Ton-Tana-Ton: Sachin Tendulkar

On days like this, I feel like such a proud Indian. Cricket makes the world go round—if you’re Indian that is. If you’re not, well then, you have no clue what you’re missing out on. When people tell me Cricket is ‘lame’ or ‘it’s a poor man’s baseball’, I fume with anger. Then I look to them, smile and say, “I have one name for you: Sachin Tendulkar.” Burn. The God of Cricket, whom I grown up looking up to for a number of reasons, has never failed to PWN his critics. More recently, they were on his back after he seemed to be having a rather lackluster few months on the pitch; they all believed he needed to throw in the towel and call it a day. The media went gung ho over his 100th century, which was just not happening for the Master Blaster. But we never heard Tendu utter a single word. As usual, being the true professional that he is, Sachin decided to let his bat speak. And amidst the intense pressure, it finally happened which forced his critics had to do the one thing we all knew they’d eventually do: eat their dirty words.



March 16, 2012. India vs. Bangladesh, Asia Cup.

Sachin Tendulkar scores his 100th hundred. I.e. 10,000 one ton runs. And if you think for a minute, that he’ll get a big head about it, trust me, he’s modest as he’ll ever be. If you managed to witness this historic moment, you were in for a delightful treat. Every single signature Sachin Tendulkar shot was played in this epic innings. And thus, it became the most beautiful innings to be played. At 99, our hearts stopped. We waited with abated breath. Then, it happened. I don’t know about anyone else, but I definitely choked up. I had just witnessed history in the making. It’s most likely that no other cricketer will ever go on to achieve such a monumental triumph. And the fact that it is Tendulkar just made this occasion that much more special.

The Master Blaster himself, who couldn’t understand why his 100th century was such a big deal especially since his 99th century occurred at the World Cup last year, simply looked to the sky, thanked the heavens and then pointed to his helmet. This was an achievement for the country. This is how he is, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar; just like this.
To his critics, all I want to say is: “Take that.” How anyone can even suggest that SRT is incapable, has lost his touch or is plain old, is blasphemy. There is a reason why he is the best cricketer on this planet, this is why. He doesn’t care what his so-called “critics” have to say. And neither do us, his fans.

As for Sachin, when he’s ready, he’ll call it quits. Who are we to tell The God that his time is up? Mere mortals, we are. We should just be grateful that we were able to witness a world class innings filled with elegance, style, passion and one that was a slap to everyone who believed he wouldn’t/couldn’t do it.

SRT, take a bow. I knew you’d eventually make that ton; I had no doubt. And I’m damn sure you’ll do it again. You may not consider yourself a god, but we sure as hell will bow to you. A hundred 100’s and beyond, you Legend you.

Dear Rahul,

It’s taken me two days to come to terms with your retirement and finally write this. My heart refused to believe that you, The Wall of Indian Cricket, had decided to call it quits. To say that I am your fan would be an understatement; I am much more than that. My parents believe it’s an infatuation but I don’t think so. It’s a whole lot of admiration, a dash of a crush and a pinch of love.

I remember the first time I saw you play. It must have been my second cricket match that I had ever seen. New to cricket, I was still figuring out the logistics of the games and on you came onto the field. At 14, I had never seen a cricketer cuter, more handsome and definitely more charming. I was floored. Over time, my crush deepened. Every time India played, I looked for you. Every four, every six, every block, every catch in the slip I watched in amazement.

It’s rather odd to say this but I grew up with you. You moved on from strength to strength, gained moniker after moniker ranging from Jammy to Mr. Dependable as I simultaneously went through High School. And while most young girls had pictures of celebrities on their school binders, I had a large magazine cut out of you taped to mine. The girls laughed. I flicked my hair and walked right on.

Yes, there have been great highs for you, but for me there isn’t one defining match that left me speechless. It’s been every 100, every catch in the slip and every time you won man of the match, I understood why. But if I were to pick one, it would be your 148 against England. It was by far one the most beautiful pieces of batting I have ever seen. Even through the lows, I believed in you. I knew you’d bounce back, which you did ever so fabulously.

However, it wasn’t all this that made me become the Rahul Dravid fan-girl that I am. It was your dignity, your charm and your innate love for the game that furthered my respect for you. I often felt that you were one player who possessed a love for the game that no one else did. It wasn’t about the fame for you. You, Rahul, played beautiful cricket. You made it look easy, graceful and exquisite.

For 15 years now, I’ve watched you play like a true gentlemen in a game that is meant for men just like yourself. Many players would become big-headed after all these achievements, but not you. You remained as humble as ever.

On a rather girly note, you will always remain my numero uno crush amongst the cricket lads. There will never be a more perfect gentleman than you, in my opinion. At 39, you still possess the 23-year-old charm that you possessed back then. And trust me, you still make the ladies go giddy. Whether it’s your absolutely adorable smile or those dreamy eyes, I found myself gushing then and more so now. I shed a tear when I watched your press conference announcing your retirement. It was a moment of mixed feelings. As an Indian cricket fan, we were losing one the most precious players we ever had and yet, the fashion in which you were letting it go was one of great panache and poise. But only Rahul Dravid could bid adieu to cricket the way you did.

You may leave the cricketing arena but we all know what you mean to Indian Cricket. You epitomize grace, style and humility. There will never be a cricketer like you ever again and you know what, we wouldn’t want another Rahul Dravid anyway.

We love you Rahul and we always will. As for me, you are and will always be my favorite Wall.

Love and respect,
Roshni

The Bow-Down-to-Sachin Post!

Tournament: Asia Cup
Venue: Sharjah, UAE
Date: April 9th, 1995

The Men in Blue were playing Sri Lanka…while I was shaadi shopping for my mamu’s wedding.

Shaadi shopping is never fun when you’re thirteen. In fact, when you’d much rather be out playing dog-and-the-bone with your building friends, it is by far one of the most exasperating situations. With a grouchy face, I dragged myself around Bombay city trying to understand why a thirteen-year-old needed to come shopping for a wedding especially since all my clothes were already bought. But as we traveled from store to store, I found myself rather intrigued by the lack of productivity that was occurring at these dhukans. Quickly, I realized that sari shop attendants were swamped around television sets. It was only when a customer walked in that they forcefully diverted their attention to serving you. As my mother tried what was easily her 100th sari, I found myself curious. “What’s going on?” I remember asking my father, who was equally as bored but refused to let it be shown on his face. “Cricket,” my father said, “Cricket is happening.” With zero knowledge, I decided I’d take a peek at this sport. And at that very minute, it really happened. Sachin Tendulkar walked onto the field and the rest, as they say, is history.

