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Here are top 10 reasons why I worship Sachin

1. He was the player (outside of Kapil to some extent) who changed the way people around the world looked at Indian Cricket. He brought a great sense of aggression to it.
2. He can score hundreds like no one has ever done before.
3. He can not only bat but also bowl and make breakthroughs.
4. Have terrorized some bowlers from other nations.
5. Can make you like Pepsi even if you are really a Coca Cola lover.
6. Even the great Bradmon said that Sachin reminded him of his batting days. No other Australian or any other player generated that feeling.
7. He has been playing for almost 17 years now, but still has the enthusiasm of a newcomer.
8. He is a treat to watch. When he is at the crease you always have this feeling that something special can happen almost anytime. Be that a pull for a six or an upper-cut six or an elegant straight push to the boundary.
9. He can sway a nation of a billion people without uttering a word.
10. And last but not the least, he always looks very proud that he is playing for India.

I know there are million other reasons for worshiping Sachin the master blaster, but I thought I had to start somewhere. Feel free to add…..

Just like all othe things becoming global - fashion, music, food - is it possible that International Cricket as we know now, would change to resemble US sports leagues such as NBA or MLB? Though it will then lose its “playing for the country” aspect, Cricket as a whole would become a more competitive sport. How about seeing Sachin Tendulkar and Hussey playing for the same side? I am sure this idea might sound crazy to some, but I believe in some respect it is already in action. Isn’t it true that South African players like Kevin Petersen moved, to play for England instead of SA? Also, no matter what you say, current Cricket World is primarily driven by commercial aspect. That is why you hear possibilities of Indian team playing their “home” matches outside of India. So, why not make it completely open by creating a franchise based system?
We could then have teams like Mumbai Punters or Delhi Bundas. I am sure Indian cricket fans would fill stadiums to watch these “clashes” of international stars. Kind of what Kerry Packer attempted to do in Australia, but I am sure the Indian fans would make this idea a great commercial and sporting success.

The 2nd test match between India and England was marred by a lot of things that were not related to the bat and the ball. I deliberately did not use the phrase “not related to cricket” because sadly, that is not the case anymore. Those things are part of Cricket: whether we want to accept them or not is a different question.

The (Great) British Media has shown a lot of displeasure over Sreesanth’s on-field behaviour. Not just the British Press, but also many writers in the Indian media, as well as the match referee himself, have shown their displeasure. As far as the British Press is concerned, their displeasure is understandable. Getting beaten by the Aussies is one thing, but getting beaten (convincingly) by a country like India, who are such poor travellers, and who has been a former colony of the Empire where the sun never set, is completely different. But when I read the Indian press and media criticizing Sreesanth, I just cannot take it. So what did he do?

The beamer to Pietersen: Sreesanth bowled a ball which reached Pietersen full-toss at chest height. The reaction of Sreesanth after that was that of sincere apology. Now all of this could have been rehersed from before. No one but Sreesanth would ever know whether the beamer was intentional or a mistake. Even if it was intentional, this is not the first time that a fast bowler has done this, nor will it be the last. I distinctly remember Shoaib Akthar doing the same to Dhoni, the only difference being that Shoaib did not even have the courtesy of apologizing. But of course, it is the first time an Indian fast bowler has shown such aggression (whether intentional or not)!!

If the fast bowlers of Australia, England and SA can constantly sledge Indian (and other asian) batsmen on their race, religion and inability to score runs on tailor made fast pitches (while complaining about slow turners when they visit India) and are not reprimanded for the so called “Mental Disintegration” then why should an Indian bowler not give it back? I would be happy if Sreesanth did that deliberately. It just shows that Indian players are no longer afraid and can give back in kind… and more if needed. The beamer absolutely shook up Pietersen and he was not able to recover. He got out in the next over. It probably turned the game in India’s favour. And come-on, after wearing pads, thigh pads, arm guards and helmets, there is hardly a chance that any player will get seriously hurt. The same risk is associated with bouncers also, but that ball is supposed to be a beauty if it hits the batsman!!

