as I write this article, needing to bowl England out early and chase whatever total they put up, as quickly as possible. India needs to fire all guns blazing tomorrow, go to the mattresses if they have to pull off this near impossible miracle. Virender Sehwag‘s services are needed more than ever if we are to win tomorrow.

Virender Sehwag has received many praises and compliments throughout his playing days. His aggressive nature has attracted many fans. Sehwag has never given enough importance to technique, relying more on his “hand-eye” coordination. But after tremendous successes, with age, his failures have accumulated over the years. His technique is questionable and he has only tasted moderate success outside the sub-continent.

Sehwag‘s way of playing stems from the fact that he has practised his batting on a cement track. But one can’t deny the fact that he is probably one of the better timers of the ball. The amount of success he has had on flat and placid conditions in sub-continent is attributed to his stand and hit technique. But he has always struggled in alien conditions, conditions which support the bowlers. He has never been the person to grind it out and fight to score each run. It has always been “hit or perish!” kind of a player. His failures, though huge in number, have been swept under the rug, because of his enormous success at home conditions. People who have seen him at his peak would always love to see more of him and he has been elevated to a throne where he sits peacefully during rough times.

Greg Chappell once mentioned that Sehwag is a laid back character, who will choose to ignore practice routines when he is in peak form, the kind of attitude which has been the reason for his downfall. He further adds that Sehwag used to return to the usual practice only when he was going through a bad patch. Sehwag’s work ethic is a testimony to the kind of lackadaisical attitude that he shows towards his game. Chappell went on to suggest that he is a selfish player, stating – “The surprising thing was that when Viru got runs in 50-over cricket, India often lost,” Chappell wrote. “For one thing, he seemed more concerned with his strike rate than the bigger picture. He would play shots from the first ball and not stop until he got out, which was often just when the team needed him to go on to a big score.”

The manner in which he got out in the first innings is a testimony to the fact that Sehwag is susceptible to genuine swing bowling. India needed to win the match, and Sehwag got out trying to attack the bowler who was known for his swinging deliveries. India needed to score some quick runs and here was Sehwag again, not moving his feet on a docile Indian track and getting fooled by the movement of the ball. It has always been like this for him, as he has never bothered to acknowledge the fact that he is quite shaky when it comes to playing quality bowling. Apart from a few knocks in Australia, West Indies, England and New Zealand, his record is pretty mediocre when it comes to scoring outside subcontinent conditions.

Sehwag’s failures have affected India in the past, and the same story is being repeated again. Had he played out the new ball in the first innings, he could have gone on to make a century because the pitch wasn’t offering anything to the bowlers, but Sehwag being himself, squandered that chance to perish cheaply.

An opener is important to any batting order, because it is he who can give the team the desired start. Sehwag’s failures have been hurting our chances very badly and he needs to look into his technique. He is growing old with every series and needs to be more circumspect while batting. He cannot be aggressive forever. He has to mould his game to suit his ageing body and his team’s requirements. Like how Sachin and Dhoni have mellowed down for the team’s betterment, Sehwag should take a leaf out of their books to prolong his career and help Indian batting. He is irreplaceable for the kind of threat he is always for the opposition with his hitting skills. If he can get going, then it is game on for the opponents and they will be on the back foot within no time. He is a kind of player who can get runs in a flash. But that appetite must be curbed for the better interests of his team and he should look to bat with solidity in the future.

The birth of a genius in alien conditions -Hashim Amla

The stance, like a hawk waiting to pounce at its prey, the shuffle,  like a pack of jacks, the slight bend,  showing respect to the ball and the level of concentration, which could put a yoga master into shame-this is the least adjectives and similes one could use to describe Hashim Amla’s batting. The rock solid batsman who has made a name for himself in cricket was the party spoiler for the in-form Indians way back in 2009. South Africa’s tour to India was much remembered for the heroics of Hashim Amla. He demolished the Indian bowling attack single-handedly on that tour which saw him score three consecutive hundreds one of which was a double.