My introduction to cricket was because of a bored experience, but it became a passion because of apna Master Blaster. It took me time to grasp the sport one hundred percent but this particular game is etched in my mind because of the 10dulkar. I vividly remember him walking out to the wicket and while the sari shopwallahs explained to Baby Roshni how the game worked, Sachin was playing an incredible knock. They cheered at every boundary he hit and while I dashed in and out of stores realizing that Sachin would hit a century, which I learned was a huge deal. And as my mother tried on her last sari, which she did buy praise the lord, Sachin, who was at 99 at the previous store, scored his 100th run. For the first time, I saw myself looking at this man in complete awe. But it didn’t end there, Tendlya went to finish off the game, 125 not out.

Not only did I become a fanatic, from that day on, but perhaps one of Sach’s biggest fans. And I have no qualms in admitting that I am biased towards Tendulkar. Irrespective of how many runs he scores, he does it the best. Out on 5? Best of the 5 runs in the game, I say. Whenever I find myself at loggerheads with non-India team players, I find myself jutting out Sachin’s name and silence falls upon the argument. Sachin always wins. Sachin always rocks. Sachin always gets the loudest roars and cheers.

It’s not just his game which I simply can’t get enough of. Yes, he hits those amazing cover drives which make you sigh as you view perfection. But as a Sachin fan, it’s the experience of watching the maestro hit a 100. At 99, your heart beats at a pace that is unfathomable. But watching him raise his bat as he runs the 100th run, peace falls over you. You have witnessed a piece of art, the finest.

It’s the man’s birthday on April 24th, and I have no words to explain how much I simply adore him. It’s respect to the maximum, devotion of the utmost. And so on the occasion of his 38th birthday, I just want to bow in front of the man who has taught me that ainvayi people are successful but the sachi (truly) most successful ones are those who are grounded and humble. Those who follow their dreams with a true heart and those who display passion in all they do. I salute you, oh great one. The Master, the Blaster, the God, the Slashin, 10dulkar, we love you. Tum jeeyo hazaaron saal, yeh meri hai arzoo. Happy Birthday to you!

Clean Bowled!

Just today I told a friend on Facebook, who wants to date a guy who can play the guitar, that I officially want to marry one that plays cricket. In all honesty, my immense and intense love for cricket is not new. In fact, I've always loved the sport. My feelings for it however, had really been repressed. But that's in the past, I'm all about the sport once again. Okay so getting back to marrying a cricketer, he doesn't necessarily have to be a professional cricketer but basically one who loves the sport as much as I do and plays pretty gosh darn well. In light of this new found realization, I sat down to think about all my favorite cricketers. The following men have won my heart for various reasons. Hey, I'm not one of those girls who swoon over cricketers who are just absolutely cute and how - na ji na! Play good cricket along with being cute works even better for me. Okay so the gentlemen who have bowled me over and how, here we go.

Bowled Middle Stump: Sachin Tendulkar
If anyone in the Indian team knows how to make my heart beat, it is Sachin Tendulkar. Besides being the best in the world, he also happens to own an amazing personality, a humble heart and a cutesy smile. But what really works for me is some of his best shots. When he hits his classic cover drives, I find my heart pacing until the ball reaches the boundary line. The maestro's late cuts, straight drives and his cut shots make me want to collapse. And it's not because it's a great shot, but the manner in which he places the ball along with immense skill just works wonders for me. Add to that the fact that he bowls one hell of a legspin, and voila, the master blaster can blow you away! A great father and a fabulous husband, Sachin really is one helluva dude.

Caught at Slip: Rahul Dravid

My crush on Rahul Dravid ended the day he decided to marry. Hmph. I've always had a soft spot for "The Great Indian Wall". His genuineness and down to earth temperament won me over the first time I saw Dravid play. While he does take some time to set in, when he's completely in the groove, he is hard to destruct. Dravid is known for being one the most technically perfect cricketers that has graced Indian cricket. His pull shots and cover drives are beautifully timed while his fielding at the slips, he rarely failed to miss a catch. And with a smile like that, he definitely does have his share of share of girls running after him. Myself included!

LBW: Kapil Dev

We all have our favorite veteran cricketing stars. My favorite retro cricketer is definitely, Kapil Dev. My fondness for him began after I realized that the cricketer bared an uncanny resemblance to my late grandfather. And it didn't end there. Their personalities and incredibly humble nature matched too. When talking about his skill, well, jitni tareef karu, utni kaam hai. An all rounder, a fabulous successful captain and a patriot, Dev saab is one man who literally is cricket personified. He exuberates "The Gentlemen's Game" with his polite nature and simplicity.

Googly: Virat Kohli

Currently, this young cricketer is making my heart swoon and how! Whether it's his fiery attitude, his cute smile or his batting abilities, it all just works for me. I only took notice of Kohli very recently, so really, my admiration for him is rather new. However, I really do believe this lad is going far. His fielding is always top notch which is great as he sets high standards for the rest of the team to keep to par and he performed pretty well at every World Cup match this tournament. But more than anything, he's superly duperly utterly butterly cute. Works for me!

Caught Behind Wicket: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Smart. Savvy. Shrewd. Dhoni, India's most successful captain, is one guy who took time to win me over. Everyone was screaming about Dhoni and I would simply yawn. However, his quiet but sly nature wasn't one to be taken for granted. Whether he's captaining behind the stumps or batting on the field, he knows his place in the team and is all about motivating the team. His choice of pronouns must be noted. It is rare that he uses "I" or "him"; it's always "we" and "us". Good call! His captains innings at the 2011 World Cup final did it for me. Dhoni won me over and I was out!

Future pati dev, wherever you are, whoever you are...are you taking notes?

IPL is Here!

Thank you Cricket Gods! I've been having serious cricket withdrawals to the extent that I watch old matches on YouTube and stare at my framed Team India photo for hours just smiling. Yes, I too am convinced I am going slightly mad. But the cricketing gods have had mercy on me and IPL begins today. Just to confirm, it's a whole bunch of ongoing tournaments over a span of 50+ odd days. Okay so, I'm all about the Mumbai Indians and the Bangalore Royal Challengers this time around. Mumbai cause bas kya, dil se I'm a Mumbaikar and of course the Sachin Tendulkar factor. Hail the God of Cricket! *bows* As for the Bangalore Royal Challengers, well, it houses my new crush (note: huge giant crush) Virat Kohli.*eyes aflutter* Convinced it is going to be one helluva tournament. Excited, yes! Ready, of course! I'll be blogging about all the matches played by both these teams and if at some point they play each other (i.e. April 12th), then basically, I'm dead. Until then, keep it locked here!