Sreesanth also shoulder-pushed Vaughn. Well, there is a Test match going out there and such things are bound to happen (same words that Prior used to defend sledging). Vaughn being the captain of the English cricket team did NOTHING to stop his players from constantly sledging the Indian players. So why is he upset now? Indians are giving them back, just in a different way. He has to deal with it, and not complain like a baby.

How do we know what these English players say to Indian batsmen during change of overs… especially to Zaheer, who happens to be a Muslim. Isn’t it very likely that he has to face constant chatter and ridicule while batting? Why is all that acceptable?

I know most of my arguments are not convincing. I, for one, would never approve of such behaviour. But this is exactly what is needed if India has to overcome the Mental Disintegration. Find ways to give back! Very few players with amazing mental strength (like Dravid and Tendulkar) can keep staring in the eye while the bowler gives a mouthful and still remain unperturbed. For the rest of the more mortals like Zaheer and Sreesanth, it is good to give it back… and it really does not matter in what way.

Indians NEVER start the sledging. In this case, the English bowlers and fielders started it, and they had to pay for it with Pietersen’s wicket and the test match eventually. Serves them right!! They, of all people, should be the last to complain about fair play.

Muthiah Muralitharan, is now just 8 wickets behind Shane Warne from snatching yet another unbeatable world record in the history of cricket. Beating the world record, is not even a doubt. But what keeps the entire world guessing and wondering is, can Murail take 1000 wickets ???

I would say, if Muralitharan decides that he takes 1000 wickets and only then hang his boots, then i already have an answer to my question. Murali is now 34. For more than a few years now, he has been consistently picking up 7 or more wickets in every test match he plays. Having said that, Murali requires 298 wickets more to achieve this feat. Going by his current stats and average, it would atleast cost him 42 test matches to take 298 wickets (@7wickets/test match). Which means, Murali should continue playing cricket for atleast 3 years from now.

What makes me really worried is, he has already made it clear that he’s not intended on breaking world records and he will call it quits when he feels he’s had enough. Muralitharan is a team man and he has never been behind records, instead records have inevitably followed him. I remember twice he came close to taking all 10 wickets in a test match, but he missed them twice. Well taking 9 wickets once, people can call it luck or whatever. But doing it twice, is no joke. Kumble beware. You may not hold on with the record for 10 wickets in an innings for long. Murali should definitely be doing it someday very soon. He’s already been so close twice and yet so far.

Guess what ? Muralitharan is going to become the leading wicket taker in the history of test cricket in Australlia. He is just 8 wickets shy of Shane Warne and he has got two test matches to play in Australlia. What better way to break a world record ? Well the stage is perfectly set for the man to go past Warne, and rub salts to the Aussie wounds. The world know, how much Aussies are jealous of this magician. Murali rocks, and lets wish him good look in his future endeavors.

How many out here think Murali will go on to take 1000 wickets ?? Well having said this much, i have a gut feeling that Muralitharan will go on and take 1000 wickets before hanging is boots. Especially the way he has been bowling for more than 5 years now, i dont see him getting any worser but a lot better.

1975, It happened to be a significant year in the history of ODI cricket. World Cup was one of the nicest thing that could have ever happened to ODI cricket. But there is something else that did happen during the 1975 World Cup.

It was a clash set up between the England team and the Indian team. England had massacred the Indian bowling attack and did manage to put up 334 runs in their allotted 60 overs. Then begun the much expected Indian chase. Cricket during those years, was not all about going all guns blazing and instead it was all about having wickets in hand and then bursting out in the death overs. To chase 335 for a victory with a required rate of 5.5+ was really a daunting task. There came in our openers to begin the chase, and all had thought it was a typical kinda game where in Gavaskar would seal one end and the others will have to play their hand in leading India to a victory. But does any one know what happened eventually ?