South Africa’s tour to India was billed as the fight between the heavy weights, owing to the tremendous form that India was in. India had a well set batting line-up consisting of the then world no 1 batsman Gautam Gambhir and an in form Sachin Tendulkar. The bowling was pretty good too, with Harbhajan and Zaheer on raring form and they were leading the youngsters to great effect.

The first test between India and South Africa took place in Nagpur where the pitch was deemed to be slow. South Africa won the toss and chose to bat on a tricky surface which was quite unpredictable. They got off to a worse start losing both their openers with just six runs on the board.

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis came in to bat next, with a huge pressure on them, to stop the Indians from getting away with the match. But Hashim Amla wasn’t the man to bow down to pressure. He was a man of technique, always looking to play the ball on the merit. He has always played what one can call “orthodox and classical” cricket. His defense has always been rock-solid, as he puts his body behind the ball, towering over the red cherry and making it look like he has got the ball grooving to his wishes.

His trademark shuffle, which was patented by the South Africans in general, was used to full effect to negate the spinners. Elegance was in full view, whilst he batted and the way he manipulated the bowling to his whims showed how much hard yards he had put in before the series began. India was known as the unconquered land back then, with three of the fab four still intact. He always looked like he had the situation under control, having had the measure of Indian bowling in the previous tour itself.

There aren’t many cricketers outside the subcontinent who have enjoyed playing in India. But Hashim Amla looked like he was having the time of his life in the middle, not wanting to depart any time soon. He batted for almost two days and no bowler looked like getting him out. The ball obeyed his bat, and was allowed have a glimpse at the stumps only when he chose to leave the ball. Such was his dominance that South Africa won the match even before their innings was declared. He could have gone on to make a triple if not for the sudden mini-collapse after India had got the wicket of Ab De Villiers.

Sure enough, South Africa went on to win the match comfortably, aided by a fierce and hostile spell from the effervescent Dale Steyn. But it wasn’t the end of Amla-treatment for the hosts.

Amla continued to dominate in the second test as well, continuing from He left off in the previous test. He was excellent in his shot- making, playing with the debutante Alviro Peterson. He guided the youngster well, and was making mince meat of Indian bowling. He would have gone on to build another epic innings, but he was unlucky to edge one of Zaheer Khan to the wicket keeper. India lapped up the only chance it got, and finally had a chance in the series.

Indian went on to put a mammoth total (643), and the match was all but sealed in the favor of India. But Amla was there once again, fighting it out tooth and nail, unwilling to surrender to the might of the Indians. He plodded on to make yet another century, when the batsmen around him were falling like nine pins. He took the match to the last hour of the day. He battled alone for almost eight and half hours almost snatching the match away from the jaws of defeat. But, his efforts went in vain as South Africa lost the match with just under 10 overs left.

Though the series was drawn, Hashim Amla’s efforts were applauded by all the fans of cricket including the Indians.  It was one of the best performances that Indian fans have seen from a batsman from a visiting team. His batting was filled with pure-class, elegance and outright technical competence.  It will go down as one of the best tours that Amla had, and could be called as the birth of a genius in alien conditions.

Do it the right way,team India!

The fourth Test match has finally shed some light of relief to the Indian supporters. Though one cannot claim that India dominated the day out an out, it could be said that they did manage to gain an upper hand. But having England at 199-5 isn’t that big a success if we are not able to bag the match comfortably. India needs to be circumspect and cautious if they are to win this match.

The pitch is obviously dry, not possessing  too much turn and bounce on day one. In fact, the bounce was uneven and some balls from Ishant Sharma barely carried to the wicket-keeper. The pitch is also slow and run-making is going to be difficult. Therefore, the Indian batsmen should learn to be patient and try and stay at the wicket rather than looking for quick runs (thanks to IPL). If Sehwag manages to give us a quick start, it will put the England on the back foot. Sehwag would do better if he can attack the new ball bowlers, especially if Cook decides to send Monty early. Preservation of wickets is the key (barring Sehwag who has never believed in that), and if India can manage to do that, they can easily score runs.