Websites: Mumbai Indians & Royal Challengers

An Ode to Team India

Beloved Team India,

Team India: World Champions!

I love cricket. No wait, I love, heart, pyar, ishq, mohabbat the sport. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you, “Roshni is the mistress of cricket!” I'm not your average team India fan. I don't just get happy when team India wins, I cry my eyes out. I don't get upset when the team loses, I find myself sulking for days. I'm not sure what my connection with cricket is. I was all of eleven when my Father introduced me to the sport. We were shopping for my uncles wedding and I found myself surprised to find every store in Mumbai equipped with a television surrounded its employees. I question the infatuation and guess what? It hit me like a googly. I was bowled out, middle stump. After I learned the basics and intricate details, I found myself mesmerized, addicted, obsessed. From then on, I became a team India cricket fanatic following the team through all their tours and even the 2007 World Cup. I knew then, I was hooked for life. It wasn't as though I became a team India fan by default. Yes, I love India, everyone knows that but I genuinely believed (and still do) in the temperament and future of Indian cricket. The talent was (and is) incredible. Like every cricket fan, I too was waiting with baited breath for the team to take home the Cricket World Cup. With every win over the last few years, the team proved more and more, that they deserved it. On April 2nd, 2011, it happened. You, team India, fulfilled the ultimate Indian cricket fans dream: you won the Cricket World Cup on home ground.

As soon as the skipper hit the last sixer out of the stadium, I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. And then I did what I didn't think I would do: I cried. Why I bawled? I'll never know. Maybe it was because of sheer pride for my country. Maybe it was because as a cricket fan, I saw my team, whom I loved and followed for years now, complete a dream that every fan wished for. Or maybe it was just one of those moments where happiness couldn't be expressed in any other way but sheer tears. In fact, it took me a few hours for this reality to sink in before the rona-dona completely stopped.

I'm not sure what incentive you boys went in with. Whether it was for to prove to the world, that you are indeed are the best, or it was to give Sachin the best farewell World Cup or for just for the country. Whatever your incentive, my boys, you played like complete champions. From the first match through to the final, you proved that you really are world class cricketers in every sense of the way and put every critic, who didn't think you lads could do it, to shame.

Like fans all over, I too watched in horror when Dhoni walked onto the pitch ahead of Yuvraj. “What on earth!” I thought. And I'll be honest, I have been skeptical of M.S. Dhoni as a captain. Not because he isn't capable of producing results. No. He is India's most successful captain and has proved it time and time again. His selfless attitude is one that is admirable in every which way. Dhoni's love for his boys and his eagerness for them to perform is beautiful. But it's his arrogance that irked me. However, at the final, he really outdid himself. His decision to come in and take care of the game was one that I’ll never question. What I believed would bring him down, he worked to his advantage. There was pressure but at no point did he display it nor did he crumble. Straight faced he handled it. And then, when it was really needed, the skipper played the ultimate captain’s innings. To you, I owe an apology. In all honesty, this World Cup would have been impossible without you. Captain Cool, you rock!

And how can I forget the one man whom I look up to, admire and worship in the cricket world, Mr. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. The joy I felt when I saw you being carried by the team around the grounds, flag and cup in hand, is one that I will never forget. There is and will never be a cricketer like you. You style, grace and humility can never be imitated. And I assure you, not only me, but Indians all over including your team, will agree with me. Sachin Tendulkar, thank you for making Indian cricket what it is today. We love you!

Lastly, while we all sit and go on about the team without giving the man who changed the face of this team: Gary Kirsten. We see so little of him, but it is really the South African coach who turned things around for Team India. The team we see today, a world class team, is only because of him. The whole country salutes you, Gary. Kudos!

I never doubted you Team India. Even when it looked tough out there, I had faith in you boys. And every time you pulled through like true champions. As Indians, we couldn't be more proud of you all. We prayed hard, over one billion of us. We chanted shloks, hymns and prayer beads at every match. And yes, we all succumbed to strange superstitions – staying seated in the same chair for an entire innings if we needed to as we were scared things would fall apart if we moved. But you gave us exactly what we wanted: dhinchak, bindaas, fultoo cricket followed by the biggest jeet, any Indian could ask for.

As I sit to write this piece today, it is April 3rd 2011. A whole day has passed since the victory and it happens to be my birthday. A few weeks ago, I was asked, "What do you want for a birthday present?" My answer: "For India to win the Cricket World Cup." Thank you for giving me the best birthday present any Indian cricket fan could ask for. Nothing could substitute for a better present. Not a diamond ring, not a million bucks, not even a Bollywood blockbuster. As for the party? Well, a party that has been 28 years in the making has to be fab! Ask people on the streets in India who partied like it was millennium.

Men in Blue, M.S. Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, Ashish Nehra, Piyush Chawla, R. Ashwin and Yusuf Pathan, Congratulations! We won!

Love always:
A proud Indian, a Desi girl who loves cricket, vows to Bleed Blue forever and the happiest birthday girl in the world!

Desi Girl Talks Cricket World Cup Final

March 30th, 2011:
India vs. Pakistan

I've decided to abandon my usual format for the semi-final and final World Cup matches. Why? Because both these matches deserve much more than sheer bullet points. So India went on to challenge the Pakistani side in their semi-final. Needless to say, the excitement and expectations of the match had every Indian and Pakistani reeling with passion. The Indians want the Men in Blue to win for a number of political and apolitical reasons while our neighbors perhaps wanted their side to win for alternate reasons ala winning on Indian turf. The scene was set and as the anthems were sung, both teams found themselves bombarded with pressure. Best place to find stats etc, is of course my one stop shop Castrol Cricket!

If you've watched the match, you know how it went down. With Dhoni choosing to rid the side of Ashwin and replacing him with Nehra, Indian fans all over, who consider themselves ultimate cricket gurus, couldn't fathom this team change.Why would Dhoni make such change? On a pitch like Mohali's which turned and how! Even the likes of Navjot Singh Sidhu found himself confused. However, we decided to take our chances and pray for the team.

With Sehwag setting the scene and hitting some seriously "item girl" like shots, his time at the crease was shortlived. And while the rest of the team fought tooth and nail, it was really Sachin who the whole world stood in awe of. No, he didn't score a century but the maestro found himself four times lucky. The Pakistani teams lackluster fielding allowed Sachin four lives until his luck finally struck out. However, while the experts suggested the pitch was easily a 300+ scoring the ground, that was clearly not the case. 260 was the final score for the Indian innings, but would that be enough? A friend of mine actually believed that the score was more than the team needed. "Mark my words," he said. "India is 30 runs over the score they need." This was quickly followed by Suresh Raina's remarks post the Indian innings, "Do not underestimate us," he said as he walked into the pavillion.

