28 years and Champions

It was 25th of June in 1983 that India had created the history by defeating the dominant side of the West Indies who were the giants of Cricket then. India had lost the opportunity of being crowned in 2003. The 2007 showed some decline in the men in blue in the first round exist with the likes of Greg Chappell. This didn't stopped the mighty Indians in conceiving the dream of winning the world cup of 2011. After lifting the T20 world cup in 2007, the men in blue were unstoppable. The inspiration and ambitions that were drawn from Gary Kirsten had no looking back. The God of the cricket didn't stop for 21 years to conceive and witness the most memorable day in the life of cricket. The Lankan Lions had to be given back the nightmare of 1996 and you can't ask for a better, bitter sweet revenge than this. Indian team was considered as the favorite when the tourney had started. They literally played like a unit of champions. Nothing could deter this men of blue along with whom were bleeding the billions. 4 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss out of 6 group matches. The bar was only raised up with every knock out match. 

The team considered to be the strongest batting powerhouse in the world of cricket were highly criticized for their bowling show. We were chasing 260 in the quarter finals and defending 260 in the semifinals. Bowling performance in the quarter finals against Australia had shut some mouth by restricting 'em to 260 at Motera. The disciplined attack of Zaheer supported with Munaf and Nehra was just getting better by every match. The semi final against Pakistan was another masterpiece of a close enocounter. The score was not good enough to be defended without a disciplined attack of bowling where Nehra was criticised after his subdued show in the last over against South Africa in the group stage. But that could say the least.

And, finally it was the big final, giving back the memories of 1996 to Srilanka. The Tigers had their last roar over the Lankan Lions. The Indian sub-continent celebrated the glory with all fervor and gumption. And why not, it came after 28 years!

P.S. The feelings are yet to sink... :)

Don't buy Petrol

I've been seeing this email from quite a few days now. And specially the price of petrol per liter is constantly 17 per liter from last 3-4 years. Every-time the price rises in India the same kind of thing comes up. Though the price per liter of petrol is lesser in Pakistan and Malaysia than compared to India, sad thing is none of us really look into the real price and circulate the email. There are countries like NZ, UK and Norway were petrol prices are higher (apprx. 70, 94, and 106) than India (I wonder if they too are cribbing by taking India's name) I'm putting down some links which shows the other side of the story.

http://www.kshitij.com/research/petrol.shtml

http://eurekatips.com/2011/02/02/petrol-price-in-pakistan-today-petrol-rate-in-pakistan-pakistan-petrol-cost/2751/

The below link shows the current prices of Europe, which is again higher than the price of petrol in India:

http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html


Moral: It is good to worry and spread awareness about the basic amenities which is affecting all of us, but not at the cost of some rumour circulating emails... :-D

Festive Declines

India has a very rich culture when it comes to festival and doesn't miss on celebrating a single festival irrespective of the religion. Lately, our own festival celebrations are declining to a good extent. The enthusiasm and joy of celebrations that I’ve seen during 90’s and in the early 2000’s is something vanishing now. Many move out to visit few places or stay indoors just making their lazy selves more comfortable. And some believe it to be the inflation and save by not being part of the celebrations.

The major nuance I feel is of the cultural change that we are going through in last couple of years. The working class which forms the major population of our nation is barred from the adequate leaves during our own festivals. The work culture is very much adapted with the western countries to which we provide major services in service industry. The time are set and leaves are mostly availed as per their calendar and have seen a cut short in our festivals. I broadly remember having 2 days leave during 14-15^th January which is now only restricted to 14^th January. Same used to happen during the Holi and Dhuleti which is again restricted to one day. The amount of enthusiasm that is seen during the celebration of 31^st December is broadly below par when it comes to the New Year celebrations after Diwali. We hardly get 2 days leave during Diwali which used to be of around 5 days previously. At least it’s good that manufacturing industry in Gujarat still observes and enjoys the 5 day vacation during Diwali which is unlike within the service industry.

Hope we all once again bring back the same energy, zeal and zest to celebrate our own festivals in a lively fashion as much as when we do while celebrating other festivals.

The Negative Side

Had been thinking of this always the time I read the speech of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (Ex-President of ROI.) Media over the time who used to spread the awareness amongst the common man has lately turned into the favours of the inside-outside goons. Most of the time casting the stories which leaves a high level of negative impact on the society, where people most of the time end-up brooding over the illness.

Again today morning, I read in TOI's Ahmedabad edition, one such incident where Sir Steve Redgrave and Kelly Holmes, who are on a visit to India took a sneak peek on the Capital's preparedness for CWG 2010. They appreciated the progress and the preparedness of Delhi, mentioning the infrastructure one of the best and of an International standard and termed it as an engineering marvel and believed that "India should now bid for Olympics".

Both of 'em lashed out on the Indian media stating "If I was the Indian media, I would have done positive stories about the event, about the country's legacy. Not all those negative stories which I am seeing on daily basis in the newspapers."

"71 nations will be participating and 80,000 people will be coming to India. Billions would be watching it on TV. All eyes would be on this event. What message are you delivering to world with negative stories? Holmes questioned.


Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had once said narrated a story of his visit to a Nation which 24X7 was under the terror attacks, despite of all these he didn't found any of the stories on the front and following consecutive pages. The negation, was though covered and buried somewhere in the last couple of pages of the daily.

The statement of Sir Redgrave and Holmes was at the end of the article, which clearly shows callousness of the Indian media who is interested in concealing good things.

Seems like the only business that media seizes is from the attacks, anger and sadness. The iota of trust that people genuinely have is somewhere inhumed by the negative side of the Indian media.

Cricketing Legend - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

It’s been 39 years, since the incipience of the ODI format in cricket. Many great knocks have been hammered by teams and so by the individual players. Many teams registered 400+ scores and one did chase the mammoth total of 434. It was South Africa who had chased this successfully against Australia. But this time around it was different; SA couldn’t chase 401 scored by the mighty INDIANS. This knock came with the power pack performance by the little master blaster Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Saeed Anwar of Pakistan had scored 194 runs against INDIA in Chennai in May 1997, by surpassing the individual record of Sir Viv Richards of West Indies 189 N.O. Saeed Anwar’s knock was equaled by the less known Charles Coventry 194 N.O. of Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in August 2009 but in vain as Zimbabwe had lost the match.

Everyone was expecting this record to be broken sometime by the cricketing legend SRT. Sachin Tendulkar’s bat speaks more than him and has always proved his critics wrong by the brilliance of his batting strokes. The batting strokes from the blade of the little master blaster don’t blaze off with force but also with the fine finesse.

Immaculate and impeccable performance by the little master blaster came on February 24, 2010 creating the history in world of cricket not only by being the highest run getter in an ODI but also reaching the first Double ton ever. Vengeance is seen in the batting of this cricketing god these days after being dropped out from the Indian squad in 2007 and being booed off in his home ground before 4 years, where his career was about to defunct. But nothing stops the boy within him to blaze his blade. He never lost the belief, which inspires us to aspire his heights.

Nothing stops me from watching the highlights of those mystical moments that were created by SRT in Gwalior. One of the best moment that I recall here is of the legendary hero hitting a ball pitched outside the off stump by Dale Steyn and SRT moving across the wickets, flicking flawlessly between the square leg and mid wicket straight to the boundary and Steyn shrugging his shoulders back on the way. Robin Jackman had only one thing to say during this impeccable innings, that the best thing to do is not to bowl Sachin. This is the only secret that would save the South Africans.

Post match presentation, when Ravi Shastri asked him about how he felt on being the highest run scorer in an ODI and getting the only double ton ever in the history of ODI cricket, this humble and down to earth said “I don’t know how to react to this, I dedicate this double ton to the people of INDIA, all those people who stood behind me during my ups and downs in last 20 years. It feels good that I was there at the end of 50 overs, and would still like to bat for another 50 overs at some stage and see that my fitness level doesn’t drop” The best one was when he replied to Ravi Shastri on being asked that, when would the bowlers get some respect and he nicely mentioned “As long as in my heart I know that whatever I'm doing good for the team at that moment, I'm going to go ahead with that” (in short as long as he stays in centre, all you bowlers out there, don’t expect any respect from this little master blaster)

I envy all those people in Gwalior who watched and witnessed the mystical moments of the double tons that came from the cricketing god.

Such is the Power,

Such is the Genius,

Such is the Class...

SACH is the GOD of Cricket, atleast to US (INDIANS).... he made us all proud.....Hats off, Bows and Salute to "SIR SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR"

Terrific Tendulkar

Still at the age of 36 with a prolonged career of 20 years into the highest level of International cricket the little master blaster is completely unmoved from his basic instincts. Yesterday's ton against Australia at Hyderabad once again testified the passion and dedication of Sachin Tendulkar. Scoring 175 of 141 balls was an impeccable and phenomenal performance by the little master. The rampant 175 by Sachin recalls the reminiscence of two consecutive tons against Australia in 1997-98 Sharjah series. The way he send the ball out of the park hitting high over the head of Hauritz mesmerized the Sixes he scored against the legend leggie Warnie. The brilliant pull shot over the mid-wicket smashing the ball over the boundary reminded one of the biggest six hit in an ODI to Andrew Caddick of England in the World Cup of 2003. But still this great knock by the little master couldn't bring victory to the Indian team. Though team India was so near yet so far from the win as they continued with their legacy of snatching the defeat from the jaws of victory once again by losing the game with a very close margin of 3 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja who didn't learnt from the mistake of the last match at Mohali proved himself a culprit for the consecutive second time. He threw away his wicket in Mohali and made the mockery of the situation. His poor temperament showed the lack in his mental ability to cope up with the pressure at the do or die stage. This also doesn't justify his place in the Indian team while neglecting the presence of Yusuf Pathan who blossoms in situations like this and is handy in the spin bowling too.

It happens rarely where Man of the Match award is given to a player of the side losing. Despite of India's loss Sachin was awarded the Man of the Match and was not at all appeased. The disappointment was clearly seen in his dejected eyes, body language and speech. When he was asked what keeps him motivated; the genius, down to earth and humble person had few simple words to say "It's passion, I care about playing for India and I have been absoloutely honoured to play for India for 20 years."