It is also vital for the bowlers to wrap the England’s first innings quickly. It is said that the pitch is better for batting on the second and third day. India should look to put a huge score on the board and should make sure that they do not have to bat again in the match. It is a big match for the little man, and he would be raring to go, to prove himself to his detractors. Being experienced, he can lead the batting and can make the youngsters bat around him; it would imbibe immense confidence in players like Jadeja and Kohli.

MS Dhoni has always been a shrewd captain, understanding the requirements, as he went in with Piyush Chawla. Many people overlook the fact that Chawla is a decent batsman too. Having him in the team can be of a great advantage as India’s batting would run deeper with his inclusion. Along with Ashwin, he could contribute for the team with the bat, if things go awry. Ojha and Ashwin have not quite come into their own selves on the first day. This might be because of the dryness and slowness of the pitch, but they can be of greater importance come day four and five since the wicket will start to grip and turn and it will suit their bowling. Line and length is the key, and they will have to be little fuller and quicker through the air.

It is vital for India to have lots of time in hand to bowl out the England team even if we do succeed in getting a huge lead. The likes of Cook, Pietersen and Trott won’t give up easily and India might have to toil till the end of day five to achieve victory. So Dhoni should be calculative and should rotate the bowlers properly. He has to give them short breaks in order for them to bowl well.

Things are starting to look good for India, and they need to keep up the good work in order to win the match and square the series. Though India has never been a great team outside the subcontinent (except for the odd series here and there, of course), they have always managed to hold their own at home. But things seem different after the retirement of some legends and some shoddy performances from the seniors. It might well be the last match for Dhoni – the skipper – and he could redeem himself  in the eyes of the fans by being clever and winning the match.

I firmly believe that the team is going to face the repercussions of these defeats and some changes are on the horizon. The players who have taken it easy and been complacent should start making it count. There is still a long way to go in this match and a good team performances can take India home.

The match is evenly slated and I believe day two would be really interesting.

The state of Indian cricket!

                                         

Indian cricket is in a huge state of turmoil and more fuel is added to the fire by the media and former players every day. Heard the "fake" news on the supposed rift between Dhoni and Gambhir!!It is clearly not true and media people are playing their part, lapping up the opportunity to add more distress and spice to the scenario.

To be honest, MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir have never been best of friends, not even cordial in my opinion. Gambhir, since the time he settled down in the team has looked to take responsibilities and it is no secret that he aspires to be the skipper of the team someday.

Gambhir has certainly made it clear that he dislikes Dhoni's style, when in Australia he made public statements after the high pressure, intense run chase against Australia and Sri Lanka.He stated that “I would have tried and finished it sooner” and “Dhoni always leaves things till the last moment!"

But Gambhir has clearly been struggling for form in test cricket in the last couple of years, and the constant injuries haven't helped him either.

Recently Mohinder Amarnath has stated that he would prefer Gambhir to lead the test side, rather than MS Dhoni and he felt Dhoni lacked technique that is necessary for playing tests. He further mentioned that Dhoni lacked "qualities" that are required to lead a team like India and there are "far" better wicket keeping batsmen in the domestic circuit whose opportunities Dhoni is supposedly usurping.

While this might be true to an extent, we do not know what’s happening to Dhoni who has put up lack lustre performances in the recent times and seems to be on the edge whenever he speaks up in media conferences. He has been giving out false statements and making unnecessary comments at the post match ceremonies, which is quite unlike the "Captain Cool" that we have known all these years. One cannot forget to criticize the way Dhoni blamed the rain for their defeat in a super eight match against the Australians in the recently concluded World T20 and the way he tried to manipulate the curators during the ongoing series between India and England.

These out bursts and the lack of form are not good for Indian cricket and Dhoni has to make his actions do the talking. The country's cricket is in deep shame now, given the circumstances and we certainly need a better captain, whose judgment is not clouded and biased.