The Pakistanis walked in very positive; sure they would do this and how. From the get go, they hit some fabulous runs immediately until it all fell apart. The Indian fielding proved to really be on top of its game while the bowling was just plain HAPPENING. Every single Indian bowler was used to their advantage and between them managed to bring down the team.

India won and as a Desi girl, I couldn't be happier! Emotional. Happy. In all honesty, both teams really went out and did what they do best. But like one prominent Indian cricket writer said, "No team that drops Sachin Tendulkar three times, or was it four, deserves to win a crunch knock-out game." And the likes of Imran Khan agreed too. Look, at the end of the day, it's all about crucial wickets and if you are a point where you miss this wickets, then you can only blame yourself. Sadly, the Pakistani's, an otherwise pretty strong side, have nothing but their fielding and butter fingers to blame. 


What fascinated me most was the number of people who lost faith in the Indian team the minute Sachin went was out. I never doubted my team for a minute. In fact, I found myself convinced that the team would win. I find myself emotional just typing this piece out. I insist you take a read at my statuses on Facebook I kept updating as the match was going on followed by highlights of the match! If you don't have tears in your eyes, then I don't know what to tell you! 

Here's how it went down on Facebook:

And it beginss!!!!!!

Okay serious advice to Afridi: LEARN ENGLISH PRONTO!

My favorite men in blue followed by anthem! Always makes me tear....

Okay, tears wiped, here we go!!!!!

Tendla always gets the most cheers - rockstar!

Sehwag has officially called the shots people - now that is how you play to the apparently awesome Umer Gul.

Just felt like singing...OH JAANE DE JAANE DE THODI HAWA AANE DE :P

Hello Umer Gul, have you met Sehwag?

GOD is on the field! SRT baby!

Mess with SRT? Ab dekh!

If a cat has 9 lives, then hello, this is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar!

If Saath Khoon is Maaf then for SRT, it's 7 OUT Maaf!

50 by the Master Blaster!! And he's just getting started!

It doesn't matter who wins or loses, as long we we win!

OW! They actually HELD ON to a catch!

Muahahah Sachin and Yuvi!!!

Ab toh jeet pakka!

Uh whatever people - SRT still best player in the world. I'd like to see ANY other player get so lucky.

Why is everyone losing faith already? Pakistan hasn't even come out to bat yet! Calm down.

More Power in the PowerPlay please!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not over till it's over!

"Do not underestimate us!" Says Raina. You got it dude!

Quick early wickets please Team India!

Shane Warne predicts India will win by 8 runs.

Sorry Pakistan but you'll NEVER be able to field like us. NEVER!

It's good to think you're good..but the best??? NO WAY!! I hear the next bus back home is in 15 mins, if you run Pakistan, you may make it!

World Champs ladies and gents! WORLD.CHAMPS!

To all my Pakistan friends, it's okay think you're good, but the best? Nah. And to all my Indian friends who lost hope, India will never let you down. Jai Hind! GO INDIA!

Yeah baby! Never underestimate the power of over 1 billion blessings!

Bleed Blue ONLY! Clearly that is key!

Bollywood Goes Cricket Crazy!

What happens when you fuse, mesh and mix the best of both worlds, cricket and Bollywood? Mayhem! With the semi-final all set to create chaos all over the world, take a look at the types of images and slogans that are being thrown our way. Popular on screen characters and actors have come together to cheer on Team India in hopes that they will win the semi-final tomorrow and of course, go on to win the cup.

Chulbul Pandey's message to the Pakistani team: "Chulbul Pandey's message to the Pakistan team: "Itne chakke marenge ki confuse ho jaoge ki kaunse fielder boundary pe lagaye aur kitne border pe."

And if you've not heard F.A.L.T.U's Char Baaj Gaye yet, then here's a reworded version especially for the match, "Chaar baje gaye lekin party abhi baaki hai...Aussies Ghar gaye Pakis abhi baaki hai!"

Then of course, the images.

How on earth can Team India lose...they have Rajnikant on the team!

The new cast: Sachin and Afridi play Jodha-Akbar

I'll keep updating as I see and find more!

Dev vs. Dhoni, 1983 vs. 2011

We all gush over Sachin Tendulkar and for good reason; there will never be a cricketer like him. Never. His passion for the game and his love for the bat is practically unheard of. But if there is one man who comes close to sharing his passion for cricket, in my opinion, it would have to be Kapil Dev. What immediately strikes me the minute I see Dev at any event, in an interiew or even in photographs, is his smile. It depicts humility which is rather odd since he is easily one of India's most successful captains. Better known as 'The Haryana Hurricane', Dev has taken Team India out of many sticky situations in the past but it is his achievements that set him apart from the rest. He retired in 1994 but not before he achieving some of the biggest numbers seen in the cricketing world at that time. Even then, he stood as humble as ever. In 1983, 'Kapil Dev and his Devils', as they were known went on to win and bring home the World Cup. But not without a big fight. Under his captaincy, they took on every other team and walked in as underdogs. What happened next is history. They won the cup honoring India making the his team, the champions.

But those times were different. Cricketers played for the sheer passion of the game. There were hardly any endorsements and cricketers had alternate jobs to being just cricketers. This in turn meant that players played 100 percent for the country when they did get their chance to and also for their love for the game. My mother often tells me that cricketers had alternate jobs too and when the season was over, they went back to being a part of the junta. Nowadays, we're stuck with players who are seen making Crores via endorsing brands and scoring nil on the field. It's probably wrong to make comparisons, but it is vital to do just that. With M.S. Dhoni as captain of the current Indian team, India has done gosh darn well. Today, Team India stands strong and in quite a viable place to win the World Cup. Thus far, the team has performed pretty well under M.S. Dhoni's captaincy and while Dhoni may just take India to the finals, even win the cup, he will never be like Kapil Dev. Dhoni is in fact, known for being one arrogant fellow. Humility is hardly a trait he has (or ever will) master. In fact, I can almost imagine his arrogance level to reach further heights if India wins the cup. But what is it that separates the boy (Dhoni) from the men (Dev). Here's my five reasons.

Brain vs. Heart

You may need a brain to play and win, but what's the point if you're heart isn't in it? Yes, Dhoni know the tactics, the skills and the tricks to win matches, but Kapil Dev, known for being an incredibly emotionally charged player, showed that it was beyond just that. Besides knowing the much-needed skills required to win matches, he did lead the 1983 squad to victory, he played dilon jaan se. How often do you see Dhoni coming out on the field and playing not for any other reason but sheer love of the game?

