Friday, July 10, 2009

Cricket India; is there a sense of Urgency?

            Well guys, I am a cricket freak. But I haven't watched any full cricket for sometime now:-Aus-SA test series, IPL2, T-20 world cup, Ind -WI one day internationals , and now the Ashes. But I still follow all the news and articles about it and interviews etc.. I was wondering about the present condition of the 'Team India' and the 'Men in blue'.
This team had everything in it. We won in Australia, Srilanka, England, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies. In M S Dhoni we have a captain cool. Stalwarts Like Yuvraj, Gautam, Suresh Raina, the Pathan brothers, true genius of Veru and the Experience and 'Might' of the little champion Sachin. This team has it all. Zak and Bhajji have made their experience count and in Ishant we have a lethal weapon.
            Everything was going good till the T-20 World Cup where we were the defending champions. Unfortunately we were badly defeated. There we were defeated and here the talks and allegations started. Is the captain doomed? Are we good enough? Is there peace in the dressing room? Do the seniors go along well? Is there a fight between Veeru and M S? And all that stupid stuff. I read all this shit in the newspapers for a long time after India could not defend the t-20 world cup.
            Come on people... give us a break. This is The team which has brought you glory for the past 18 months. These are the players whom you love like anything. Actually I sometimes laugh when I read that the people worship the players. But cricket is like a religion in India. I can understand that the people are emotional about it.. I would say that the cricketing experts and the officials who play the blame game are to be blamed for all this.
            Above all I don’t find any problem with the team or the players. We must remember that all of them love their country and are Humans. None of them is a God. My be they were short of rest or may be they couldn’t click as a unit . May be the captain got some decisions wrong, but its ok. Rather then blaming them people should say 'Hard luck guys, hope for the best next time'.
            And to my surprise all the stuff was over when India won the one day series in the West Indies. Actually I was not surprised... (This happens always). One positive I got was the sense of the selection committee on the matter of performance. Under great pressure the selection committee maintained almost the same team and included 'The Wall' in the team. I am glad to c him back into the team. That guy has still not got his share in the Indian cricket. It would be gr8 to c Rahul in action in the Champions Trophy. Many would argue that we are going back and RD does not fit into Dhoni's scheme of things but with Rahul around along with Sachin would be a big boost up for the India's top and middle order batting which has been found wanting in the past few matches. As they always say 'Form is temporary but Class is permanent’. The selection committee actually showed that there in no urgency in Indian cricket and the team is competent enough.
            I would love to see the boys back in full swing in the next assignment, the Champions Trophy and till then the public, the experts and the Media, of course let them enjoy with their families and plz don’t try to find 'masala' in there personal life!!!

Cheers!!!
Rohit.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Article 377? Gay Day?

In a historic judgment delivered on Jul2, 2009, The Delhi High Court overturned the 150 year old section, legalizing consensual homosexual activities between adults. And our so called media hyped it (as they always do). All radio stations, TV channels wanted to give this "Rocking" news to the public of India. Although the news is not of *any* personal interest to me(for obvious reasons), I was 'compelled' to hear it. The media wanted to make the Indian people that we have gone mad with this decision and this is the best thing ever happened to us.

Thereafter there have been long going debates as to whether the decision is good or bad and bla-bla. Times of India made it 'The Gay Day', of course they have there own way of doing such things. I came to know many Gay... Oops ... Homosexual people have long been living with grace and dignity in our country, Of course through TV and Newspapers. Of all this 'Hype' I could observe that masses have come to know about these people 'in good sense' and almost all have form some or the other opinion about this group of people.

The other day, I was sitting in a garden with one of my after taking a walk in the evening when this 'Blissfully' married couple(It looked so they were 'Blissfully' married) with a small baby came and sat near us. Suddenly we saw two girls walking past us and holding were hands. They were cheerful and were talking to each other. Suddenly the 'Aunty' sitting near us said to her husband, 'Kya zamana aa gaya hai..Dekha unko.."Woh" honge’, pointing towards the girls. She said that and my friend and I were astonished, not by the fact that those girls might be "Woh" but by the mentality of that lady (we didnt need any other evidence for it).

I had heard this for the first time ever. I had not an idea that people can form such opinions. I said to my friend that now it is not safe for two boys or two girls to hang around together. And both of us burst into laughter. I dont say that everybody has such kinda opinin but there must be a few like that. Even amongst friends we may end up teasing each other (Now for the same sex also)...

On the lighter side the benefit is that now when I hang around with a girl, people would no longer call me 'a Besharam' but they would probably end up saying 'normal Chae', meaning normal hai....

So at last, I can say that the decision was good and most of the people are happy(affected as well as unaffected people ) and only a few people are unhappy (like the mentally sick ..(oops I sry abt it) 'Aunty' ).



Cheers Rohit!!!

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Indian Tennis sensation: Sania Mirza

            In a country like ours where cricket is worshipped and most of the youngsters wanna be a cricketer (both men and women), there is another sport which has brought glory to the country. There were a few men who are looked up to in the men's category starting from The Amritrajs to Paes and the Bhupatis. But in the year 2003 we had a 17 year old girl named Sania Mirza that came on the circuit. It indeed marked an era in the Indian women tennis.
            Born in 1986(the year after me), she started playing tennis at the age of 6, unlike me who did it at the age of 15. Well there is no comparison and the only similarity is that both of us have played tennis.
            Well well, this girl of any other individual tennis player in India has become a role model for any tennis player in the country. For us where this sport is still in its growing stages she managed to qualify and play all the grand slams. not only played has won a few matches as well. She has managed to get to the fourth round of the U.S. Open, third in the Australian open and second each in the French open and Wimbledon in singles events. And she has done more then awesome in the doubles and the mixed doubles.
            I think this is quite an achievement and I find no reason for anybody saying that she has not performed well. I do not say that she could not have done better, but keeping the infrastructure of the game in India it is superb.
            Pointing to the infrastructure in our country the toughest part is to find a proper trainer and coach because the stamina is as important as skill in this game, more so in the singles. Next difficult thing is to find sponsors. Many upcoming talents are not able to make it to the international coz they are not able to afford the game. Everything from the racket to the balls to the accessories are expensive.
            What this girl has done is made the officials and AITF look at the these concerns and the playing conditions and infrastructure is getting better. But there is still a long way to go. Well well well enough of the 'Infrastructure'.
            Sania's career has been a roller coaster ride like. She has been plagued by injuries and also some controversies. Talking of health my coach used to tell me that we Indians are not naturally strong physically, so utmost importance has to be taken or hte physical training.
            The people (who follow tennis) have been talking a lot about the career of this sensation. I wonder is there any question on her contribution to the Indian tennis and her game? Rather we should be proud of what all she has done on the court. I my opinion she would remain a star. Now she is all set to start a new chapter of her life. So we should wish her all the best in life .And as a tennis fan I would hope that she continues to play the game and take it forward.

Cheers
Rohit!!!