But like Jimmy Amarnath said, Gambhir can never be the skipper of this Indian team. He lacks patience and determination, basic qualities that are needed in any person who wants to take up the mantle. Like it was said, though it might be false news, Gambhir has indeed been self preservative in the recent times. He has always been tentative and over- judgmental which has been his short coming. Moreover I believe a leader should be born and not made, and it is quite perspicuous that Gambhir has got none of these skills. Therefore, he might not be a good skipper.

Moving ahead of Gambhir, there are only two possible options, since Harbhajan is no more in the reckoning. It can be either Virat Kohli or Virender Sehwag. Sehwag is known for his quirky, carefree and eccentric nature and making him the skipper, according to me won't be a master class move by the selectors. Added to that, he has not been in best of forms either. Whereas Virat is quite clearly struggling to score runs, and is yet to get settled in the Indian team in the longer format. He might be a viable option in the coming years though, not now certainly.

Apart from these three players, there isn’t any candidate who is worthy to be mentioned. Indian cricket is on dire straits and we desperately need some inspiration to move forward. But the million dollar question is "Who can be the skipper if not for these three players??If it is going to be any one from this list, can they be successful, given the elements of the past??

India-A mammoth task at hand

The test series between India and England is still alive,thanks to some pathetic performance by the Indians and some brilliant cricket from the English men.Most people would not have expected England to dominate India this way,after their recent poor performances against Pakistan,where they went down 0-3.They were simply outsmarted by the Pakistani spinners,and even the best players from their side did not have an answer to the magic of Saeed Ajmal. Therefore,this series was touted as the revenge series since people thought India had an upper hand in home conditions.But to our utter dismay,India failed miserably after an excellent start in the first test,only to go down meekly in the following two.


                                                            Indian cricket is put under immense pressure after these defeats,with questions raising on Sachin Tendulkar's retirement,Dhoni's captaincy and what not.But,India can still make amends if they can square the series 2-2.The selectors have already sounded the death gong for certain players,and have inducted young blood into the team ,which is a good sign.But these measures are certainly not enough for India to win.They have to well be prepared,in all the departments to stop the marauding English men.There are nine suggestions that India should follow if they are to win the match:


1.In any batting order,opening partnership is the key.It would be wise if we drop one of the openers and replace him with Ajinkya Rahane. We can't be sure whether it will prove to be a success,but Sehwag and Gambhir have been complacent of late and it would be a wake up call for the both of them if one gets dropped.Moreover,a youngster who is eager to prove himself would give his hundred percent.A change in the opening order can work wonders for the team.

2.If at all Ravindra Jadeja makes the eleven,he should be made to play at number 5 rather than number 6 and Kohli should be made to play at number 6,because it would lend stability to the batting order,having a left hander at that position.Moreover Kohli can be an able partner to Dhoni when it comes to scoring quick runs.

3.Batsmen should look to settle themselves in,before going for the shots."Patience is a virtue"and batsmen need to have that virtue in them to score runs.They need to play themselves in without taking any kind of risks and make the England bowlers toil hard.

4.Cook's wicket is crucial for England's chances.If Cook gets set,then it would be pretty difficult to stop him.Therefore we need to get him early.In the second innings of the first test,India were able to wrap the  England innings quickly because they picked up Cook wicket early.Same way we have have to apply pressure on him,stop the flow of runs and get his wicket soon.


5.Ashwin and Ojha need to bowl on the right areas,more fuller than they are bowling now.They need to  stick to the basics,and should contain the batsmen from scoring freely.Ojha would have better success if he can bowl a bit quicker through the air because it would be difficult for the batsmen to judge the line and length,which can be his advantage.

6.Dhoni should learn to rotate the bowlers skilfully to avoid fatigue and soreness.He has been over working the spinners in the last 5 tests,making them bowl spell after spell without adequate breaks.Now that Jadeja is in the team,he should let Jadeja share the work load,thereby letting Ojha and Ashwin have enough rest to come back fresh.Moreover he can throw the ball to Sehwag and Sachin,people who have known to provide crucial breakthrough over the years.

7.It is vital for Sachin,Sehwag and MS Dhoni to score some runs,because they form the core of the batting order and need to fire in order to take India to safety.