Societal Changes

Times have changed from 1983. In those days, there was hardly any pressure for the Indian team to perform. In fact, the public and even government didn't regard cricket as anything worthy of importance. And thus, with lack of support from Indians and the government, the Indian cricket team went about playing with absolutely zero expectations. And so, it may have been a lot easier to win the World Cup in that sense. Now however, the team faces immense pressure from not only the fans, who literally get ugly when a match is lost, but also from the Cricket Council in India and even the government who have their political agendas in store. What's most interesting is Dhoni's indifferent attitude towards any external pressure he receives. In fact we see him often claiming that he couldn't really careless about those pressures...just not in those words exactly.

All Rounder Factor

When making comparisons, it's important to discuss the real deal: skill. There is no denying Dhoni as a class wicket keeper and a hit quite a few runs. However, everyone knows that if India has produced one truly all rounder, it is in fact, Kapil Dev. Not only was he known for his great bowling, often taking India out of iffy situations via crucial wickets but even hitting vital runs when most needed. If that wasn't enough, he was one helluva fielder putting even younger players on the team to shame at times.

The Teams

We're talking about two totally different teams with regards to the 1983 team and the 2011 team. Kapil Dev lead a team which had great all rounders including the captain and ex-Indian coach Madan Lal. Unfortunately, the current team is limited with its all rounders. The 2011 team only has Yuvraj Singh as it's complete all rounder so to speak. While the 1983 squad found themselves filled with full time spinners, the current team finds itself stuck with part-time spinners to do most of the hard work. Keeping that in mind, the 2011 team finds themselves with a lot more work to do in order to win the cup.

Ecteras

Some teeny tiny details nitty-grittys too can be spotted. For starters, Dev was much more of an emotional soul while Dhoni is known for being a tad bit hot headed when the situation demands it. And the game has changed too. From a 60 over game, the matches are now 50 overs; the boundary lines have been bought in by a whole 10 yards; and lastly, cricketers are equipped with the best equipment money can buy from the biggest sponsors in the world.

Maybe it's unfair to the compare the Men in Blue (2011 squad) to the Men in Moustaches (1983 squad). Times have changed but despite all odds, the 1983 team walked in as underdogs and won the title. Our team today have walked in as favorites and have done everything to come to the semis. What will happen now? Time will tell. Until then, all we can hope is that Dhoni will take some inspiration and gyaan from Kapil Dev only to play a game for the country, for the team and for his passion for the sport.

Desi Girl Talks Cricket World Cup!

March 12th, 2011:
India vs. South Africa

Today Desi Girl, who adores, loves and breathes cricket, is unhappy. Yes, India did not do too well today and thus, I feel a bit blue (pun intended). South Africa. A beautiful country with a pretty gosh darn good cricket team. But hello, what chance did they stand in front of our maa da laadlas in blue, right? In a pre-match discussion with my father, he said to me, "Roshni, India doesn't need to win this match. They'll still move ahead. Don't stress it." And what did I do? I stressed. Quickly, I then went in search of some consolation and came upon the uber trustworthy Castrol Cricket Index. By sheer research in the form of their fabulous index system, I was informed straight off the bat that India's chances for winning the World Cup was all of...20%. Immediately, I went in research of how both teams have faired with each other in the past. In the bargain, I was given a whole range of numbers which included individual player stats. However, what truly amazed me were the comparison between teams. According to the Castrol Index: Team Performance , India stands on top with an index rating of 395 when it comes to Batting but they fall all the way at number 8 when it comes to bowling with an index rating of 189! And post the match, I would realize how true this index system turned out to be.

Howzatt!

*What a beautiful batting ground it was! Sigh. Nagpur, Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, was a party every Indian cricket lover should have attended.

*Sehwag scared the daylights out of us initially! After smacking the ball for a 4 in the first ball itself, he went on to go seriously risky! A few unorthodox hits here and there, he was gearing up for a feisty match. And then, he looked to the sky, chanted a mantra, shed his helmet for a cap and darlings, Viru went on to do what he does so well! Every wide and short ball was smacked around the ground.

*And then, the god of cricket decided he too had to get in on the fun. Sachin then went on to hit 111 of the best runs ever seen. It was a sight for every cricket lover. His straight drives, the sixes and his fantastic running between the wickets was just sheer beauty! Setting the stage and foundation for his team, he did what he does best: played cricket!

*Hello Gauty! I just want to say one quick thing: aapki performance se, Desi girl khush hua! 69 baby! Very very nice. We really do need to see more of ya!

*Steyn Steyn Steyn. All we heard was, "Watch out for him!" I thought, "Che! Steyn ki aisi ki thesi." Uh yeah, the dude went on to kick India's butt! The boys in blue went back to the pavillion one by one courtesy of his bowling numbers: 5/50.

*Holler Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis! Wow! I had no idea how well you lads knew the game. And honestly, 1000 apologies. Great play lads! Fabulous way to set the bar and create a base for your team. Kudos!


*Salute South African middle order! At least you can support your top order batsmen; unlike the men in blue. Enough said.
*If anyone deserves some mention from the bowling attack on the Indian team, it has to be sada Harbhajan. I mean while the rest of our bowlers, well plain SUCK, it was Bhaji who came on to do something worthwhile for the team. Shukriya Bhaji! 

Googlys!

*Sorry but the South Africa bowling, which ranks amongst the top five in the Castrol Cricket Index, was in complete shambles when Viru and Sach came out to bat. Helter-skelter was the word of the day as they fumbled to get our dudes out. Apologies lads, but when our top players come on to the field, this is what happens: carnage! So we understand that you needed to use 7 of your 12 players on the team (wink wink)!

*Damn you middle order! What on earth happened to you? At one point we were 267/1 and then 296 all out! Please explain yourselves.

*Why did Dhoni mess up the batting order? And why was our Power Play lacking oh um, POWER!

*Indian Bowling. Need I say more?

*Nehra taking the last over. Please spare me from explaining my agony watching that particular over. Painful...and how!

Normally, I sit and write a conclusion, summarize my feelings and thoughts. Today I will sit and write a note to the captain, Mr. M.S. Dhoni.

