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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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I could never have written about cricket.
The T20 format is to be thanked for such posts.
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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.
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I have always liked Dhoni. For various reasons.
I would love to get into his head and learn his thoughts someday.
Phew!!
What a week - loaded with outings, free dinners, some padhai-vadhai and a spectacular IPL Finals !!
Have been busy with a few assignments…catching up with old friends and spending time with family…
In general - taking life easy !
Talking about IPL - Had been wanting to catch the drama LIVE this time around…had been bored to death by friends and colleagues who kept narrating their experiences. I wanted to see and decide for myself if the T20 actually deserved so much attention.
Yes! It did deserve the attention :-)
The one word that comes to my mind when I look back at the finals is - Spectacular !!
From the opening ceremony, the laser shows, the star studded performances to a nail biting and pulsating climax - everything about the event was spellbinding !
Through out the match, I kept vouching for the "underdogs" and Whoa !! What a show they put up !!
Warne did an excellent job without a coach and managed to get the trophy for a bunch of "nobodys". In true bollywood ishtyle - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar :-)
Now, I ain't an expert on the game. Infact, I hardly follow it ! I did not know most players and frankly, couldn't care less about the "Strategy" the captains used in trying to out-do each other.
Yet, even as a novice, I enjoyed the game, the spirit, the exhilarating masses, "the Mexican waves" and the mesmerizing Cheer Leaders ! A complete Paisa Vasool match !
Initially, I felt awkward and contained my excitement. Just how could a game bring people to the brink of madness?
However, a few overs into the game, I gave up all thoughts of sanity and joined the crowds in the fun filled banter, the boos and the aahhhs…
The energy exuberated was so very infectious, you just couldn't "not" get affected !!
Above all, I went for the match with 2 close friends who are "experts" in the nuances of the game. It was fun to watch them challenge and boo each other, while their bets played on the field.
All said and done, an amazinnnngggg week !!