8.The skipper should have an attacking mindset,to attack the batsman even though he has played some balls.Having fielders around the bat constantly,always plays on the batsman's mind and he can play a false stroke anytime.Therefore MSD should be innovative while setting up a field.

9.Guidance is required for the youngsters and the seniors should ably guide them in tough situations,giving them confidence.


Of course,It is easier said than done,and it would require extreme dedication and belief for India to pull through.Belief is the need of the hour,and they need to back themselves and go out there and perform.Rest is in luck's (Dhoni) hand.

Ravindra Jadeja - The past villain or the future hero??

The state of Indian cricket is pretty bad today,with India toppling like nine pins at their own back yard.Much was expected of this team,especially after the inclusion of Kohli and Pujara to strengthen the middle order.But things have gone awry and Indian cricket is in a sorry state now,trailing the test series 1-2 against England.Desperate situations require desperate measures and the selectors have decided to  include Ravindra Jadeja in the test squad.

            Ravindra Jadeja has been in the news of late,owing to the recent splendid performance in the Indian domestic circuit.Having made two triple centuries,he has joined an elite league which consists of some legends including Don Bradman and Wally Hammond.It has been a good season for him,topping the batting charts and having a very good record in the bowling department as well.He has been in tremendous form this season,and has rightly been rewarded with a berth in the Indian team.Things have changed overnight for him,having jumped straight to the Indian test team.Expectations are high from the Indian fans and Jadeja is under pressure even before playing his first ball, in my opinion.


                                                                   Jadeja's career has been quite forgettable barring one or two performances in the international arena.Debuting as a promising all rounder against Sri Lanka,he made a well compiled half-century in a dead rubber,a match in which India eventually lost.He is known to be an energetic person on the field,showing youthful exuberance and a large heart.But more often than not he has turned out to be the villain for the Men in Blue.Any Indian cricket fan would hold him responsible for the ouster in two T20 world cups where he has put up some shoddy and forgettable performances.In a  group match against England,Jadeja was sent up the order, ahead of the likes of Yuvraj and Dhoni himself and he ended up wasting deliveries,precious deliveries which could have won us the game in the end.He is well remembered and hated for the six sixers he gifted in the match against West Indies,a match which India lost closely.Even in the recent past,when he played in the CB series,he ended up being the most expensive bowler which cost India a crucial match against Australia.


                                                           Probably the most worse thing people hate Jadeja, is for the loss against Australia in an ODI match,a match in which the Little Master scored a breath taking 175 runs,a match which Jadeja could have closed out quite comfortably.People still blame him for letting the master's knock go in vain.

                              But,like the say,"All beginnings are new beginnings",Jadeja has got yet another chance.Its high time he cements his place on the team.His form is crucial to our chances in the final test,if we are to win it and save our face.So his contributions,with bat,ball and on the field would be vital.Previously,he has been in the team because of the skipper's preference to have more all-rounders .But times have changed now,and it would be better if he starts converting his performances from domestic to tests and prove his mettle.


To Ravindra Jadeja - "You are extremely well prepared and in form right now.Little bit of luck and confidence would take you through the match unscathed.All the best buddy!!Hope for the best!

                                                                   

The "Form" factor

Often we have heard players and commentators using a term called "form" whenever they refer to a player's batting or bowling abilities.Many people might wonder what is all this hullabaloo about form?Why can't a player play consistently throughout his career?Why does he have to go through a bad patch where he struggles to score runs,the very same batsman who would have been in roaring form only a few weeks back.What is that,why does this happen??


                                                       In my opinion,form is nothing but a perfect combination of  physical fitness,mental fitness and a little amount of luck.If these three attributes are perfect and synced in a player,then he will be able to have a perfect focus in the game and can score runs and take wickets consistently.The physical and mental fitness of a player should be in perfect collaboration for a player to score runs.Physical fitness will give you confidence and will allow to stretch yourself beyond your set limits. That is why,it is necessary for a player to to be fit.He has to be in perfect shape in order to play in any type of conditions,in heat or cold,has to be able to be on the field for five continuous day.For bowlers and all-rounders it is important to stay injury free.