Dear Captain Saab,
Today, I speak to you not as a critic but as a Desi girl who loves cricket. Dude, today your comments post the match were plain disgraceful. The moment you uttered, "We must play for the team and not supporters," I lost respect for you. When did YOU play for the team today? Batao. You played for no one today. Not the team, not the supporters and definitely not your country. Explain the reason behind messing up the middle order? No answer, na? Do you realize every time bechara Sachin comes on to do his thing, play selfless cricket, you and your team never support him. Oh whatever, Dhoni. Today you have proved to us that you are unambitious, uneducated and definitely un-Indian. I'd rather see Rani Mukherjee in her Dil Bole Hadippa avatar along with Bhuvan and his team from Lagaan
Sincerely, a disappointed Desi girl.

India plays West Indies on the 20th of March in Chennai. Sigh. Hopefully some Rajnikant aura will circulate around the men in blue. My recommendation to them is simple: watch Robot. Over and out.

Desi Girl Talks Cricket World Cup!

March 9th, 2011:
India vs. Netherlands 

See, I (as an Indian), have no khunas with the Dutch -- much like the Irish. So basically, I had no issues with how the match went. So um, I didn't watch the match. BUT that doesn't mean I didn't sit down and study the scorecard. The match was long winded especially for an India-Netherlands match. Overall, a yawn worthy match with India taking the points and winning. Woohoo!

With this, India moves higher up the table (they were up there anyway) with 7 points.

Next, India will play South Africa on March 9th in Nagpur. Hmm... I have old bones to pick with the South African team. As a school going girl, I remember watching India-South Africa games until late at night. The South Africans were one heckuva team. One Brian McMillan would give me nightmares with his bowling. *Shudder* Anyway, it is a case of slight revenge for all the times we've lost to them. Go get 'em India!

Desi Girl Talks Cricket World Cup!

March 6th, 2011:
India vs. Ireland

Last weeks overly stressful match between India and England gave me the flu. Okay so maybe the match itself didn't give me the flu but the stress from the match definitely added to the viral that eventually hit me last week. Alright, so it was the Indians versus the Irish. So you thought, oh easy two hour ka match. But really, the Irish weren't ones to be taken for granted. They beat their arch enemies, the English, last week. It was for this very reason that my Facebook status read: "Okay Team India, this SHOULD be an easy win... lekin tera koi barosa nahin. UFF!" I thought and thought for emotional reasons that I could feed the men in blue which would work as motivation. But what khunas with the Irish? So Dhoni wins the toss and decided to take on the bowling all in hopes to quickly bowl out the Irish. But the Irish were pumped and raring to go. I wonder if the fact that St. Patricks Day was on Saturday, had anything to do with their motivation. Anyhow, it seemed easy enough...no?

Howzatt!

*Hello Mr. Porterfield! Where were you hiding? While everyone was going on singing hymns of O'Brien, it was you who went on to score big! 75 runs on the board, mighty fine!

*Okay O'Brien, we were waiting for you. Kitna suna, O'Brien yeh, O'Brien woh. And yes, okay fine. You did impress.

*And Yuvi is Back! If for even one second, you doubted Mr. Yuvraj Singh, well all I want to say is teh teh phus! Not only did he come out to bowl like no other, 5/31 darlings, but batted in true Singh is King style. He hit and hit! 50 freakin' fabulous runs.

*Zaheer Khans 3/30 has to be mentioned because of his quick wicket in the first over. Love it when Z.K. comes out in full force.

Googlys!

*WTF was up with the pace of this game. It.Was.Just.So.Slow. The amount of times I yawned, was just not cool. Hmph. One tweeter even went on to tweet, "The pace of the game is so slow, Rahul Dravid got an errection." Hello, Dravid ke bare mein kuch nahin bolne ka, kya?

*Okay Piyush Chawla. This was your time to shine honey and what do you do? Bowl like a complete buffoon! What were those figures all about? 56 runs in your 8 overs with 2 No Balls! Chawla bhai, please sambhal ke. 

*Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai...Sehwag ka kya karenge hum? The dude can come out and hit a crazy knock against Bangladesh but boom! Out for 5 against Ireland. Sigh.

*What was up with the Irish using 8 of their players to bowl? Hello, that is more than half your team! Uff, yeh kaisa cricket hai? Baap re!

So yes, they won. Why no enthusiasm you ask on my part? Well, I expected the game to be over real quick. That didn't happen. And I thought we'd see some dhinchak shots. Woh bhi nahin. Sigh. Although I'll say this. I think the Indian team is finally realizing that this is serious stuff. Up until now, it's been all fun and games but hello, bhais in neela, please pull up socks. Next Sunday, India plays South Africa and they are no team to be taken lightly. But of course, they have the Netherlands to battle on Wednesday in New Delhi. Yet again, Dutch walon se kya dushmani?

Photo Credit: Santa Banta

Desi Girl Talks Cricket World Cup!

February 27th, 2011:
India vs. England

All I could think about today was how badly India needed to win today. And one thought drove me to this. The British ruled over India for 200 years. Yes, 200 years of colonial rule was more than enough incentive to kick some butt, right? It was yet another badle ki aag (revenge) moment for the Indian cricket team. They needed to do this for the country. Unfortunately, the mishti dols (Kolkatta) was unprepared for this match - something about the stadium not being ready. And so, the Indians and British headed down south for some good ol' dosa (Bengaluru) where the match was played today. While it rained like no other prior to the match, India vs. England did happen. Winning the toss, India decided (thankfully) to bat and build a mountain high score. What they didn't know or expect was the outcome.

Boundaries-Sixers-Wickets

*Okay Viru, why the rush? From the get go, Sehwag came on to hit it all over the park. In the first over itself, I had a bunch of heart attacks when he literally survived courtesy of the bad British fielding. But it was only 35 for Viru. Then he was a goner.

*Hai hai mein marr jawan apne lal dulaare Sachin pe! 120 of the best from apna Tendulkar. The highlights were his six 6's and abundant fours. But it was his amazing timing and the look on the faces of the English bowlers made me want to scream with joy.

*Hi Gautam. Nice to see you back in form mister! If you're looking for some good ol' fashioned cricket which is all about staying at the crease, well, that is exactly what Gambhir and Tendu did. They.Stuck.It.Out. 100 runs they accumulated, ladies and lads!

*And just when you thought Yuvraj was only good for his link ups with Bollywood stars, he comes out to give you a solid 50. Now that's more like it Yuvi! Ladki toh aati jaati rahegi...lekin world cup? Chal kaam pe lag!

*Beautiful Mr. Bresnan. Look at those figures: 5/48. Outstanding!

*If you thought you'd seen some fabulous action from Sachin, then please take a look at Andrew Strauss' 158 knock! Cricket at its finest, if you ask me! Remember: India did learn cricket from the English.

