Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Innings of a life time

Sachin plays out of his skin and unfurls one of his masterpieces. Maybe one of his top 5 innings (test + one days).  I was in a sad meeting but was still looking up cricinfo whenever required. So I can say that I was there :)

This was poetic justice at its lyrical best in more ways than one. Sachin hitting the winning runs on Chepauk to wash away the tears of another fretful fifth day, completing the century with the same shot. A Mumbai boy playing a stellar role after the Mumbai carnage, the English coming back to show solidarity with India. 
Bhajji on first day, coach on second day and Sehwag on fourth morning, bullish about Indian victory, while the English dominating the ground with two centuries from Strauss. Was that just intuition or positive thinking or New India (TM), no one is sure.
All of it is just like a dream, something that has never happened before.

But I for one won't consider Sachin's innings, even if it is one of his best, best of this match.

It did everything: ensured victory, avoided defeat, he played as if the huge crater at good length on off stump did not exist. But if we are to rate contributions objectively, here is how I rate them:

1. Sehwag
2. Sachin  (Yuvraj+Gambhir) (Harbhajan+Zaheer) tied at second spot.

I know it is a flamebait but before the bhaktagana in their torpor forget what cricket is all about and what exactly happened, I am documenting it, the truth and nothing but the truth.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Prasangi hou vajrahun kathor (when doves turn hawks)

The air force and the navy are gearing for a sudden strike.

I am changing from a dove to a hawk. There was some deadline given and looks like the actions was not effective. And Indian forces have come up proactively (for once) a doctrine called "cold start".

So I am putting my neck on the block and saying that if Pak does not do anything in next week, we will see some commando attacks/surgical strikes. So dust your copies of Art of Wars and Chanakyanitis
For once the Indian blood spilled will be avenged for. A definite time for an arm chair strategist to be an arm chair military strategist. 

And for the doves to be hawks.

Monday, December 01, 2008

The Beginning

The stand-off at Mumbai has really caused a number of changes.

The anger against the political system is palpable. And it goes across party lines. Even the people who are strongly behind their parties no matter what (hint hint, BJP supporters), have to introspect and come up with a reason for change from the bottom of their hearts.

One news that caught my eye is that Delhi has polled above 60%. With Kashmir polling more than 60% as well, who knows, our democracy might be on the way to be stronger.

The theory being that, as the number of people voting increases, the possibility that they are thinking goes up, and the ballot becomes truer and truer representative of the peoples' wishes and aspirations.
Heck, even the news channels did cut down on advertisements and focused on  reporting on the issue at hand. Most of the times with thought provoking discussions interspersed.

Only if this is really happening, I am glad that we are doing at least this to commemorate the innocent and the brave who lost their lives. This looks so little for such a great loss, but at least this is a beginning !!