                                                         Mental fitness is nothing but the mental well being of the player.He should not be under any type of pressure or tension whatsoever.Often,family and other personal problems tend to affect the mental fitness of players.This can also contribute to the loss of form for a player.That is why separate trainers for both mental and physical fitness have been allotted in higher level of sports,so that the player can rectify his faults and clear his mind with the help of their guidance.

                                                 The well being of the body is directly related to the mind and vice-versa. Therefore neglecting one type of fitness will indirectly harm the other.Often players who are in form,tend to be over confident,not looking after their body and mind.So they tend to lose their fitness over time.And after a short break,when they bat in a match,without undergoing rigorous fitness routines,they feel that they are in control while actually they are not.The foot work,the kind of timing they used to get wouldn't be the same as before.Therefore they perish,trying to play their natural game.

                                                        Sometimes, a relationship that has gone bad,or an untimely death of a close person can also cause a droop in form.The mentality of the player changes,and in turn his game gets affected.Every human suffers losses,but the players who play for the country learn to put behind their losses and give in their hundred percent every time they walk onto the field.

                                                                 Only great players,players who have been excellent through out their career can know what it is to fulfill all the above mentioned conditions.And only those players achieve stardom where as the others,others who are not strong enough to overcome failures are stuck as ordinary players.

               Players,or any aspiring cricketer or sportsman should be ready to face the tough challenges ahead of them.They have to be extremely fit both mentally and physically in order to taste success.And yeah,luck is also important for a player,albeit a small percent to help him going in tough times.Therefore a person who has all these three going in favor will succeed definitely in my opinion.

P.S. These are just my views.It need to be true for every person necessarily .

Ravindra Jadeja - The successor to Sourav Ganguly??

Yeah!It is a weird thought,but it occurred to me when I was going through yesterday's Ranji Trophy updates. Jadeja is in red-hot form this season, having made two triple centuries already.He has joined an elite league consisting of legendary cricketers like Sir Donald Bradman,Walter Hammond,Brian Lara and Mike Hussey to name a few.It is an astonishing feat considering the fact that he is a lower order batsman who was used mainly as a bowler in international cricket.

                                                   The most ironical thing is that he has never been in the picture for test selection and that is the format where he has excelled in recent times.The triple he has got today was his third overall,a feat unmatched in Indian domestic history and the second youngest to achieve this feat after Wally Hammond in all of first class history.

                                Though Jadeja hasn't been much of a success,having squandered the numerous chances he got in the shorter formats,thanks to a sympathetic skipper who prefers to have all rounders in his side.Jadeja has been quite shoddy and mediocre making just 860 runs and picking 57 wickets in 58 ODI's.These performances don't really merit for further discussions,but he has been making waves since last year when he made his first triple ton.


                                                        One can argue that he would be yet another failure on the lines of Rohit,Mukund and Vijay who have thrived at home where the conditions are flat and most suited for batting.But a person who has even played a lower level of club cricket would agree with me when I say making a fifty in any easy conditions requires a lot of talent and relentless practice.Getting a triple,that too three in a very short time is a feat worth honouring. This knock should make the selectors sit up and take notice of him.Surely a player in this kind of incredible form is better than a "senior".The selectors should look at him as an all rounder since he can be a handy bowler,a very good option in sub continent conditions.


                                              You would be wondering by now,why I have mentioned him as a successor of Dada.Maybe there are no similarities on the outset,maybe their playing styles are stark contrasts to each other.But,India need a left hander at no 5 to balance the batting line up.Numerous players including a couple of left handers have been tried out, but to no avail.Jadeja would add perfect balance to the side if he is selected to play at that spot.His slow bowling will be very useful when playing in home conditions.He is a better bowler than Yuvraj,since he is more of an all rounder where as Yuvraj is just a part timer.So he can be used to add a bit of spice and variation to the bowling line up.Added to that he is an excellent fielder,energetic and flexible, and he will be able to stop 15-20 runs every match with his fielding alone.Once Sachin calls it a day and Kohli takes up his place,Jadeja can be tried out to play at no 5


                                                   I would never say that "He is the one!".But with the transition phase that India is in,it would not hurt to try.We have tried out many combinations and none has worked for us so far.Players in form should be given a chance in my opinion, and who knows,he might exceed our expectations and succeed at a being a good test player."Opportunity does not knock,it presents itself when you beat down the door" and he has been doing that since last November and like I said it would not hurt to try!!