*Kudos to the rest of the team that added heaps of runs to the English scoreboard. Played like a team...are you listening India?

*Zaheer Khan. Ab mein kya bolu? India's best bowling scores for today: 3/64. Niaacee!

WTH Moments

*Um...ever seen a butterfly go back to being a caterpillar? Uh yeah, that is what happened to Virat Kohli. It's not that I wanted to see him stay on the crease longer because he happens to be the cutest cricketer from both sides, but the boy is capable of so much more. 8 runs? Eeks!

*Yes England, we know we puzzled you. This is exactly why you felt the need to use 6 players to bowl today, na? Uh oh, what is that... uh yeah, Anderson, 1/91. I would take a look at that one.

*Okay Indian bowlers, what is going on? Your display was dismal today. Bad lunch, isit?

*And yet again, Indian fielding...enuff said.

Why haven't I told you the outcome yet? Cause they bloody drew! That means: No.One.Won. Apparently, this match has made history as it is 4th time in World Cup history that a tie has come about AND both teams accumulated the maximum amount of runs ever scored. Oh yay! (Please sense sarcasm) Why do I NOT care? Dude, what is the point of a tie? It's like winning a gift you already have. And please don't sit here and tell me nonsense like, "Oh, at least they didn't lose" or "Cricket won today!" A tie is a freakin' tie. It doesn't mean crap. Look team India, it's good to be confident but seriously undermining the English team today has bought about a TIE. Maybe you guys need to implement the Great Indian Huddle again. Disappointed today.

India plays Ireland next Sunday, March 6th in Bengaluru. Now what khunas with the Irish? Just win dammit!

Photo Credit: Santa Banta

Desi Girl Talks Cricket World Cup!

February 19th, 2011:
India vs. Bangladesh

In true Desi style, the Indian cricket team came on to the pitch in Mirpur, Bangladesh, ready for BADLA (revenge)! It was at the last Cricket World Cup that Bangladesh literally slaughtered the Indian team which ultimately cost the Indian team a place in the final most believe. However, this time around, that would not be the case. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Bangladesh pretty much had no idea what was about to hit them.

Boundaries-Sixers-Wickets

* Whatever we saw of the Tendulkar-Sehwag jodi, although brief, was not to be missed. It's always heaven when the duo get together and hit it all over the pitch.

* After Sachin's early departure, Sehwag realized it was him who would have to stay for as long as he could on the crease. And stay he did. Hitting a whopping 175, the cricketer came out to bat in full form. Sixes and fours flowed zabardast all over the ground. And the best came after his century. Hurting his knee and immediately turning into Langda Tagyi, he decided to take aerial route as his overs literally looked like the following: 4 4 6 4 4. But even then, with the help with his runner (Gambhir), he added 75 to his total.

* Besides being uber cute, Virat Kohli is one young cricketer to watch out for. Thank goodness for eye candy on the pitch! Not only does the cricketer understand how even 2's and 3's can add to the scoreboard, causing Sehwag to run and how, but when it came to sticking around, he was there. A solid 100 to his name, this is one dude to watch out for. Ladies, binoculars out!

* India went on to pile on 370/4 for their full 50 overs. Realizing that this was not going to be an easy task Bangladesh tried their best to get as close as they could to the Mount Everest total. The dudes put on 283 runs with their players going for pretty good individual scores before they ran out of overs.

* Hello Munaf Patel. Kaise ho? Did you know you were a rockstar? Well with bowling figures like 4/48, you can easily deem yourself a rock star. Badu saras dhikra!

WTH Moments

* Uh yeah, what was up with Sachin's early run out? Hello bhai! So many years of experience and yet such an amateur run out? Sehwag to be blamed or not, bahut bura hua bhai.

* Rubel Hossain and Virat Kohli getting noisy on the field exchanging some not-so nice words clearly was interesting. But what on earth was the problem? Gr. I wish the mic stumps were on... or I could lip read.

* Indian fielding. Need I say more?

* Sreesanth's horrendous bowling! He tried and failed. Tried again and failed. And then this happened: 53 runs in 5 overs. Sreesanth, nachna band, bowling shuru bhai!

India wins in true style, agenda in tact: revenge (evil laugh)! And on that note, wickets down, stadium empty, I'm outta here. Fanatical Desi Girl who loves cricket will be back next week on February 27th as India play England in Kolkatta. Khoob Bhalo!

Photo Credit: Santa Banta

For the Love of Cricket!

Cricket World Cup 2011 has begun! Ectastic and elated, I am of course gearing up for a fun filled 48 days. Needless to say, I'll be sitting and Bleeding Blue as I follow and cheer on Team India. The Men in Blue have a lot to show and tell before all in hopes to bring back the Cricket World Cup which they last won 28 years ago in 1983. No Kapil Dev this time around to captain the team to victory. No siree. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have to take it upon himself to bring it (and bring it back too while he's at it)!

I've always been a cricket fan (glory glory India!). So this year, I decided to cover Team India during CWC 2011 through my eyes, a Desi girl's eyes, in a segment I've titled: Desi Girl Talks CWC 2011. I promise to be as objective as possible and will shed my bias towards The Men in Blue. You've heard what the boys have to say, now for the ladies!

From TIME Magazine, with love to Sachin T.

I was in AWE of the tribute TIME gave to Sachin Tendulkar. It made you stop. Think. And breathe.

"When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy.

It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."

One word: WOW.

Dear Sachin, YOU are a GOD!

I've repeatedly said on numerous occasions, in India only Bollywood and Cricket sells. And when the maestro and God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar goes out only to score 200 runs in an One Day International game - 50 overs, you can't help but sit in awe of the most amazing cricketer to live. It was only him who could work it with such style, elan and grace. The news channel went on about this actor and this politician who is so proud of the Indian cricketer but his 200 is really a great inspiration to so many people around the world. Yes, it is an achievement and milestone. Yes, it is his personal best. But this humble cricketer went on to say one thing in a news conference post his fantastic knock that made me realize why he is THE Master Blaster. He said very simply, "I don't play cricket to break records; I play it because I am passionate about cricket." It is because of this simplicity, honesty and humility that he is perhaps the greatest cricketer in the country.

After every great knock, 50, 100, 150 and even 200, Tendulkar looked straight up to the skies. The cricketer realizes the importance of thanking his "lucky stars" and say thank you for the blessings he has from his family, fans and an entire nation. How many international sportsmen are like that? Very few I would imagine. In the same token, how many dedicate their best knock till date to the "people of India?" Almost none. Sachin is by far one of the most loved Indians in the world and yet realizes that without the support of his fans would literally have crashed ages ago.