Gavaskar did hang up one end, and he carried his bat starting from the first ball to the 360th ball of the innings. All he managed to score was a mere 36* of 174 balls. Playing 29 overs himself and managed just a boundary. Well i just have no clue what the hell was running through the great player’s mind. He ain’t that dumb to not know it was the World Cup and it wasn’t ODI cricket. Does anyone have the slightest of idea what our heroic batsman was trying to achieve ? Those days, i confess people might not have been aware of pacing their innings while chasing. But to lose three wickets, and score 132/3 at the end of 60 overs in a chase of 335 is simply not acceptable.

And now i see Sunny happily sitting in the commentator’s box and talking non-sense. Saying he should have done this, he should have done that and stuffs like that. I guess he should be reminded of what a batsman(ODI) he was during his tenure. His 36* is one of an epic example of playing for oneself and not for the team !!

First comes Kanitkar in my list. I am pretty sure, most of the folks out here should be knowing this so called offspinner cum left hand bat. Well who said you have to perform to hold a place in the Indian cricket team ? Kanitkar had once smashed a decisive boundary to win India a match against the Pakistani’s. Well played kanitkar. But he knew little, and so did the world, that the boundary he scored to win India the match, actually got him playing for India for more than two years. Wow, doesn’t that sounds amazing ?? Nobody knows, if he is actually a specialised batsman or a specialised bowler or a specialised fielder. I would not be surprised, if Kanitkar himself knows what he is actually good at. Does anyone know what the all rounder is upto these days ?

Second comes Dinesh Mongia. I remember, once Mongia went out all guns blazing and massacred a majestic 150+ which won India the match. He bowls left arm, and not a bad bowler. There were talks that getting into the Indian team and holding the place for a long time needs quite a bit of hardwork and results to show. But Mongia proved there’s yet another loop hole in Indian Cricket. Nothing noteworthy of his performance, and he managed to represent India in the 2003 World Cup. And amazingly, he was just the one player who contributed absolutely nothing to India’s glory to the final of the tournament. Well played Mongia. Neither did he nor did the Indian team realise that Mongia did nothing. He did make a comeback oflate, and he did put on a brave fight against the Aussies(in malaysia i believe). Alas’ hes got lost again. Poor fella, luck has decided its not gonna favour him anymore. Lucky India !!

Last but not the least, comes Mohammad Kaif in my list. It will be extremely unfair if i rate Kaif first in this list, and hence he holds my last place. Kaif, without a doubt is one helluva wonderful fielder that any team can dream of having. But can fielding alone win you matches ? Absolutely not. Kaif is predominantly into the team for his batting abilities. When we think of Kaif, the first thing that strikes one’s mind is his 80+ not out in what happens to be one of India’s best chase of a total above 300. Hence forth, he used to bat at number 7. Was moved up and down the batting order and absolutely nothing worked. By the time everyone realised, that Kaif was just doing nothing but holding a place in the team for more than 2 years. Alas’ came the wake up call, and there went out Kaif. By the way, what is this fielding all rounder upto these days ?

Folks, do you agree with me ? Or is there someone else whom i have missed out ? If yes, please feel free to let me know who according to you should top this list !!…

Next captain of Indian Cricket team ??

Well not many teams don’t seem to be understanding what captaincy is all about. India team is just a classic example. Rahul Dravid, is beyond the slightest of doubts one of the world’s best batsman. Well he is aptly called the WALL, and words would just not be enough to explain his importance to the Indian cricket team. But has he got it in him to be a captain of the Indian team ? I may have to say a definite NO !!

India under Rahul Dravid, has performed not bad. World Cup was ofcourse a debacle, but it does happen to any team. Weren’t the Srilankans knocked out in the ‘99 world cup just after winning the ‘96 ? So the World Cup debacle India had faced is acceptable. But don’t you guys think a captain need to have a killer instinct in him to get his guys going ? Well its time India finds a Steve Waugh or Imran Khan or Wasim Akram or Mark Taylor or Arjuna Ranatunga or anyone of their class. It ultimately is in the hands of the captain to lift the team, which i believe isn’t there with Rahul Dravid. How long should India wait to lift the world cup ? Its already 24 years gone by, and i still see some sports channel flashing pictures of the 1983 World Cup win. When are we going to see pictures of the world cups to come ?

