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Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer join Nita Ambani in reaching education to underprivileged and disadvantaged kids

Sometimes you can score in cricket without picking a bat and walking onto the crease; before you spin the ball and send a thunderbolt streaking down the wicket; and, even while the covers are still on the grass and the teams are dressing up. All it takes is a cause, your belief in it, and the willingness to give of yourself to further that cause. That’s what Nita Ambani has started doing this week, scoring for her IPL team the Mumbai Indians, even though the third season of the popular Twenty20 tournament is still a cool 17 days away. And this Nita’s doing not for Messrs.

Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan & Co., but for underprivileged kids of five NGOs that she is supporting through an initiative called ‘Education For All’. It was launched across national television channels on Sunday. Of course, Sachin, Bhajji and Zaheer are part of the initiative, they all appear in 15-second commercials for the cause, but the real stars of this Mumbai Indians promo are the children who make an endearing appearance with Nita at the end. Look out for it, you will know what I mean.

As to how Nita intends taking her cause to the masses, it’s simple. Just like American cycling legend Lance Armstrong did for cancer victims in 2004, the Mumbai Indians is selling blue silicone wristbands signed by Tendulkar and other greats from the team that say ‘Education For All’. Every band sold will mean some amount of money goes towards the NGOs Pratham, Ummeed, Akanksha, Teach For India and Nanhi Kali that do exemplary work in educating underprivileged children. The sale proceeds will be matched by a contribution from the Mumbai Indians’ kitty. Nita is counting on the huge fan base her team has across the country to boost the sales, but since it is for a charitable cause, all benevolent Indians supporting other IPL teams are expected to pitch in and buy the bands as well. “It’s a small and humble effort,” said Nita who believes education is the key that unlocks the potential of every child. She must know, she was a school teacher once, and now she runs the Dhirubhai Ambani International School, one of the world’s premier holistic education institutions providing a robust, all-round learning that stresses on values of humanity as much as it does on academics. In the evenings, this prestigious institute becomes an education centre for Akanksha’s underprivileged kids. Besides which, through the Reliance rural schools in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Nita also looks after the education of 15,000 other children.

“One of India’s big needs is for every underprivileged kid, especially the girl child, to know how to read and write,” continued Nita. “This is a cause that’s very dear to me, and Sachin, Harbhajan and Zaheer were happy to endorse it in the promo.” It doesn’t end just with the sale of the ‘Education For All’ bands that are available at all Reliance and Sahakari Bhandar stores in Maharashtra, of course. For Nita, who sits cheering in the dug-outs whenever her team is playing, will take 120 of these kids to see every home match. She later plans to hold a special benefit match for them with her players.

“It will be such fun, imagine Zaheer bowling to the kids! Cricket is so unusual, it unifies everybody, and the kids know so much about the game — I’m surprised,” she said in an interaction with children from the five NGOs over a game of cricket in a Cuffe Parade garden. “Who is India’s greatest batsman,” she asked, conducting an impromptu quiz. Every hand went up. “Sachin Tendulkar,” they cried, with one boy adding shyly, “He’s also the captain of our team!” And Nita Ambani, who’s totally involved with the Mumbai Indians, and understands cricket closely, blushed with pride…

Source: Times of India

Cricket Is My Religion And Sachin Is My God!!

He just keeps on doing more and more amazing things!! 200 Not Out in an ODI, what an achievement….and without any runner too..

Go Sachin!! Go and Win India The Next World Cup!!

This is why the Test Cricket is still alive and kicking!! The Second test between South Africa and India just ended with India winning it by an Innings and 58 runs. The best part is that though India won it by an Innings, it was hardly a one-sided contest. It was as exciting as any Test match can get. There were a number of factors that contributed to the drama. First of all, it was a contest between the top 2 teams in Test Cricket, it was played at one of the most exciting venues in International Cricket and both the teams were fighting to either stay at #1 position or get to it.