The man is sheer talent and displays that from the get-go. It all began at 16 and here he is 20 years later doing what only the best in the business can do. While I'm sure there are millions of people in the country strive and wish to be the next Sachin T., there will only ever be one. And if they need to learn anything from him, it is his sheer humility that they must possess along with determination and real passion for cricket. Whether we find the next or not, time will tell. In the meantime, it is February 24, 2010 that will always mark the day when a phenomenal cricketer scored a once in a lifetime knock of 200. You have made your nation proud yet again. We salute, bow and worship you Sachin; you truly are a Cricketing GOD. Amen.

Photo Credit: bbc.co.uk

The Mayhem that is May

May was beyond chaotic. It may have something to do with me taking on too much for my own good BUT, its always good to be busy - an idle mind is the devil's mind and I for one, know that too damn well. But more importantly so much has been going on in the world and my maddness has only added to the mayhem which is May. Ready to read? Off we go!

IPL and IPL

It was literally the Indian Premiere Cricket League versus the Indian Political League this year. While the Congress party took the take and won majority, which was quite expected, it seems that the favorites on the cricket end were unable to live up to their lineage. Manmohan Singh was reappointed as the Prime Minister, after Rahul Gandhi politely declined (how disappointed am I?), Sachin and Saurav are headed back home from South Africa after their teams, Mumbai Indians and Kolkatta Knight Riders both were booted out of the IPL. And I was favoring M.I. big time, counting on the little maestro to pull a rabbit out of his magicians hat. It's not fair to expect that much from him I suppose. Oh well - next year, Mumbai will kick butt. I'm sure of it. After all, I intend on being there to support my team all the way. Now I'm stuck finding a new team to support 'till the end... hmph.

Advani: No Support From the Ani's

I didn't think L.K. Advani would win but I did expect the Sindhi population to support him in India. Get this, Ulhasnagar whose Sindhi population is over 40%, only had a 26% voter turn out. Not only did the decide not to vote for him, they didn't even bother turning up on voting day. In fact, the day before voting, a campaign titled "Jago Sindhi Jago" was in full force all in hopes to encourage the Sindhi population to get up and vote for Advani but to no avail obviously.

Crushing Over Rahul Gandhi

All it took was one press conference where he smiled and flaunted his dimples everso cutely. I was floored. For many years now, I never understood why the girls oggled over Rahul Gandhi. But I was so wrong - and had never paid close enough attention. Rahul Gandhi is not only HOT, but uber cute. And what he did was so commendable - promising a journalist that he would definitely get to his question next. Which he did of course. But his mannerism and courtesy with which he responded was adorably regal. Clearly, he is his fathers son. Only Rajiv Gandhi's son could be so perfect.

Discrimination in Delhi

I was told such an interesting fact the other day which not only stomped me but made me realize how little I knew about my country. Did you know that Chandni Chowk, yes yes, Delhi 6, is divided into a Hindu and Muslim area? And whats more, if by chance, you walk into the Hindu area asking for a meat-filled paratha, they will laugh and tell you, you are in the wrong area. Who would have known? Who knew the capital city would still have so much discrimination. I need to witness it to believe it honestly, but something tells me I would get quite a beating.

100 Days

Obama completed 100 days of his regime. What is his claim to fame thus far? Ordered the closure of Guantamo Bay, lessened pressure on Stem Cell bans etc. I guess he is still working on the recession and job issues that are still a part of America. I haven't quite made up my mind on him yet.

Misc May

And besides all this, my publication will be up and going by the end of the week. Watch this space for more on that!

Photo Credit: lifeway.com

March Mayhem

It is only three months into the new year and March is already a month reckon with. The Indian Cricket team went on to create history and win a series against New Zealand after eons. Kudos to Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag who hit amazing knocks against the Kiwis. The women's Indian Cricket team, who unfortunately do not get enough accolades or recognition, are also doing fabulously at their World Cup. Team India beat the worlds best Australia in great pomp and style. I wish the media would cover their accomplishments and give them some publicity. These ladies are such fabulous sportswomen and its such a beautiful achievement on their part. No one may recognize it or see it, but kudos to you ladies.

On the other hand, it has been a week of some serious ragging in India. Young Aman Kachroo fell victim to "Ragged to Death," by his seniors and unfortunately only lived to be nineteen. Ragging is a tradition in many colleges across India where college freshers are bullied and teased in what is supposed to be a fun few days. However, in the past, this custom had taken a serious toll when youngsters took the fun and game too far resulting in a number of deaths. The government banned ragging of any form but it obviously has no meaning for the youth. Aman Kachroo was beaten to death by a group of seniors. School officials took over a day to finally inform the police of the incident. This piece of news made headlines all over India and made audiences believe that a point had been made - this is unacceptable. However, a few days later, a young girl attempted suicide after she was asked to dance naked as a part of her rag. To me, after such instances, I can totally understand why the government has no hope for the youth of India. I can see what they see: a youth that does not understand its boundaries and has no respect for life. Kachroo was a young boy who was the future of his family. It is even more disturbing to learn that he was a medical student and the group of imbeciles that killed him, were potential doctors. Is this what our youth has become - murderers in the form of medical practitioners?

And then there are the upcoming I.P.L's. Both of them: the Indian Premiere League in the form of Cricket and the Indian Parliament eLections. Coincidentally, both leagues will be occurring simultaneously which is a major cause of concern for the national security forces. Clearly both are important in their own ways, but election season has to take precedence. If a match occurs on a voting day, it is more than likely that voter turn out will fall. This is not good considering that the government needs as many votes as they can. At the same time, in the light of potential terrorist attacks which is a universal daily issue that must be tackled, protecting national politicians, international cricketers and our own desi cricketers will prove to be too strenuous for the local police officials. Ideally, the cricket league should either be completely avoided this year or pushed back to a more practical time. The I.P.L and B.C.C.I will beat themselves on the head if anything catastrophic were to happen on any of the match days. In the meantime, VOTE INDIA VOTE!

Keeping with voting season and taking a more positive outlook on the youth of India, they too have decided that this year, the balancing scale needs to be outweighed. A great group of youngsters have gone ahead and started the Lead India Campaign which has some great ways YOU and the government should/can help their country. You must take a look : http://www.lead.timesofindia.com/. You can add to the list of oaths, sign the pledge and get involved.

Hopefully the March Madness soon calms down and all ends well. Until then, my message this month is one of hope and peace. Hope in the form of a new bright India filled with a youth who is willing to take India into the future and peace for our country, our surrounding neighbors and around the world.

Photo Credit: thewip.net