A good captain alone can’t win you matches. Thats obviously understood. I believe India has got the resource, and with some fine tuning here and there and real AGGRESSIVE captain around, things can quickly change with Indian cricket. I fail to understand why is the Indian board very patient and happy with the little success they taste and arent hungry for more. The first step in transforming Indian cricket to world class standards would have to be a change in captaincy. Well having said this much, if i were given a choice to pick the captain of the current Indian team, my choice would definitely have to be YUVRAJ SINGH. This guy to me, has matured with years of playing. One of the most dashing and most aggressive players Indian cricket has ever seen. This i believe is the right time to give him the captaincy, and see what turn Indian cricket takes. Nothing to lose, and lots to gain definitely !! What do you guys feel ? Your thoughts on this, is more than Welcome !!

This happened yesterday.

Sharad Pawar had called in his doctors and they checked his blood pressure. It was really high. His PA said that Pawar has been cursing and scolding in his dreams over the past couple of nights, an unusal thing rarely seen even during his long career in politics that has seen many ups and downs. He was also heard of using a few words that sounded like expletives in Marathi, another rare phenomenon. And the names of Greg Chappell, and a few Indian players were mentioned in his dreamy rants. The doctors suggested no medication but replacing the coach and a few players as a remedy.

Pawar summoned Dileep Vengsarkar, Kiran More and the rest of the selectors to do something. He was vehemently encouraged by the officials and the side kicks. After all this is the time to show that they are not unscrupulous people who just live off public funds. They also are Indian supporters and the team had no right to sink the ship off the Carribean coast so unceremoniously.

So everybody who mattered in Indian cricket were invited. It was to be a meeting of selectors, board officials, and ex-players and no longer the hush-hush closed door meetings by a selected undeserving few like the ones of yesteryears. Siddhu was also included in this meeting. Confabulations lasted long. The first thing taken up for discussion was the removal of the coach. Expletives flew thick and fast at the mere mention of Greg Chappell’s name. Do these coaches even have any real concern for the team? More expletives flew. It stopped only when Gavaskar threatened to leave the venue.

Some more muted expletives later it was decided unanimously that a unique candidate would be appointed as a coach. Many ex-player’s names were tossed in and out. But every member of the meeting had something or other against each suggested name. Somebody even suggested the name of Lalu Prasad Yadav for his excellent man mangement skills. He was promptly silenced for his stupidity. “Lalu, however great he may be, has certain issues with Pawar. So he cannot be considered for the post. No, knowledge of cricket doesn’t matter here. A person of Lalu’s calibre can learn cricket in a few days. But the issue really is his relationship with Pawar, which is not conducive for such an arrangment.” - A trusted side kick of Pawar reasoned.

Suddenly Siddhu who was strangely silent during the entire procedure so far did the unexpected. Instead of shouting at the top of his voice he whispered something into the ears of Sunil Gavaskar seated next to him. Gavaskar nodded his head sagely. Then Gavaskar woke up Mohinder Amarnath who had dosed off from the beginning and passed him the message, all the while nodding his head more sagely. Amarnath passed it on to Srikanth not before turning back to Gavaskar umpteen number of times to cross check. Srikanth who was busy fidgeting stopped doing that and in a rare display of calmness whispered the same to Dileep Vengsarkar. Vengsarkar’s face was aglow with delight. He leaned forward and explained to Sharad Pawar about the content of the message. Sharad Pawar listened to the entire briefing intently, paused for sometime mulling over the suggestion. Then he got up, went up to Siddhu, hugged him, and praised him for his great brains hidden under the turban.

Now everybody in the room was wondering what’s happening? The guy serving tea had already spilled hot tea on a member’s nice suit. A majority, present there for the sumptuous food, have started murmuring about their intentions to hog. Sharad Pawar finally declared in a tone that barely managed to conceal the glee: it has been decided that Mandira Bedi has been selected as the coach of the Indian team unanimously. We expect the team to scale new heights with Mandira at the helm of the affairs. And the fate of guilty Indian players will be decided later, of course in consultation with Mandira.