The fall of legends - A sad year for cricket!

"When the legends leave,the aura fades,there is no more happiness!"

"Men may come,Men may go,but the legends stays on forever!"

The year is coming to an end and the world is eagerly awaiting for the New Year.People have different reasons to await the new year.Maybe to forget the bad memories of the past,maybe hoping for the better,a new beginning with the new year dawning.But there are a few die hard cricket fans,who do not want to look past 2012 because it is the end of an era,the end of many legends who graced the game all these years,who put a smile on our face by their mere presence on the field.They have departed forever and a great gloom has enveloped cricket and its fans.

                                                 The year started on a pretty sad note with Rahul Dravid announcing his retirement after the disastrous tour of Australia where India were white washed 0-4.Dravid had a wonderful season just before that series in England,where he scored 3 centuries.It was a face saving effort in an otherwise mediocre performance by the team who were tamed just after the world cup win.People thought Dravid has found the magic touch again and he would be a strong force in the Australian series.But Dravid failed very badly getting out bowled, a record seven times which was the death knell for the great man.He knew his time was up and he retired with the same humility and dignity with which he has played the game all these years.
             
Laxman on the other hand was pretty much average throughout 2011 where he managed to score a lone century,that too in home conditions against a weak West Indian team.He was not the Laxman of the old and the runs refused to flow from the rubbery wrists. Laxman, the partner in crime for Dravid did not declare his retirement though.But the selectors and the team managements had other ideas and forced him to leave the team on a bitter note.


                          The repercussions of forcing two legends out of the game have hit us hard and we are bearing the brunt facing a rejuvenated and eager English side.The youngsters and the replacements barring Pujara are not up to the mark and it shows from the results.

                       "Intimidation or the fear of getting hit is always the reason for failure"

Speed was his middle name or he bowled in a way that batsman looked up to him with fear glinting in their eyes,the fear of getting hit.He puts the fear of death and injury into the batsmen and makes them play a false stroke. Binga only knew one way to bowl - run in and bowl fast!Bowling fast though has its negatives.Lee was prone to injuries throughout his career and he had to retire prematurely owing to number of surgeries he had to undergo all these years.He announced his retirement finally on the 13th of July putting an end to a brilliant career.

                           Probably the most unexpected or the sudden retirement was of Punter's.Ricky Ponting,the legend announced his retirement at the fag end of November owing to continuous failures and lack of form.One of the terrific players to have ever played the game,Ponting has called curtains to his illustrious career at the end of the ongoing Perth test,the place where it all had started for him.


“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”


One of the most revered skippers in English cricket,Andrew Strauss was the core reason for the recent success of the English team.Strauss took over the reins from Pietersen when England were facing a tough time in international cricket.Strauss joined hands with the coach Andy Flower and led the team brilliantly and inspired them to do well. The team began improving in leaps and bounds and were soon a force in world cricket.They won back to back Ashes series ending the Aussie domination for good.

                                                 Strauss was going through a bad patch of late struggling to make runs.He was not playing up to the mark and the controversy regarding Pietersen took a toll on him mentally.He announced retirement soon after the test series against South Africa and bid adieu to cricket.


              "Commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” 


He was one of the most committed player in his side.Mark Verdon Boucher,the legendary wicket keeper who has 999 dismissals to his credit suffered a bizarre injury to his eye when playing a practice match.He lost the chance of a perfect farewell to the game having had to end his career all of a sudden.Nevertheless,his achievements are staggering and speaks volumes about his commitment towards the game.