Ironically the way this Test started, it looked like a continuation of SA’s domination from Nagpur where the hosts were crushed with an Innings defeat. But then again as it has happened several times in the past, one session after Tea at The Eden Gardens changed everything. India faught back from SA’s 218 for 1 to restrict them to 296 and then piled on Tons of runs to push the visitors’ backs to the wall. Though India dominated for the most part after that, it came down to the wire as the last SA pair almost achieved what would have been a “Thrilling-Draw”.

That is why the Test Cricket is still alive and kicking!!

The Indian team will pretty soon require a good wicketkeeper batsman.No, guys don’t be shocked. As you can see from all by blogs ( way before everyone I had predicted Dhoni to be a fighter par excellence) I am perhaps the biggest fan of Dhoni. The thing is that by this year end he would also be become the most reliable in this Indian lineup in all the forms of the game. This would mean that someone else will be needed to keep , at least in some of the formats. With Dhoni playing purely as a batsman, Yuvraj Singh’s place will be in jeopardy , by this year end, in the test line up. Virat Kohli too will soon fizzle out with his technique being found wanting by this year end.

It’s Sydney Cricket ground again, same venue where there was this big Drama that took place the last time India played Australia. In the end the Australians (with tremendous help from Steve Buckner and some unsportsmanlike behavior from the Aussie Captain) managed to beat India.

Now Pakistan have them in situation from where the Pakistanis can surely dictate the terms and delivery a series leveling blow. The question is whether they will keep the control they have or lose the plot??

We will find out today…The first session belonged to the Aussies but with a very potent bowling attack from Pakistan one would never know…

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Thanks to CricDigs

The Delhi ODI has ended in a farce. While the ball was doing all sorts of things, not many people would have noticed how Dhoni kept wickets. It was absolutely superb. A masterclass , particularly the collection down the leg side. Remember, you need powerful sideways movement in order to be a good wicketkeeper. The ball was scooting , suddenly bouncing, swinging and doing what not. But he was more than upto it. Sadly , due to his flamboyant image, no one notices his work behind the stumps. He must be putting in plenty of hard work to be that good behind the stumps, without being a natural.

Last time I had written about Sehwag being an all time great, there was a lot of hue and cry raised in this blog. ( I think it was sometime around 2 years ago , when Sehwag was dropped). Rahul Dravid was almost in tears explaining to the media about the talent of Sehwag just before the 2007 world cup. In his exact words in the press conference Sehwag was ‘no ordinary kid’. He has proved all of us right. He is surely one of the all time greats and definitely the most ‘winningest’ test batsman that India has produced along with Rahul Dravid. His is perhaps one of the rare cases, where the clone has surpassed the original. I still remember the time , around a decade ago when Sachin had completed his 6,000 runs. There was a lot of media hype around the event, not that Sachin wanted it. Whereas Sehwag’s 6,000 went almost unnoticed. That he is an opener, who has to constantly face the new ball and his audacious style make his achievements more laudable than anyone’s.

If they beat Sri Lanka in the Third Test that has started in Mumbai then India will become the #1 Test side in the World. It has never achieved that position before. It would be terrific if they accomplish that after securing their 100th Test win in the last Test at Kanpur…

Will Team India do this? and Is it truly the #1 Test side in the World? As there is no set rotation or tournament schedule that manages Test Cricket, it is hard to objectively comment on whether any side is the #1 or not, but one thing is for sure, over the past few years Team India has shown ability to win “on the road” and has demonstrated that a few times. It has won Series in England, West Indies, New Zealand and has fought very hard against Australia in Australia. It has also consistently won at Home. It probably has the best batting line-up and has a good variety in bowling attack..

So I really wish that India wins this test and claims the top spot!!

It’s been a roller-coaster kind of a Test Match so far. On the opening day/session it looked like India would get bundled out for a small total, but ended the day very strongly, only be bowled out relatively cheaply during the first hour on Day 2. Sri Lankans have posted an enormous total so far and would surely add a lot more to it, from where they almost can not lose this test.

Now the question is would India be able to save this test match? They surely have the batting line up that can play for days but it has also collapsed unceremoniously a few times. As seen many times in the past, Indian team somehow starts almost every test series badly and then tries to come back.

Would that trend repeat itself in Ahmadabad between today and tomorrow?