The crowd of cricketing officials, ex-players, and members broke into loud cheers and some young ones let out a few cat calls. The meeting ended. Pawar was relieved.

This decision would be made public soon after the due official procedure.

The Indian team could have not asked for a better practice game than the first 4 day match against Sussex. The opposition was very competitve, with the likes of Saqlain Mushtaq in their ranks. Had Stauss and Mushtaq Ahmed been there, it would have been better, but the batting was still good. It was a well contested match which India almost won. Sussex, for their part, did well to keep Anil Kumble and Sreesanth from taking the final wicket.

India started the match well by building a good first inning score, but their bowlers were again guilty of letting off the opposition after getting the top order relatively cheaply. This problem has been plaguing the Indian bowling for decades. They usually get the first 5-6 wickets cheaply, before a lower order all rounder gets the opposition back in the game. The absence of a genuine fast bowling wicket taker (of the likes of Akram, Shoaib, Bond, Lee, Malinga etc) has been hurting India in that department for a long time. Most of the other teams have one such bowler.

The result of that was that Sussex, who were at one stage 5 wickets down for a mere 144 runs, were eventually rescued by a century from their no. 6 player (it turned out to be his maiden first class century!) and were able to post a competitive 300 for 6 (declared). It was a very sporting declaration, which could have very well gone against them… and it almost did!

India’s second innings was not as impressive. But they did manage to reach 184 runs for the los of 8 wickets, thanks mainly to some lusty hitting by R.P Singh. Sussex had a target of 273 runs in 55 overs, for which they were never in the hunt once they lost a few early wickets. Again, the same problem of the Indian bowlers surfaced yet again. They were not able to polish off the tail and win the game. They fell one wicket short. Gautam Gambhir’s wicket off a no-ball also had a hand to play in this. Having played some gully cricket myself, I still cannot fathom how a spinner can overstep!

All in all, it was a good practice for the Indians ahead of the gruelling 3 Test series. Even though they did not win the game, they still were on top for most of the sessions, and since this game had a competitive edge to it, it will be helpful for the Indians in the Test matches. It was heartening to see India show their competitive side by opting to take the final 15 overs to try and get the remaining 3 wickets to win the game instead of retiring early.

An interesting part of the game was in the last session when Saqlain was batting and Sreesanth was bowling. Sreesanth was constantly staring at him after every ball, so Saqlain jovially asked him whether he thought he was Shoaib Akthar. After receiving an equally witty answer, Saqlain retorted that he may get out but he will definitely hit him for a six. Sreesanth had the last laugh though, when he got Saqlain caught at second slip off the next ball. But replays showed that the ball might have hit Saqlain’s arm instead of the hand. And of course, Sreesanth celebrated in his own unique style!

There are very few similarities between cricket and soccer. Marking of a player is one of them. Just like soccer where star players are marked by one or two opponent players to thwart their efforts in scoring goals, the West Indies targeted Kevin Pietersen to prevent him from scoring heavily and stopped him in his tracks. They won the one day series primarily because of that.

Of course that’s a sound strategy and most of the cricket teams resort to that. They set up elaborate bowling plans and field settings to take a coveted wicket. Every oppostion has tried to bowl to Sachin with a well laid plan. Batsmen like him are made the main target. Because the opposition knows once these batsmen get out getting others out will be easier. The cheers are louder and celebrations more joyous when ‘marked’ batsmen are dismissed.

Kevin Pietersen has so many things to his credit to be ‘marked’. He has moved to the top position in ICC rankings (pushed to the second spot now by the Punter). His journey to 1000 and 2000 runs in the ODIs has been the fastest. And his average in 25 tests is second behind Sir Don Bradman. His ODI average is above 50.

There are other players that India should be planning to dismiss, but the dangerman is KP. This man can reverse sweep a bowler no less than Muralitharan for six. KP is in cracking form now and marching towards greatness zealously. He is the man India should be planning to ‘mark’.