These legends have been in the business for close to 15 years giving their everything for the love towards the game.They have toiled hard and achieved success.Their exit has left us in a void which no one can ever fill or at least it might take another 15 years for them to replace these legends.Cricket will never be the same without them and whenever we see a match, we will definitely feel the absence.
                              
    

Ricky Ponting - Haughty and Proud!!

As an Indian cricket fan,whenever I have seen Ponting on the screen,I have seen him as a cricketer with attitude.Australia has always been our nemesis and I make no bones in claiming that every Indian cricket fan love to hate the Aussies.It is partly due to their arrogance and partly due to their dominance in world cricket.Ponting has always been a thorn in the opposition's flesh making gallons of runs and snatching the match from them every time he has walked out bat.A champion cricketer who  always goes about his business with a professional finesse and a determination that will make even the best to qualm when facing him.


                                                                           Having been marked as a player for the future,Ponting was a worthy pick by the selectors in the heavy weight Australian team.He was right on the money from the day he made his debut.A complete and true professional,Ponting has always managed to be ahead of  competitors of his era.Unlike many greats of the game,Ponting has been a man who wasn't disciplined or consistent at the beginning of his career.But being the quality player that he is,he fought hard and broke through the ranks to accomplish himself in the team.

                                                              "Ponting is to Australia what Sachin is to India" -Probably the best batsman Australia has produced after the legendary Sir Donald Bradman,Ponting's career average and statistics are staggering to the common man.In terms of stats,Ponting is only second to Sachin Tendulkar. Having played in an epic team,a team that has been world beaters almost throughout his career,Ponting has set the precedent having succeeded Waugh as the skipper.He led the team with an aggression worthy of a Nawab.

               India were touring Australia in the year 2003.In the first test,Sehwag played a brilliant knock of 195 to take India to a respectable total. Agarkar bowled a fine spell in the 2nd innings prizing out the wicket of Justin Langer early.When things seemed going well for India,walked in a crisis man who along with Hayden simply batted us out of the game.He was at his fiery best,treating our bowlers with sheer disdain .The runs were just flowing from the bat like a high current river that flows through a rough terrain.The best of Indian bowlers quailed under his attack.Ponting was the barrier that stopped us from dominating throughout this tournament.He stopped the Indian advance single handedly He was the reason, India returned home without winning the series back then.

                                                              Ponting was not only a good batsman,but also a shrewd and calculative skipper.He always knew what the team needed and he was spot on in his decision making.The highlight of Ponting's captaincy was his ability to maneuver his resources and bringing the best out of them. Ponting and his men have been quite invincible.He has been a man who has won all there is to win in international cricket  including 2 world cups and couple of Ashes series.Under his captaincy Australian cricket flourished like never before attaining great heights.They were a champion team,legends led by a legend.

                  Every person will have his own ups and downs and so did Ponting.He has the dubious record of losing 3 Ashes series,the only major blemish in an otherwise perfect career.Ponting was an excellent close in fielder too, pouching many tough catches in and around the 30-yard circle and was a sharp slip fielder too. .

                                                           Ponting is the one among the elite league to make more than 10,000 runs in both tests and one day internationals.He is the second highest run getter in both ODI's and test behind Sachin.He has the world record of winning 16 tests on a trot as a captain and has been the skipper of 162 wins in ODI's.His records are astonishing and any young,aspiring player would be more than satisfies if he is able to do half of what Punter has did throughout his career.

                                                      "To be great is to be misunderstood" - Punter has always been misunderstood as arrogant and haughty and has always been the man whom we loved to hate.But he was full of ambition,talent,determination and the result is the man whom we all had a chance to behold all these days.The finest exponent of Pull-shot,pure class,elegance and grace has always been associated with his name and he is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game,probably only next to Sachin and Kallis.

Wishing you a bright and happy future that lies ahead of you Punter!!Cricket fans all over the world will miss the elegant pull-shot.There cannot be another man who can play that shot so well like you do and its a big loss,a sad day for genuine cricket lovers!!