Showing posts with label cricket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cricket. Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Ah, okay. Hmm.
This was all I managed when I learnt of Pataudi's passing in September. I didn't feel any pangs and was almost sure the man had had a full life.
Yet, I felt pretty low when the eulogies started pouring in.
I felt sad for not having learnt enough about an incredibly talented sportsman and an inspirational human being.
I was irritated with the media for not bringing to life pages from days gone by. At a time when most youth icons are morally bankrupt and staggeringly mediocre, when we latch onto anyone with a faint shimmer of talent, we could do well with revisiting our past and learning about men who have reshaped the sport(s) we worship.
While I love what Dhoni does and what Ganguly did for Indian cricket, I am equally keen to understand and appreciate the long forgotten, albeit, equally or more talented sportsmen cricket and other games have produced in India. There is much the lives of these men and women will teach us, if we are willing to spend time and dig.
Their stories need to be re-told so we learn that the human spirit is capable of achieving a lot more than what it settles for. And that cricket has been a lot more than its glamourous, media crazy avataar today.
I am embarrassed I mostly knew Pataudi as Saif Ali Khan's father. And I think most others of my generation won't fare any better.
What a loss.
This was all I managed when I learnt of Pataudi's passing in September. I didn't feel any pangs and was almost sure the man had had a full life.
Image courtesy : Sulekha
Yet, I felt pretty low when the eulogies started pouring in.
I felt sad for not having learnt enough about an incredibly talented sportsman and an inspirational human being.
I was irritated with the media for not bringing to life pages from days gone by. At a time when most youth icons are morally bankrupt and staggeringly mediocre, when we latch onto anyone with a faint shimmer of talent, we could do well with revisiting our past and learning about men who have reshaped the sport(s) we worship.
While I love what Dhoni does and what Ganguly did for Indian cricket, I am equally keen to understand and appreciate the long forgotten, albeit, equally or more talented sportsmen cricket and other games have produced in India. There is much the lives of these men and women will teach us, if we are willing to spend time and dig.
Their stories need to be re-told so we learn that the human spirit is capable of achieving a lot more than what it settles for. And that cricket has been a lot more than its glamourous, media crazy avataar today.
I am embarrassed I mostly knew Pataudi as Saif Ali Khan's father. And I think most others of my generation won't fare any better.
What a loss.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
This article has some more insights on the man who is more influential than Obama. Bits that stayed with me -
This also means that while he respects icons, he is not overly lyrical talking about them. For example, when speaking of Tendulkar, he is respectful but never over the top. Tokenism irritates him, even if he does not show it. Take, for instance, the India versus England match in Bangalore, which ended in a tie. Tendulkar had scored a masterly hundred. But the thrilling end and the controversial UDRS in favour of England’s Ian Bell had pushed it to the background. This reflected in the post-match press conference. At the fag end, however, when the intensity was gone and everyone had started to gather their belongings, a journalist asked Dhoni in Hindi if he wanted to say something about Tendulkar’s contribution. It was a token question and not critical in the context of the day’s events. So Dhoni begged off with a smile, saying, “Bees saal se bol rahe hain, sir (Been saying it for 20 years).”
He is put off by extremes of the Indian media and their fetish for negativity. The last straw, apparently, was the story a leading newspaper ran of a rift between him and Virender Sehwag during the 2009 World T20. Now Dhoni fulfils his duty towards the press but not more. There was a time when the player of the match would be sent for the press conference. Now, most times, only Dhoni shows up. He wants to guard his players from the media. At the World Cup, journalists complained about this to him. His reply suggested that had it not been for ICC rules, he wouldn’t even do this much.
Dear Lord, please, please, please, please let us have more youth icons like him.
And no, I am no expert on cricket. So I forbid you to shoot emails discussing his short cover fielding strategy.
But, I can't overcome my competence to possess and supply global gyaan on all things un-important, and hence promise to regale you with newer definitions of cricketing strategies, were you to still go ahead with your plans to bombard my inbox.
Monday, April 4, 2011
But watching from a distance I am convinced Dhoni has no equal in the game in the art of mastering a moment. And more importantly, in letting that very moment pass. It seems like a well designed method for a happy life. Sometimes the quest for a place in history can snatch your present away. Mahender Singh Dhoni is teaching us how to not allow that to happen. I suspect though that he doesn't really care if we learn or not!
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt (via Puri Sabzi)
I dedicate this quote to the Indian Cricket team and to all cynics (my brother and some friends) who didn't believe in the Indian side.
Yes, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka looked great at the beginning of the tournament. Pakistan gave us a good scare too! Yet, I am glad India proved to be the most tenacious of the lot.
**********
As a non cricket follower, it has been an overwhelming experience. I can't imagine what it must be like for the game fanatics.
The win had me feeling overtly emotional. I preferred messaging people than calling, to congratulate. I was afraid I would choke and end up making a fool of myself.
I am stupefied at my own reaction.
**********
This was also the first time I sat through many games and tried to understand the nuances of cricket – the class, style, technique and finesse.
That is how I came to appreciate other teams and not just India. There were times I cheered for our opponents. It was difficult not to, given the wonderful show they put up.
A very good read on the subject.
Sometimes, nationalism, be damned.
**********
I am happy we won the World Cup.
But I am happier because we did it with class. Dhoni and team set a good example by playing with humility and confidence. There was nothing remotely jingoistic about our win.
Frankly, we weren't the best at the beginning of the tournament. But I am glad we worked our way to the top. It makes our win even more worthwhile.
I was glad to watch the textbook definition of a leader in Dhoni. There is much to learn from the entire team. But Dhoni made me feel ecstatic. His on and off the field charm, modesty and honesty is something the Indian youth can aspire for. It's been more than 36 hours now. We have yet to receive sound bytes from the captain. Everyone, from Sachin, Zaheer, Yuvraj to Sreesanth have spoken to the media. Not Dhoni, not yet.
In times of cheap display of power by many youth icons, I am glad to have people like Dhoni around.
**********
After months of scams and depressing events in the country, we finally have something to look upto.
Everyone I knew, was with loved ones – at home/in clubs/on streets.
There was good business at clubs and hotels.
Such things always make me happy.
**********
I can't not mention Saurav Ganguly. He was one of the very few cricketers I was a fan of.
It will not be incorrect to state that he is partially responsible for setting things in motion then so that we could win a cup now.
**********
I agree with Kapil Dev when he says that the team must now take it easy and let the feeling soak in. They must spend some well deserved time with family before the IPL fever takes over.
These moments are worth cherishing.
**********
Everything said and done, I am not happy with the cash prizes being doled out to the team.
**********
After the Egyptian revolution and the current turmoil in the Middle East, I often wondered what would make the whole of India come together.
What is that one cause which has the power to bind us.
I am not sure if it is cricket.
And, if it is indeed cricket, I am not sure if I should be happy about it.
**********
UPDATE:
Dhoni did speak after all.
Link via Deepak.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I don't follow cricket.
I never understood much of it, earlier.
Mostly, I think it's a waste of time. For the whole nation.
A lot of friends, who are ardent fans and pretty informed about the game, deserved to go for the finals.
Yet, I was the chosen one. Ended up with 'free passes' for the match. Ahem.
It brought me lot of wicked pleasure to annoy friends who hadn't been able to procure tickets.
So far so good.
*****
I had a Delhi Daredevil and a Chennai Super Kings fan each at home.
Since I didn't follow the matches much, I settled with Mumbai Indians.
*****
The experience at the stadium - I might not be able to do justice with words.
Exhilarating and extremely well organised. ( kudos to Mumbai Police and IPL).
Difficult to express how this game brings out the best and the worst in Indians.
*****
Now, about the game.
Bleddy hell.
I believe in luck. Only, if I work hard. And deserve. So anyone who thinks that MI had bad luck today, in polite words - get lost.
It's a team effort. CSK put up an awesome show and mostly, everyone performed. Can't say the same about MI.
We should have known we were going to lose when -
- We dropped Raina twice
- Pathetic fielding at various times
- We played as if it were some silly test match - extremely morose first five overs!
- The whole stadium + viewers on television begged Pollard to be sent, while he kept cooling his heels at the dug-out. what the hell !!! Did the team management think he was some God who could undo the Karma of the previous players??? We needed 55 off 18 balls you idiots!
Apart from this, I also think MI didn't use its bowlers well. Yes, I am no expert, but this much anybody can understand - why change bowlers every over??
The target was very much achievable.
We had the home ground advantage.
A supportive crowd.
Even Ganpati bappa morya chants!
But we were just plain bad. Infact, pathetic.
So, even though I rooted for MI till the last ball was bowled, I am happy that a deserving CSK took the cup home.
*****
I could never have written about cricket.
The T20 format is to be thanked for such posts.
*****
Today I saw two very different styles of leadership emerge on the field.
I think you should watch cricket, or any other sport, with people who understand it more than you do. The quality of discussion is superb then. Hilarious too.
I was lucky in this regard. I had fabulous company during IPL 1 and 3 finals. Yeah, I watched the first one live too. Ahem.
*****
I have always liked Dhoni. For various reasons.
I would love to get into his head and learn his thoughts someday.
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